The Austin, Texas based guitarist first gained notoriety in 1999, when as a relatively unknown talent he delivered a jaw-dropping live performance on an episode of the PBS series Austin City Limits.[3] He has been named one of the “Top 50 All-Time Greatest Guitar Players” by Guitar Player Magazine, has won the "Best Acoustic Guitar Player" Award at the SXSW's Austin Music Awards seven years in a row.[4]
Monte is the composer for the ABC TV series Last Man Standing starring Tim Allen.[5] Montgomery authored music for the criminal drama Arc (2006)[6] In 2008, Monte appeared on Live From Daryl's House with Hall and Oates frontman, Daryl Hall.
In 2004, Alvarez Guitars created the MMY1 Monte Montgomery Signature Guitar, a model based on Montgomery's 1987 Alvarez-Yairi DY62C Acoustic-Electric Guitar.[7] In 2014, German amp manufacturer AER teamed up with the guitarist to develop the new signature MM200 acoustic amp.[8]