Paul Montgomery(III)
- Actor
Clarence and Mattie Montgomery gave birth to 11
children. One of these children they named Paul Montgomery. Paul grew
into a strong young man and it was discovered that he was gifted in
music with a rich baritone voice and an uncanny ability to play
practically any musical instrument. Paul then became blinded in a
tragic mishap where he then entered Mississippi School for the Blind
where his talents were thankfully recognized by his music teacher,
Henrietta Black. Young Paul then honed his musical ear by listening to
the local Black radio stations, which were just taking wings at that
time. One of his favorite disc jockey's was Mama Lou. Paul was immersed
in all types of music from the Bluesman B.B. King and all the other
forerunners of the music industry. He
grew up admiring and following such gospel greats as the Mighty Clouds
of Joy, Pilgrim Travelers, Soul Stirrers, Ray Charles, Mahalia Jackson
and many, many others. He learned especially the attributes of all of
them with his dynamic photographic memory. Other artists who embraced
him were Shirley Caesar, Melvin Williams, Yolanda Adams and Beyonce.
Paul's musical career
expanded greatly when he joined the great award winning Five Blind
Boys. He toured around the country and worldwide for several years with
great acclaim. He played and sang for many cultures, ethnic groups in
settings from outdoor parks to huge auditoriums, from small country
churches to cathedrals. During these years there were great
opportunities that he took advantage of. In short Paul Montgomery
became an American folk hero. Paul is
a historian and bible scholar. His favorite topics of interest are
philosophy, theology, musicology and the mysteries of life. Some of his
repertoire and gifts include social commentary, humor and comedy,
hilarious things that people say. He's an avid songwriter and composer
of songs, loves to perform spirituals from the 19th and 20th Centuries,
spirituals, work songs and contemporary pieces up until modern times.
He is a motion picture film actor with screen credits, a very popular
lecturer and knowledgeable on the topic of the blues and Mississippi
cotton plantation folk lore. Paul has surprisingly successfully engaged
the motion picture and film world with his acting debut in motion
pictures and film in Hollywood, California in which he received an
award for some of the roles that he played. Blind actors in Hollywood
is very rare and it is promising for younger blind people who may want
to challenge Hollywood tradition. Paul currently lives in Albany, Georgia,
with his adoring wife Delores, who also wears the hat of manager. The
two make a dynamic business team. This no doubt is probably one of the
major reasons for Paul's success in life as well as on the stage.