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.
Love Is a Many Splendored Thing
Chris Montez Lyrics
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It's the April rose that only grows in the early Spring
Love is nature's way of giving a reason to be living
The golden crown that makes a man a king
Once on a high and windy hill, In the morning mist
Two lovers kissed and the world stood still
Then your fingers touched my silent heart and taught it how to sing
Yes, true love's a many splendored thing
Love is a many splendored thing
It's the April rose that only grows in the early Spring
Love is nature's way of giving a reason to be living
The golden crown that makes a man a king
Once on a high and windy hill, In the morning mist
Two lovers kissed and the world stood still
Then your fingers touched my silent heart and taught it how to sing
Yes, true love's a many splendored thing
The lyrics of Chris Montez's song "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing" speak of the beauty and significance of love. The song compares love to an April rose that only blossoms in the early spring, which signifies how love can grow and flourish under the right conditions. Love is described as nature's way of giving a person a reason to live and as a golden crown that makes a man feel like a king. The lyrics evoke the memories of two lovers who once shared a magical moment together when "the world stood still" and their love was solidified through their kiss on a high and windy hill in the morning mist.
The second verse of "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing" focuses again on the beauty of love, describing it in the same metaphors used in the first verse. Chris Montez describes how true love can touch a person's heart and make it sing, affirming the significance of love in enriching a person's life. These lyrics are a testament to the powerful and transformative nature of love and how it can imbue meaning, passion, and beauty into our existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Love is a many splendored thing
Love is a wonderful feeling that can bring joy and beauty to life
It's the April rose that only grows in the early Spring
Like the rare and beautiful April rose, love is something unique and special that only comes around occasionally
Love is nature's way of giving a reason to be living
Love can provide a sense of purpose and meaning to life, as it is a natural and essential part of the human experience
The golden crown that makes a man a king
Having someone to love and who loves you back can make you feel powerful and important, like a king with a crown
Once on a high and windy hill, In the morning mist
This line sets the scene for a romantic encounter between two lovers
Two lovers kissed and the world stood still
Their love was so intense and powerful that it seemed to stop time and hold the whole world in suspense
Then your fingers touched my silent heart and taught it how to sing
The touch of their lover's hand can awaken a part of them that had been dormant, and make them feel whole and complete
Yes, true love's a many splendored thing
Repeating the opening line, this reinforces the idea that love is something truly special and wonderful
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SAMMY FAIN, PAUL WEBSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind