PETER’S PINOY PATTER — January 2022
Bridge Generation News
BG Personality of the Month: Michael Montano, 84: When Mike was in his teens, I believed he was a musical prodigy. Why? Because he already had a proven track record of leading, arranging, and composing music for a vocal group and a jazz trio! And he was paid for it! Fortuitously, segregated South Stockton where Filipinos were confined was where many young, talented Filipino/a singers and musicians resided. Mike’s vocal group “The Preludes” consisted entirely of Bridge Generation Filipino Americans Hamilton Burila, Billy Ente, and Tenio siblings — Josie and Rudy. The jazz trio, also all Bridge Generation youth, included Lod Burila on bass, drummer Pepe Wassan, and, of course, Mike on piano. (The trio entertained at Terri‘s and my January 2, 1954 wedding reception.)
A few years later, I shared my “prodigy” observation with Mike. He didn’t consider himself a natural born musician, despite acknowledging he excelled in piano at six years of age. According to Mike, a musical prodigy “feels” music that is readily played, composed, and arranged. On the other hand, he saw himself as more “studious” who had to work at his music.
Mike was born on September 13, 1937 in Hawaii, the eldest of three children of Catalino Montano, a Filipino immigrant from the Ilocos and Hawaii-born Visayan Luminada Encabo. When Mike was a preschooler, the family moved to Palo Alto where his father was employed. The Montano family home was on the grounds of the Magnin estate in Palo Alto where his father worked as gardener. His father also worked as handyman and driver for millionaire Joseph Magnin, owner of I. Magnin (today’s Macy’s)…… then, a luxury department store on Union Square in San Francisco. During Mike’s father’s youth, he played violin, mandolin, and guitar. However, he rarely performed after the family moved to Stockton during the 1940s — his time was spent operating the family’s successful grocery store. Mike’s stay-at-home mother was also musical — a singer for a local band in Hawaii before marrying. Almost daily until her passing, she sang familiar tunes while accompanying herself on the family piano.
At 13 Mike got bit by the jazz bug! A friend had him listen to pianist Bud Powell and the Count Basie band — the beginning of his lifelong interest in jazz. Soon, he gigged with fellow musicians on the Edison High School band and organized the aforementioned vocal ensemble and jazz combo. On weekends he traveled to San Francisco to catch the jazz scene. He attended the Monterey Jazz Festival and performances of the touring Jazz at the Philharmonic ensemble.
During each summer beginning at age twelve, Mike went through back-breaking work in the hot fields of the Central Valley — like other Bridge Generation youth of the times. He worked alongside much older, experienced manong farm workers picking tomatoes, pears, and grapes as far away as a hundred miles. Farm work convinced Mike he should go to college.
At the College of Pacific, Mike became more serious about his music. He studied under the professor who taught jazz great Dave Brubeck. He began to learn about the intricacies of composition, arranging, and conducting. He earned a scholarship to attend Sherwood Conservatory in Chicago. But Mike wasn’t sure he could make a living at jazz. In 1958, his bassist pal, Vince Gomez (featured in my June 2020 blog), suggested Mike accompany him to Las Vegas. There, he met many professional jazz musicians. He listened. He learned. But Mike also learned he was not yet as knowledgeable nor as proficient as these musicians. He concluded he should complete his musical studies at COP. In 1959 he graduated with a Bachelor’s of Music degree.
Following college graduation, Mike used earlier San Francisco contacts to gain employment as a solo pianist at various Chinatown nightclubs. He worked the 5-9 pm shift at the “Rickshaw”, then rushed off to the nearby “Dragon Lady” club for its late show. Most significant was his tenure at the “Rickshaw.” The club had gained popularity as an after hours venue for famous entertainers, especially Frank Sinatra who stopped by whenever he played in “The City.” The club also benefited from Herb Caen, whose popular column, “Baghdad By The Bay” in the daily San Francisco Chronicle, regularly included “Rickshaw” happenings. Most important, Mike’s career blossomed. He became respected and recognized in musical circles.
By then Mike had married and responsible for supporting Donna Muzzio and their daughter, Gabby. For considerably more money than what he received at the two Chinatown clubs, he signed on as pianist on a Matson Lines cruise ship. He sailed to such exotic places as Tahiti, Fiji, Samoa, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Australia, and Hawaii. But he couldn’t wait for his one year contract to end. Too many days at sea.
