Vern Monnett
Encyclopedia
Vern Monnett is an American country and rock musician as well as an actor, producer, and composer. He has recorded and toured with such artists as Freddy Fender
, Randy Meisner
, Billy Swan
, and Charlie Rich, Jr.
Monnett sings as well as plays the guitar, pedal steel guitar, mandolin and Dobro. He is the great-grandson of musician Wilbur Monnett, who played cornet and trumpet for John Phillip Sousa and Arthur Pryor
.
Monnett graduated from Hurricane High School in 1977, and enlisted that year in the Army as a computer repairman for the HAWK missile system. Monnett's early career included European dates on Black Sabbath
's Heaven and Hell
tour as an opening act with the band Enertia.
bassist Randy Meisner
, Billy Swan
, and Charlie Rich Jr. This would result in the album "Meisner, Swan and Rich" (featuring drummer John Molo
) and tours of the United States and Europe.
and a young Sandra Bullock
in the 1993 movie "The Thing Called Love
." The 2006 Directors Cut DVD of this movie is a New York Times Critics Choice. He is featured in "The Beverly Hillbillies (film)" (1993) as part of the Dolly Parton
band. Monnett also acted and submitted soundtrack contributions for many television shows including "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman," "Murder She Wrote," "Burke's Law," "Beverly Hills, 90210
," "Boston Common
," The Gong Show
, and the pilot for "Cavemen: The Series,"
which was listed as one of the 25 WORST television shows of all time by the Chicago Tribune. Monnett is also featured on the soundtrack of the 1997 cult movie Space Truckers
.
Monnett has also appeared in several live television performances. He appeared on CMT’s “Nashville Now” with Gary Allan, where Monnett played guitar on the top ten hit "It Would Be You." Monnett also appeared live with Freddy Fender in the 2002 American Latin Music Awards (ALMA) show, filmed at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, where Fender was awarded the Richie Valens Pioneer Award. This was a prime time special broadcast live on ABC.
in 1993. He worked with Fender until Fender's death in 2005. This collaboration would result in recording two albums and worldwide touring to Europe, Japan, Canada, Australia, and the United States. During this period, Monnett also recorded and played with the Texas Tornados
. He is featured on the Grammy nominated album "4 Aces." Monnett also recorded with Tornados' members Augie Meyers
("Live from Lake Taco") and ("Blame it on Love") and Doug Sahm
("Sooner or Later") on the "Songs for the Alamo" album.
. Monnett supported the "Used Heart for Sale
" and "It Would Be You
" albums, and toured the United States. Monnett is featured with Allan on the Harry Connick Jr. Christmas song "It Must Have Been Old Santa Claus" as a background vocalist, and co-wrote "Another Place in Time" with Allan, Odie Blackmon & Jake Kelly. Monnett was on the forty-four city 1997-1998 Crown Royal "Untamed and True" tour that featured Mark Chesnutt
, David Lee Murphy
, and Allan. Although based in Los Angeles, Monnett spent most of 1997 living in Nashville, TN.
("Tear Stained Letter") and toured Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala.
, and was asked at one point to join his band. Monnett played on Bramlett's duet with recording artist Becca. Monnett toured and recorded with impressionist Greg London
in the U.S. and Mexico. Monnett joined headliner Albert Lee
during the November 4, 2009, Benefit for Richie Hayward, drummer for Little Feat
. Monnett has been a featured clinician at the Musicians Institute
(the former GIT
) in Hollywood since 2005.
), Earl Poole Ball (Johnny Cash
), and Cary Parks (Boy Howdy
). Monnett's work with Liza G. Fly on the song "The Palace Dance Floor" was included on the soundtracks of the movies "The Blue Motel" and "Back to Even." Monnett also produced the album "You Come to Me" for Los Angeles based Maggie Brandon, which featured the duet "This I Promise You for Life" with Rick Springfield
. Monnett's internet based recording system allowed him to be included on the 2009 "Flower Petals" album with New Orleans band "The Subdudes
." The recording was done in Los Angeles for the now Boulder, Colorado based band. The finished track was added and mixed at Criteria Studios
in Miami by legendary engineers The Albert Brothers
.
