Born Ezekiel Christopher Montanez in Los Angeles, California, Montez was brought up in Hawthorne, California. His early musical influences included the latino music played and performed by residents of his neighborhood, as well as Ritchie Valens. After the release of the highly successful "Let's Dance" on Monogram Records, Montez spent several years touring with artists such as Sam Cooke, The Platters, and Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, as well as The Beatles, then relatively unknown outside of Liverpool.
Early in 1963, Montez would score another hit with "Some Kinda Fun". Reaching #43 on the charts, the song utilized the same catchy keyboard instrumentation as did "Let's Dance"; fittingly, both were million sellers, and were awarded gold discs. 1963 also saw the release of Montez's only album on Monogram, Let's Dance and Have Some Kinda' Fun!!!. Shortly before Monogram folded, Montez was paired up with Kathy Young, releasing two singles as the duo Chris & Kathy, most notably surf rock classic "Shoot That Curl". While at Monogram, Montez wrote, or co-wrote, several of his own songs, such as "Chiquita Mia", "Let's Do the Limbo" and "No No No".
Two years later, Montez was practically a non-entity in the music business; however, Herb Alpert, co-founder of A&M Records, cordially invited Montez to resume his recording career at A&M. When Montez attempted to replicate his earlier rock 'n' roll success, however, Alpert personally suggested that Montez try a different approach: a middle of the road, soft ballad sound. While not particularly interested in changing his style of music, Montez decided to trust Alpert's instincts.
"Call Me", a cover version of a Petula Clark song, was the first single from his 1966 album, The More I See You / Call Me, earning Montez his biggest hit in years, eventually reaching #22. The song has since become an easy listening standard. The album's title cut, Montez's second single, was a source of confusion for certain radio disc jockeys who were unfamiliar with Montez' past as a rocker; when back-announcing the song, they would often refer to Montez as being female, likely owing to Montez's falsetto singing style. This confusion would be cleared up by the time the album, bearing Montez's pictures on the front and back sleeve, was released.
Montez would record three more albums for A&M: Time After Time (1966), Foolin' Around (1967), and Watch What Happens (1968). Although quite stylistically similar to his first hit album on A&M, they failed to mirror its success, although Time After Time's title cut and "Because of You" both managed to crack the Hot 100. In 1968, Montez departed from A&M on a three-year sabbatical. In 1972, Montez released a big hit single in Brazil, "Loco por ti". By this time, he had returned to his rock roots, albeit with more noticeable pop influence than before.
Two years later, now with CBS Records, Montez released The Best of Chris Montez, a compilation consisting of both old and new material, the newer bearing little to no resemblance to his past hits. While at CBS, he released one more album: Raza: Ay no digas, which fared well in international markets but failed to make an impact in the US. In 1983, Montez released his final album, Cartas de Amor, all of its songs being sung in Spanish. Although his recording career appears to be behind him, Montez is still an active musician, performing to mostly foreign audiences.
In 2008, Frozen Pictures announced plans to make a documentary on Montez's life and career, El viaje musical de Ezekiel Montanez: The Chris Montez Story. The film, focusing on Montez's multi-faceted musical career and considerable influence, has been previewed at several film festivals, but has not seen domestic release.
Chiquita Mia
Chris Montez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes I love you with all my heart
Little girl don't you let me go
Little girl of mine, please don't make me cry
Never leave me all alone
Never ever say goodbye
You belong to only me
That's the way it's gotta be
(Guitar)
Chiquitita mia, won't you hear my prayer
So that when I awaken from my dream
I will see you standing there
Chiquitita, chiquitita mia
You belong to only me
That's the way it's gotta be
Little girl of mine, my love is true
This song of love I sing
I sing for only you
(Repeat & Fade)
I sing for only you
The lyrics of "Chiquita Mia" by Chris Montez revolve around the singer's undying love for a little girl. The song outlines the singer's affection for his beloved and his fear of losing her. He reassures her that she belongs to him alone, and he pleads with her never to let him go. The repetitive use of "chiquita mia" emphasizes the singer's affection for his little girl, and the simplicity of the lyrics emphasizes the purity of his love for her. He sings that he will always be there for her, and he hopes that she will always remain by his side.
The song's sweet and innocent tone reflects the culture of 1960s Mexican-American music, which valued love, family, and tradition. It was a time when music was simple, fun, and less serious than later periods. The song's steady, rhythmic beat, along with the guitar accompaniment, creates a feeling of warmth and familiarity that reinforces the lyrics' message of love. The singer's tone is earnest, and the song conveys the message of the importance of the love of family and loved ones.
Line by Line Meaning
Chiquitita mia, oh I love you so
My little darling, I adore you with all of my heart.
Little girl don't you let me go
Sweetheart, please don't leave me alone.
Little girl of mine, please don't make me cry
My dearest, please do not cause me pain.
Never leave me all alone
Please don't ever abandon me.
Never ever say goodbye
I never want to part from you.
Chiquitita, chiquitita mia
My beloved little one,
You belong to only me
You're mine and nobody else's.
That's the way it's gotta be
It's non-negotiable and always will be.
Chiquitita mia, won't you hear my prayer
My darling, please listen to my plea.
So that when I awaken from my dream
So when I wake up, I can see you there.
I will see you standing there
You'll be right there in front of me.
Little girl of mine, my love is true
Darling, my affection for you is genuine.
This song of love I sing
This melody of affection is dedicated to you.
I sing for only you
It's only for you that I sing this song.
Contributed by Max O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@proudcynophile1901
What a delight! So whimsical! This is exactly the kind of music that enchanted me when I was but a school girl. Now 45 years this sound makes me happy because it makes me feel like a carefree kid again. Thanks Chris.
@annturner7060
I love it
@rrv1959
Rockin'
@glittergirlarizona4528
I sing for only you! I luv you Tonito!