User:Frankmontis/Frank Montis

Frank Montis, stage name of Frank van den Berge (born April 17, 1974, in Terneuzen), is a Dutch Hammond organist, pianist, and singer. He studied improvised music at the Fontys School of Fine and Performing Arts in Tilburg.

Childhood
Frank Montis grew up in a family where music was central. From a young age, he played on the Hammond B3 organ purchased by his father. His role models were American organists such as Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, and Jack McDuff.

Career
At the age of 19, Frank Montis definitively chose the life of a musician. After conservatory, he spent several years as a session musician and with his own piano trio.

In the song "Day by Day" by the Dutch Nu jazz group The Jazzinvaders, he played the Hammond organ and took on the lead vocals. Through The Jazzinvaders, he met saxophonist Rolf Delfos. In 2010, he founded the band DelMontis with him. Subsequently, he played with the band The Soul Snatchers.

The band Laura Vane & The Vipertones, featuring British funk and soul singer Laura Vane, released several albums with Frank Montis on vintage keys and Hammond organ.

In September 2011, DelMontis released their debut album Straightforward Fascination, featuring songs, vocals, and keyboards by Frank Montis. Laura Vane sang in the title track, which she co-wrote with him.

With the band Gare Du Nord, he began collaborating as a keyboardist and composer starting from early 2014.

With guitarist Aron Raams (Gare Du Nord) and Lean Robbemont (drummer for Alain Clark), Van den Berge formed the trio Organ Tonation, where he played groovy organ repertoire.

Since 2016, he has been playing in the trio Montis, Goudsmit & Directie, with guitarist Anton Goudsmit and drummer Cyril Directie.

In October 2022, his band SPARK continued under the name The Pulitzers, which he formed with Bas van der Wal (guitar), Phil Martin (percussion), and Salle de Jonge (drums).

Starting from August 2023, Frank (piano) and Rachel van der Schaaf (vocals) form the musical duo Mr. Montis & Me.