Mike was now an established jazz pianist. No longer did he have to struggle getting gigs. He always aspired to be an accompanist. Now he was in demand to “comp” such well-known entertainers as Phyllis Diller, Diahann Carroll and Connie Stevens. He also worked at the popular San Francisco nightclub “Forbidden City” where he renewed acquaintances with singer/dancer Anna Lea Rubio who he subsequently married.
In 1966 Mike embarked on a four year national tour with fast talking comedian Jack E. Leonard, known for his insulting barbs — the original Don Rickles. Between musical interludes, Mike served as the stone-faced foil to the comedian’s barbs. He owes much to the well-connected comedian who opened up many doors for him, especially in Las Vegas. As a result Mike made Las Vegas his permanent home in 1974. For the first time in his musical career, he experienced long term, steady employment. He worked at the “Flamingo” as musical conductor for eight years and the “Riviera” for another enjoyable fourteen years, performed at “Harrahs” and other Las Vegas casinos, and finally worked solo at “Circus, Circus” until he retired.
Today, Mike is rehabilitating from kidney disease and regularly undergoes dialysis. Arthritis has limited his piano playing. Through it all, he remains upbeat. He is positive about life, is happy living in Las Vegas with Anna Lea, enjoys frequent contacts with his son Jason (from an earlier marriage to Lynda Maghanoy), and reminisces with a legion of friends made through his world travels. (My sincere thanks to Mike for his interview of December 12 and to Lisa Gioio-Acres for the transcript of her September 18, 2008 interview with Mike.)
Historical Appointments: New York City born Donald Graham is a Commander with the Los Angeles Police Department — the highest-ranking Bridge Generation Filipino American in the 150-year history of LAPD. Commander Graham’s highest-ranking distinction is a reminder of a similar event — Mayor Art Agnos‘ 1989 appointment of San Francisco native James Arnold to Captain in the S.F. Police Department. Captain Arnold’s appointment was among many history-making appointments of Filipino Americans by the mayor in honoring his commitment to the Filipino Community for its strong support for his 1988 election. Two more BG Filipino Americans were appointed by Mayor Agnos — Ron Quidachay as Municipal Court Judge and Peter Jamero as Executive Director, Human Rights Commission. Other Filipino American high-ranking appointments by the mayor included: Rodel Rodis, Commissioner, Public Utilities Commission; Ernie Llorente, Commissioner, Elections Commission; and Anita Sanchez, mayor’s personal staff.
Happy January Birthdays: Al Baguio, Leatrice (Bantillo) Perez, Frank Carido, Beverly (Daquioag) Ventura, Nina (Dublin) Gonzalez, Larry Flores, George Jamero, George Ramirez.
Pinakbet — News Across America
Filipino American Historical Tidbits:
On January 8, 1815, Filipino settlers in Louisiana fought alongside the notorious French pirate Jean Lafitte against the British in the Battle of New Orleans…………. On May 16, 1929, the California State Senate passed a resolution by Assemblyman E.G. Adams of Livingston, memorializing Congress to restrict Filipino immigration into the United States. Assemblyman Adams offered the resolution on the grounds that “Filipinos are undesirable as citizens and offer a menace morally and hygienically to California.” Adams’ anti-Filipino resolution ultimately led to restrictions impacting Filipinos in the Repatriation Act of 1935 (aka the Filipino Exclusion Act.)
Did You Know:
On November 26 President Joe Biden named Nani Coloretti Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Upon Senate confirmation she will be the highest ranking Filipino/a American in the Biden Administration…………. The late Anita Sanchez, former Executive Officer of the San Francisco Civil Service Commission, got her start by establishing the non-profit United Filipino Youth organization…………. On October 10 author Maria Alvarez-Stroud of Madison WI presented her book Brave Crossing: A Journey In-Between — a fictional account based on her father’s immigration to America — at the Filipino American Museum in Stockton
Musings
White Supremacy in America, (to) It Has Always Been About People of Color, (to) Equitable Justice for People of Color, Part XXII:
(To date Congress has failed to pass anti-voter suppression legislation. My September 2021 blog bemoaned Congressional ineptitude and is partly reprinted below:)
Federal failure to act is not solely due to Republican inaction. Despite their rhetoric, the Democratic Party and the White House have not taken full advantage of their immense political power. Nothing is more important to our democracy than preserving voter rights and our democracy — not infrastructure, not climate change, not even Covid.
PASS ANTI-VOTER SUPPRESSION LEGISLATION
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