* These albums were produced by Vern Monnett
Freddy Fender
Freddy Fender , born Baldemar Garza Huerta in San Benito, Texas, United States, was a Mexican-American Tejano, country and rock and roll musician, known for his work as a solo artist and in the groups Los Super Seven and the Texas Tornados...
, Randy Meisner
Randy Meisner
Randy Herman Meisner is an American musician and songwriter, best known as a founding member of Poco and the Eagles...
, Billy Swan
Billy Swan
Billy Lance Swan is an American songwriter and singer, best known for his 1974 single, "I Can Help".-Life:Swan was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. As a child, he learned drums, piano and guitar, and began writing songs...
, and Charlie Rich, Jr.
Charlie Rich, Jr.
Charlie Rich, Jr. is the son of the late country music star, Charlie Rich. Charlie Jr is a keyboard player, singer, and songwriter. He won the Phillips Award for Best Newcomer of 1999, presented by the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences in Memphis, Tennessee, USA...
Monnett sings as well as plays the guitar, pedal steel guitar, mandolin and Dobro. He is the great-grandson of musician Wilbur Monnett, who played cornet and trumpet for John Phillip Sousa and Arthur Pryor
Arthur Pryor
Arthur Willard Pryor was a trombone virtuoso, bandleader, and soloist with the Sousa Band. In later life, he was an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey, who served on the Monmouth County, New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders during the 1930s.Pryor was born on the second floor of...
.
Monnett graduated from Hurricane High School in 1977, and enlisted that year in the Army as a computer repairman for the HAWK missile system. Monnett's early career included European dates on Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
's Heaven and Hell
Heaven and Hell (Black Sabbath album)
Heaven and Hell is the ninth studio album by British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in April 1980. This is their first album featuring Ronnie James Dio, and first with producer Martin Birch.-Album information:...
tour as an opening act with the band Enertia.
Meisner, Rich and Swan
After moving to Los Angeles in the late 1980s, Monnett began working as the lead guitarist and pedal steel player with Eagles and PocoPoco
Poco is an Southern California country rock band originally formed by Richie Furay and Jim Messina following the demise of Buffalo Springfield in 1968. The title of their first album, Pickin' Up the Pieces, is a reference to the break-up of Buffalo Springfield. Highly influential and creative,...
bassist Randy Meisner
Randy Meisner
Randy Herman Meisner is an American musician and songwriter, best known as a founding member of Poco and the Eagles...
, Billy Swan
Billy Swan
Billy Lance Swan is an American songwriter and singer, best known for his 1974 single, "I Can Help".-Life:Swan was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. As a child, he learned drums, piano and guitar, and began writing songs...
, and Charlie Rich Jr. This would result in the album "Meisner, Swan and Rich" (featuring drummer John Molo
John Molo
John Molo , is an American rock and jazz drummer and percussionist. He has played with a variety of bands, combos, and soloists, including Bruce Hornsby and the Range, The Other Ones, Phil Lesh and Friends, Delaney Bramlett, John Fogerty, Keller Williams, Mike Watt, Paul Kelly, David Nelson,...
) and tours of the United States and Europe.
Movies and Television
Monnett began work in motion pictures and television in the early 1990s. His first role was with River PhoenixRiver Phoenix
River Jude Phoenix was an American film actor, musician, and teen icon. He was the oldest brother of fellow actors Rain, Joaquin, Liberty, and Summer Phoenix.Phoenix began acting at age 10 in television commercials...
and a young Sandra Bullock
Sandra Bullock
Sandra Annette Bullock is an Academy Award winning American actress and producer who rose to fame in the 1990s after roles in successful films such as Demolition Man, Speed, The Net, A Time to Kill, and While You Were Sleeping. She continued with films such as Miss Congeniality, The Lake House,...
in the 1993 movie "The Thing Called Love
The Thing Called Love
The Thing Called Love is an American comedy-drama film released in 1993. It was directed by Peter Bogdanovich. The film's tagline is: "Stand by your dream."...
