17 Facts About Ronnie Montrose

Ronald Douglas Montrose was an American musician and guitarist who founded and led the rock bands Montrose and Gamma.

Ronnie Montrose is often recognized as one of the most influential guitarists in early hard rock.

Ronnie Montrose spent most of his younger years in Denver until he ran away at about 16 years old to pursue his musical career.

Ronnie Montrose played briefly with Boz Scaggs before joining the Edgar Winter Group in 1972.

Ronnie Montrose then recruited Chuck Ruff, which essentially ended the band Sawbuck.

For Winter's third album, They Only Come Out at Night, which included the hit singles "Frankenstein" and "Free Ride", Ronnie Montrose recorded electric guitar, acoustic 12-string, and mandolin.

Ronnie Montrose added his guitar work to Gary Wright's song, "Power of Love", off the 1975 album, The Dream Weaver.

Ronnie Montrose then shifted direction and released a solo album, the all-instrumental Open Fire with Edgar Winter producing.

In 1983, Ronnie Montrose played lead guitar on the song " Telepath" from Paul Kantner's album Planet Earth Rock and Roll Orchestra although he was not a member of the original PERRO.

Ronnie Montrose was looking for a new band and one of Rail's guitarists, Rick Knotts had recently left.

Ronnie Montrose continued to record through the 1980s and 1990s, releasing solo albums including The Speed of Sound, Music from Here, and Bearings, as well as another Ronnie Montrose album titled Mean and a fourth Gamma album Gamma 4.

Ronnie Montrose recorded a rousing interpretation of the Beatles song "Love You To", that included a rare Ronnie Montrose vocal performance, on his album Territory in 1986.

The original Ronnie Montrose lineup reformed to play as a special guest at several Hagar concerts in summer 2004 and 2005.

Ronnie Montrose performed regularly from 2001 until 2011 with a Ronnie Montrose lineup featuring Keith St John on lead vocals and a rotating cast of veteran hard rock players on bass and drums.

Ronnie Montrose died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on March 3,2012.

Ronnie Montrose's death was initially assumed to be the result of prostate cancer.

Ronnie Montrose is survived by his wife, two children and five grandchildren.