The Chicago Playboys first saw the light of day as the back-up band for Chicago blues and soul singer Little Johnny Christian, and the name has been carried forward by two of his former brass men who came together with other like-minded and talented musicians to create a unique Chicago-rooted, horn-heavy sound. The Playboys have now developed into a disciplined unit that is drawing comparisons to James Brown's former rhythm-intensive backing band, and are tearing up packed houses at home and across both seas. They continue to put the Chicago Playboys' name up on some of the biggest marquees and festival stages in the world. Big James Montgomery and Charlie Kimble first teamed up around 1990 and accompanied Johnny Christian throughout the early 1990s and backed him on his 1993 recording on the Big Boy label.
"Little Milton gave me my start," recalls trombonist Montgomery, who served two years with the legendary Milton and then a stint in the band of singular guitar stylist Albert King before joining Christian's outfit, "But Johnny really turned me loose. He was such a great singer and a major influence on me that I will always be grateful to him."
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