." The 2006 Directors Cut DVD of this movie is a New York Times Critics Choice. He is featured in "The Beverly Hillbillies (film)" (1993) as part of the Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
band. Monnett also acted and submitted soundtrack contributions for many television shows including "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman," "Murder She Wrote," "Burke's Law," "Beverly Hills, 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210 is an American drama series that originally aired from October 4, 1990 to May 17, 2000 on Fox and was produced by Spelling Television in the United States, and subsequently on various networks around the world. It is the first series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise...
," "Boston Common
Boston Common
Boston Common is a central public park in Boston, Massachusetts. It is sometimes erroneously referred to as the "Boston Commons". Dating from 1634, it is the oldest city park in the United States. The Boston Common consists of of land bounded by Tremont Street, Park Street, Beacon Street,...
," The Gong Show
The Gong Show
The Gong Show is an amateur talent contest franchised by Sony Pictures Television to many countries. It was broadcast on NBC's daytime schedule from June 14, 1976 through July 21, 1978, and in first-run syndication from 1976–1980 and 1988–1989. The show was produced by Chuck Barris, who also served...
, and the pilot for "Cavemen: The Series,"
which was listed as one of the 25 WORST television shows of all time by the Chicago Tribune. Monnett is also featured on the soundtrack of the 1997 cult movie Space Truckers
Space Truckers
Space Truckers is a 1996 American comedy science-fiction film written and directed by Stuart Gordon. It was filmed at Ardmore Studios, County Wicklow, Ireland....
.
Monnett has also appeared in several live television performances. He appeared on CMT’s “Nashville Now” with Gary Allan, where Monnett played guitar on the top ten hit "It Would Be You." Monnett also appeared live with Freddy Fender in the 2002 American Latin Music Awards (ALMA) show, filmed at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, where Fender was awarded the Richie Valens Pioneer Award. This was a prime time special broadcast live on ABC.
Freddy Fender / The Texas Tornados
Monnett began working as the pedal steel guitarist for Tex Mex legend Freddy FenderFreddy Fender
Freddy Fender , born Baldemar Garza Huerta in San Benito, Texas, United States, was a Mexican-American Tejano, country and rock and roll musician, known for his work as a solo artist and in the groups Los Super Seven and the Texas Tornados...
in 1993. He worked with Fender until Fender's death in 2005. This collaboration would result in recording two albums and worldwide touring to Europe, Japan, Canada, Australia, and the United States. During this period, Monnett also recorded and played with the Texas Tornados
Texas Tornados
Texas Tornados is a Tejano band. Its music is a fusion of rock, country and various Mexican styles.-History:The initial combination of musicians of the Texas Tornados happened almost by chance at a concert performance of a mutual acquaintance...
. He is featured on the Grammy nominated album "4 Aces." Monnett also recorded with Tornados' members Augie Meyers
Augie Meyers
August "Augie" Meyers is an American musician. He is best known as keyboard-player with the Sir Douglas Quintet and the Texas Tornados.-History:...
("Live from Lake Taco") and ("Blame it on Love") and Doug Sahm
Doug Sahm
Douglas Wayne Sahm , was an American musician from Texas. Born in San Antonio, Texas, he was a child prodigy in country music, but became a significant figure in blues rock and other genres. Today Sahm is considered one of the most important figures in what is identified as Tejano music...
("Sooner or Later") on the "Songs for the Alamo" album.
