The Montells
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1963 |
| Headquarters | Miami , United States |
| Products | Garage rock music, singles ("Don't Bring Me Down", "You Can't Make Me") |
The Montells were a 1960s American garage rock ensemble originating from Miami, Florida. For a short period, they performed under the name H.M. Subjects, during which they recorded a rendition of the Pretty Things' "Don't Bring Me Down". This track achieved regional popularity but also ignited controversy involving disc jockey Morton Downey, Jr., due to its allegedly provocative lyrics and unsubstantiated payola accusations. The Montells are best remembered for their single "You Can't Make Me." Although they disbanded in 1967, the group reunited to perform in 2008.
Formation
The band was established in 1963 as the Impalas by students attending Miami's Southwest Senior High School, a notable incubator for local rock acts such as Evil and the Shaggs. The original lineup included John Weatherford on rhythm guitar, George Walden handling lead guitar duties, George Hall playing bass, and Jeff Allen on drums. Vocals were occasionally provided by Gene Murray. Both Walden and Weatherford had backgrounds in classical guitar, while Hall was active in the school band as a bassist. Allen became part of the group after acquiring a drum set labeled "Impalas," which inspired the band's initial name.
After approximately a year performing mainly instrumental surf tunes at social events, legal complications regarding their name necessitated a change. They adopted the name Montells, drawn from a nearby dance studio called House of Montell. In 1964, Carter Ragsdale joined as lead vocalist upon Murray's recommendation. The band's musical direction evolved toward a blues-inflected, harder rock style reminiscent of British groups such as the Rolling Stones and the Animals. Drummer Jeff Allen’s visits to England exposed him to influential bands like the Fairies, Downliners Sect, and the Pretty Things, whose records he brought back to Miami, significantly influencing their sound.
H. M. Subjects era and ensuing controversy
In May 1965, the Montells recorded multiple tracks at Dukoff Recording Studios in Miami, including a cover of "Don't Bring Me Down", originally by British band the Pretty Things. This song was featured on their debut single released through Blue Saint Records. To capitalize on the popularity of British Invasion bands such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, and at the suggestion of a local radio personality at WFUN, the group temporarily adopted the moniker H.M. Subjects—an abbreviation for "Her Majesty's Subjects."
The DJ responsible was Morton Downey Jr., known then as "'Doc' Downey," who had prior experience in music production and artist relations, including collaborations with surf rock groups like the Chantays and the Surfaris. Guitarist George Walden and drummer Jeff Allen frequently visited WFUN's studios and developed connections with its staff. Vocalist Carter Ragsdale introduced improvised lyrics with sexual innuendo to "Don't Let Me Down," incorporating lines such as "and when I laid her on the ground." Recognizing the potential for increased exposure through controversy, Downey became actively involved in promoting the record, which eventually reached number five on Miami’s music charts.
As the single gained traction, concerns arose among parents who criticized its suggestive content, branding it a "dirty record" and pushing for its prohibition. A censored version was produced by replacing "laid" with a beep tone; paradoxically, this drew even more attention to that lyric during airplay. Some accounts suggest that Downey himself might have inserted these censor beeps. While Downey leveraged the controversy to generate publicity, he simultaneously faced accusations of financial impropriety—specifically that he earned one cent per record sold for every song he aired on WFUN—with particular focus on H.M. Subjects' release. An internal investigation by WFUN found no conclusive evidence against Downey, allowing him to maintain his broadcasting role.
Nevertheless, further disputes involving leading DJ personnel at rival station WQAM raised concerns about WFUN’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license status. In response, Downey halted sales of the H.M. Subjects single, which led to its decline on the charts. These events culminated in Downey’s dismissal from WFUN. Music historian Jeff Lemlich observed that this episode deprived the Montells of what could have been a chart-topping hit and delayed their follow-up release—a cover of Van Morrison’s "Gloria."
Ongoing Performances and Recordings as the Montells
The group resumed using the Montells moniker, sustaining a notable local following by playing at various events such as dances, armory halls, and venues like the University of Florida, a Winter Haven club owned by Gram Parsons' father, and Daytona's Surf Club. In 1965, Danny Murphy took over bass duties from George Hall, contributing lead and backing vocals along with occasional guitar parts. The following year, Don Ricketts of Miami’s Modds briefly joined as a second bassist to allow Murphy to focus on guitar. During 1966, the Montells recorded their most recognized single, "You Can't Make Me," paired with Otis Blackwell’s "Daddy Rolling Stone," which was released on the Themes label in May. After drummer Jeff Allen departed to join Evil, Ted Napoleon stepped in as his replacement. In 1967, lead vocalist Carter Ragsdale was drafted for service in Vietnam; former bassist George Hall and John Mascaro from the Modds also served in the military. The band ultimately dissolved later that same year.
Subsequent Events
After disbanding, Carter Ragsdale and Steve Chase created Carter’s Pills, performing in local venues with Billy Demoya on organ. Ragsdale eventually transitioned into a career as a horse trainer. The Montells briefly reunited in 2008 for a performance at Geezerpalooza in Miami, featuring original members Ragsdale, Weatherford, and Hall, along with Johnny Dalton (formerly of Evil) on guitar and Dewey Bond (formerly of the Modds) on drums.
Following their breakup, the Montells garnered attention among garage rock enthusiasts. In 2002, Corduroy Records issued a split album showcasing both the Montells and Evil titled The Montells/Evil. Their song "You Can't Make Me" was also included on Crypt Records’ 1984 compilation Back from the Grave, Volume 3.
1963–1964 (as the Impalas)
- John Weatherford (rhythm guitar)
- George Walden (lead guitar)
- George Hall (bass)
- Jeff Allen (drums)
- Gene Murray (occasional vocals)
1964–1965 (as the Montells and H.M. Subjects)
- Carter Ragsdale (lead vocals)
- John Weatherford (rhythm guitar)
- George Walden (lead guitar)
- George Hall (bass)
- Jeff Allen (drums)
1965–1966
- Carter Ragsdale (lead vocals)
- John Weatherford (rhythm guitar)
- George Walden (lead guitar)
- Danny Murphy (bass, guitar)
- Don Rickets (bass)
- Jeff Allen (drums)
2008 reunion
- Carter Ragsdale (lead vocals)
- John Weatherford (rhythm guitar)
- Johnny Dalton (guitar)
- George Hall (bass)
- Dewey Bond (drums)
Discography
- "Don't Bring Me Down" (part 1) b/w "Don't Bring Me Down" (part 2) (as H.M. Subjects) (Blue Saint 1001, June 1965)
- "You Can't Make Me" b/w "Daddy Rolling Stone" (Thames 102, May 1966)