Chris Montez (born January 17, 1943) is a Mexican-American singer. Initiall… Read Full Bio ↴Chris Montez (born January 17, 1943) is a Mexican-American singer. Initially known as a rock n roll artist, Montez became one of the most important chicano rockers following the tragic passing of Ritchie Valens, his mentor. Montez had a #4 hit in the US with the 1962 single "Let's Dance". Later, he was reinvented as a middle of the road easy listening singer, boasting a slew of Hot 100/Adult Contemporary crossover hits, predominantly renditions of jazz standards such as "The More I See You", "There Will Never Be Another You", and "Time After Time".

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.

Little White Lies
Chris Montez Lyrics

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The moon was all aglow
But heaven was in your eyes
The night that you told me
Those little white lies

The stars all seemed to know
You didn't mean all those sighs
The night that you told me

Those little white lies

I try, but there's no forgetting
When evenin' appears
I sigh but there's no regretting
In spite of my tears

Who wouldn't believe those lips
Who wouldn't believe those eyes
The night that you told me
Those little white lies

I try, but there's no forgetting
When evenin' appears
I sigh but there's no regretting
In spite of my tears

The Devil was in your heart
But Heaven was in your eyes
The night that you told me
Those little white lies

Those lies
Teeny-weeny little white lies

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Chris Montez's song "Little White Lies" tell the story of a relationship that is based on dishonesty. The singer of the song is told a series of "little white lies" by his partner, which he initially believes due to being blinded by his love for her. He acknowledges that the lies have caused him pain and sadness, but he still finds himself unable to forget her, even though he knows she is not good for him. The lyrics convey a sense of longing and regret, as the singer mourns what he once had while acknowledging that it was built on falsehoods.

The opening lines of the song set the scene by describing a beautiful evening with a glowing moon and "heaven" in the eyes of the singer's partner. However, this heavenly feeling quickly dissipates as the singer realizes that the love he thought was real was built on "little white lies." The repetition of the phrase emphasizes the central theme of the song: the impact of dishonesty on a relationship.

The chorus of the song is perhaps the most memorable, thanks to the catchy melody and the way it frames the relationship between the singer and his partner. He acknowledges that he has tried to forget the lies but cannot, and that he feels regretful but cannot change the past. The final verse adds a new dimension to the song by introducing the idea that his partner was, in fact, not entirely pure-hearted, as the devil was in her heart even as heaven was in her eyes.

Line by Line Meaning

The moon was all aglow
The night was bright and beautiful

But heaven was in your eyes
You looked so happy and content

The night that you told me
The evening when you shared something with me

Those little white lies
The dishonest words that you spoke

The stars all seemed to know
The universe was aware of your deceit

You didn't mean all those sighs
Your emotions were not genuine

I try, but there's no forgetting
I attempt to forget, but I cannot

When evenin' appears
When the night comes

I sigh but there's no regretting
I feel sad but not sorry

In spite of my tears
Although I am crying

Who wouldn't believe those lips
Who wouldn't trust those words