Antoinette Montague

Montague was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey. She grew up in a musical household. She is the youngest of 7 children. Her introduction to jazz was through her mother, who sang like Ella Fitzgerald. She grew up listening to her mother, Nat King Cole, Paul Robeson, Louis Armstrong, the Ink Spots, and Motown Sounds. Growing up her father would take her to the Newark Public Library where she would listen to many great jazz artists such as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. She is not shy about taking non jazz and blues tunes and turning them into jazz or blue style. She is known to be inspired not only by many Jazz legends but concerned about issues such as civil and human rights. Which inspired her to start the Jazz Woman to the Rescue Foundation. Her foundation's goal is to encourage and to mentor other artists and the public to donate their old instruments and art supplies to schools and communities in need of art and music programs. She is a protege of Etta Jones.^[1][2]

She sang in High School for her high school graduation. She attended Seton Hall University. She also sang with a Gospel choir growing up. Her early singing performances were at the Peppermint Lounge in East Orange, New Jersey.^[3]

Mentors who have influenced Montague are Etta Jones, Carrie Smith, Della Griffin, and Myrna Lake.^[4][5][6]