Delightfully off-kilter singer Joseph Montanez, who performed as Sir Monti Rock III, died on Feb. 23. He was 86. Born in the Bronx, Rock became famous through appearances on Johnny Carson’s and Merv Griffin’s shows in the 1960s, his get-up-and-dance rock and disco numbers including “The Tennessee Waltz,” "Get Dancin’,” and "I Wanna Dance Wit' Choo” becoming minor hits. Rock also acted, turning up in small roles in Saturday Night Fever, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Racquet, Cuba Crossing, and Miami Vice. “I was a reality show before reality shows,” said the openly gay, flamboyant Rock. “I was not an industry; I was just one person shocking the world by being so outlandishly innocent about what he was doing. I’m not a good actor but I did film. I’m not a good singer but I did records.” He added that “The one thing that I learned about talk shows, you have to talk to the people. And they like the underdog. I was always the guy trying to make it: He reaches for the stars, but he doesn’t quite make it.”
Monti Rocks The Tennessee Waltz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMSFDNdAGo0&list=RDkMSFDNdAGo0&start_radio=1
