RONCEVERTE W.Va. (WVDN) – Rising country music star Walker Montgomery will be making his way to the Mountain State as he headlines the Ronceverte River Festival this weekend. “If you’re into up tempo, we’ve got it,” says Montgomery. “If you like love songs as I do, we’ve got those too. Whatever you like, something is gonna be there.”
Son of country music legend John Michael Montgomery and nephew of Montgomery Gentry’s Eddie Montgomery, Walker is finding his own way into the hearts of music lovers. At 16 years of age, he picked up a guitar and soon realized that music was the career path he wanted to pursue. “I figured it out in high school,” he said with a chuckle. “I was playing sports and realized that I wasn’t going to the NFL, so music was a smooth transition for me.”
Acknowledging that growing up in a musical family certainly influenced him, Montgomery speaks of his dad with appreciation. “My relationship with my father is nonmusical,” he said. “That’s good for me because I don’t want him to be my business partner – I want him to be my dad. He’s always been very respectful and has let me find my own way,” Montgomery adds.
Having reprised John Michael Montgomery’s hit “I Love The Way You Love Me” from the early 90s, Walker admits this song is the one with the most special meaning to him. “It was dad’s first No.1, and it changed his whole life,” he said. “It’s done the same for me.” With over 2 million views on YouTube, the official music video is nothing short of spectacular in terms of both music and vocals.
The creative process is different for every artist, but Walker believes a good song is the foundation for success. “I always start out with a song,” he says. “Whether I wrote it or not, we’re always trying to find or write the best song we can. We take it into the studio and hope to find some magic there,” he adds. “The studio musicians here in Nashville are absolute geniuses. Once you get the right song, you can go from there. But if you don’t have the song, you’re up a creek.”
We all know what it’s like to be listening to the radio and a song comes on that transports us to another place and time. Maybe it’s a moment or a person but whatever the memory, music has a way of reminding us. “I think it’s all about relatability,” Montgomery says. “If someone can relate to a song, it’s going to impact their life. Whether it’s a love song or a sad song, it can become a part of you just as much as a memory.”
Walker Montgomery has already accomplished so much at a young age, including performing at the Grand Ole Opry, having his music streamed millions of times on social media, touring and most recently getting engaged. On May 28, Montgomery announced his engagement to Krista Slaubaugh (Tigirlily Gold). “She said YES,” Montgomery said. When asked if there was a date in mind for the nuptials, he admits that it will likely be sometime next spring. “She’ll let me know when,” he said with a smile.
In the meantime, Walker Montgomery will continue touring and playing to crowds of cheering fans. “That’s what I love,” he says. “My goal every single year is to play more shows than I did the year before.” When asked what he likes most about performing, he replied “Every night is different. You never get a groundhog day. Some crowds have more energy than others. Some are calm, and some are rowdy,” he added. “You have different shows that you can perform to compliment the crowd. It makes it exciting every time you walk on stage.”
Speaking of crowds, this weekend’s Ronceverte River Festival will be the next stop for Walker Montgomery. On Saturday, June 14, fans will have the opportunity to see him live in concert at 8:30 p.m. at the Island Park Amphitheater. Admission is free of charge. “We’re going to be in a beautiful area,” Montgomery said. “We always love coming to West Virginia. It’s like a little mountain vacation. So come out and have a good time. I appreciate everyone coming to hang out with me.”
For more information about Walker Montgomery, upcoming shows and new releases, visit walkermontgomery.com or follow him on social media at Facebook.com/walkercmontgomery.