Gary Allan
In 1997, Monnett was hired as the lead guitarist for recording artist Gary AllanGary Allan
Gary Allan Herzberg is an American country music artist, known professionally as Gary Allan.Signed to Decca Records in 1996, Allan made his debut on the United States country music scene with the release of his single "Her Man", the lead-off to his gold-certified debut album Used Heart for Sale,...
. Monnett supported the "Used Heart for Sale
Used Heart for Sale
-Album:-Singles:-Certifications:-Personnel:*Gary Allan – lead vocals*Dan Dugmore – acoustic guitar, steel guitar*Owen Hale – drums*Jim Lauderdale – background vocals*B...
" and "It Would Be You
It Would Be You
-Album:-Singles:...
" albums, and toured the United States. Monnett is featured with Allan on the Harry Connick Jr. Christmas song "It Must Have Been Old Santa Claus" as a background vocalist, and co-wrote "Another Place in Time" with Allan, Odie Blackmon & Jake Kelly. Monnett was on the forty-four city 1997-1998 Crown Royal "Untamed and True" tour that featured Mark Chesnutt
Mark Chesnutt
Mark Nelson Chesnutt is an American country music singer. Chesnutt recorded and released his first album, Doing My Country Thing, in the late-1980s on private independent record label, Axbar Records, with the vinyl album version now a collector's item...
, David Lee Murphy
David Lee Murphy
David Lee Murphy is an American country music artist. Signed to MCA Nashville Records in 1994, Murphy made his first appearance on the Billboard country charts that year with "Just Once", a song from the soundtrack to the 1994 film 8 Seconds. A year later, Murphy's debut album Out with a Bang was...
, and Allan. Although based in Los Angeles, Monnett spent most of 1997 living in Nashville, TN.
Jo-El Sonnier
In 2009, Monnett played guitar with Cajun music legend Jo-El SonnierJo-El Sonnier
Jo-El Sonnier is an American singer-songwriter and accordionist who performs country music and Cajun music. Originally signed to Mercury Nashville Records, Sonnier charted several minor singles on the Billboard country charts in the late 1970s...
("Tear Stained Letter") and toured Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala.
Collaborations with Other Artists
Monnett has also had the opportunity to work with other artists. The collaborations included several USO tours with R.B. Stone that spanned the globe from the Middle East (Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Israel, Egypt, The United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait) to Japan and Okinawa. The second Japanese tour featured Earl Poole Ball on piano. Monnett played and recorded with the legendary Delaney BramlettDelaney Bramlett
Delaney Bramlett was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and producer. Bramlett's five decade career reached peaks in creativity, performance, and notoriety in partnership with his then wife Bonnie Bramlett, in a revolving troupe of professional musicians and Rock superstars dubbed Delaney...
, and was asked at one point to join his band. Monnett played on Bramlett's duet with recording artist Becca. Monnett toured and recorded with impressionist Greg London
Greg London
Greg London is an American singer, entertainer and impressionist. After a solo hit show in London's West End, he enjoyed a lengthy residency in Reno, Nevada before announcing his move to the Las Vegas Strip in mid 2010.-Early life:...
in the U.S. and Mexico. Monnett joined headliner Albert Lee
Albert Lee
Albert William Lee, born 21 December 1943 in Leominster, Herefordshire, England, is an English guitarist known for his fingerstyle and hybrid picking technique. Lee has worked both in the studio and on tour with some of the most famous musicians which stretch through a very wide of genres...
during the November 4, 2009, Benefit for Richie Hayward, drummer for Little Feat
Little Feat
Little Feat is an American rock band formed by singer-songwriter, lead vocalist and guitarist Lowell George and keyboardist Bill Payne in 1969 in Los Angeles....
. Monnett has been a featured clinician at the Musicians Institute
Musicians Institute
Musicians Institute is a privately owned for-profit music vocational school located in Hollywood, California. Although not a regionally accredited school, the school offers a variety of unaccredited Bachelor Degree, Associate Degree and Certificate programs in fields including contemporary music...
(the former GIT
Git
Git may refer to:* Git , a British English term of abuse* Git , a distributed version control system* Git , by Skeletons & The Girl-Faced Boys...
) in Hollywood since 2005.
Production credits
Monnett has owned and operated "Chateau Monnett Studios" in Los Angeles since the early '90s. He has produced many albums and is featured as a producer and musician on Katie Trickett's 1995 album "Let Your Heart Run" which includes tracks featuring former bandmates Meisner, Rich and Swan, Augie Meyers, and cameo appearances by Jerry Scheff (Elvis PresleyElvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
), Earl Poole Ball (Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
), and Cary Parks (Boy Howdy
Boy Howdy
Boy Howdy was an American country music band. It was founded in 1990 in Los Angeles, California, United States by Jeffrey Steele , Hugh Wright , and brothers Cary and Larry Park...
). Monnett's work with Liza G. Fly on the song "The Palace Dance Floor" was included on the soundtracks of the movies "The Blue Motel" and "Back to Even." Monnett also produced the album "You Come to Me" for Los Angeles based Maggie Brandon, which featured the duet "This I Promise You for Life" with Rick Springfield
Rick Springfield
Rick Springfield is an Australian-born singer-songwriter, musician, and actor. He was a member of pop rock group Zoot from 1969 to 1971 and then started his solo career with his début single "Speak to the Sky" reaching the top 10 in Australia. In mid-1972, he relocated to the United States...
. Monnett's internet based recording system allowed him to be included on the 2009 "Flower Petals" album with New Orleans band "The Subdudes
The Subdudes
The Subdudes are an American roots rock group from New Orleans. Their music is a blending of American folk, swamp rock, New Orleans rhythm and blues, Louisiana blues, country, cajun, zydeco, funk, soul and gospel with harmonic vocals...
." The recording was done in Los Angeles for the now Boulder, Colorado based band. The finished track was added and mixed at Criteria Studios
Criteria Studios
Criteria Studios is a music-recording studio in Miami, Florida, started in 1958 by Mack Emerman.In 1999, The Hit Factory purchased Criteria Studios, revamping and reopening the studios under the new name The Hit Factory Criteria Miami.-Notable artists:...
in Miami by legendary engineers The Albert Brothers
The Albert Brothers
The Albert Brothers are two recording engineer brothers, Ron Albert and Howard Albert, who are best known for their work on various recordings at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida, founded and owned by Mack Emerman...
.
Selected discography
| Artist | Album | Year | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roger Varian (with David Crosby) | Shadows in Time | 1994 | AIM |
| Doug Sahm | Songs for the Alamo | 1994 | Stage Door |
| Freddy Fender | Mean Woman | 1995 | FF |
| Texas Tornados | 4 Aces | 1996 | Warner Brothers / Reprise |
| Freddy Fender | Crazy Cat | 1996 | FF |
| *Katie Trickett | Let Your Heart Run | 1997 | Via Marina |
| Cornbread Buddha (John Andrew Parks, Chris Speding, Joe Osbourne, Jr., Michael Botts and Vern Monnett) | Angels in Babylon | 1997 | Planettx |
| Augie Meyers | Alive and Well at Lake Taco | 1999 | White Boy |
| Gary Allan | Wrangler Cowboy Christmas | 1999 | Universal Music |
| Steve Young | Primal Young | 1999 | Appleseed / Shock |
| Delaney Bramlett | Don't Pour Water (On a Drowning Man) | 2000 | Magnolia Gold |
| Meisner, Swan, and Rich | Meisner, Swan, and Rich | 2002 | Dreamsville |
| Augie Meyers | Blame it on Love | 2002 | Texas World |
| *Maggie Brandon (with Rick Springfield) | You Come to Me | 2003 | QBC |
| Freddy Fender | Live! Special Edition (DVD) | 2004 | St. Claire |
| The Subdudes | Flower Petals | 2009 | 429 Records |
* These albums were produced by Vern Monnett