Jan 21 2025
The High Pasture, a song about love, loss, and faith took home Best Song, Inspirational/Christian Category in the 2024 Dallas Songwriters Association (DSA) International Song Competition. Our lullaby, The Door To Your Dreams, placed 2nd in the Children's Category.
Jun 22 2024
We are pleased to announce that ABC picked up our song Bourbon Trail for the hit series Criminal Minds: Evolution. The episode aired June 20th on the Paramount+ network to an estimated 11 million viewers.
Jul 15 2023
Effective immediately, Distinguishing Marks Music LLC ("DMM") will offer select compositions from the catalog of international composer Daniel Montgomery for streaming. Daniel is an American composer and musician currently living in Spain. After studying composition at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, he embarked on a long and successful career recording and playing drums with such musical luminaries as Ray Charles, Percy Sledge, Billy Paul, Mose Allison, Alex Chilton, Taj Mahal, Johnette Napolitano, Tom Johnston, the popular Spanish group The Stormy Mondays and many other rock and blues legends. In addition to recording and playing live throughout the US and Europe, Daniel composes original orchestral works for TV, film, and other commercial projects. We are pleased to offer select compositions from his catalog here.
Dec 21 2021
From mega Music Publisher Chris Keaton (Reba McEntire, Brooks & Dunn, George Strait, Martina McBride, Pam Tillis, Trisha Yearwood): "From the opening jangly guitar "call to arms" I was hooked. The vibe, the groove and then the plaintive vocal took me strait to the Quarter for a stroll among the flavors, smells and sounds of New Orleans. Ah, what music can do. Quite honestly I can't stop listening to this wonderful elixir of a song. The story is haunting and engaging. It requires the listener to beg for more of the story. The timbre of the lead vocal is exceptional. The inherent heartbreak of the sound is something else. Then when the backing vocals appear the song is elevated to a new level. It recalls echoes of the Eagles or The Hollies. Please don't get me wrong here, this is totally unique and original with a wonderful tip of the hat to those who came before. Musically the track really works. New elements appear at just the right time to keep the listener engaged and interested. The arrangement and recording are absolutely top notch. This really sounds like a hit song to me. Timeless and new at the same time. Simple. Elegant. Swaying side to side, flirting and haunting like Sweet Angelique herself."
Nov 26 2021
From Music Publisher Chris Keaton (Reba, Brooks and Dunn, George Strait, Martina McBride, Pam Tillis, Trisha Yearwood): "Once they're gone a part of us goes, too," indeed. What a marvelously poignant line. This line ties it all together in a neat and cohesive bow. Bravo. From the opening theme of the steel and piano playing in unison I was hooked. The lyric is very approachable and creates strong and lasting visuals. I really like the flow from intro to verse to chorus and then the opening motif returns. Structurally the song is well written, arranged and produced. The production is not over the top but supports the lyric/melody in an elegant and beautifully simple way. I really appreciate the way the final verse breaks down and focuses on the lyric. Speaking of the lyric, again it is truly well written. There does not seem to be a wasted word or phrase in sight here. Lots of artists in the genre could identify and deliver this song. Could absolutely be a hit!
Nov 22 2021
From Producer Doug Diamond (Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Nicks, T-Bone Burnett, Don Was): "Arcata" is one of the best Funk-influenced Bluesy Rock songs you will hear. With a combination one-two punch of excellent, poignant lyrics, smoky vocals and top-notch performances, this song is a perfect match for a dark drama, mystery, or thriller - and it's fun to listen to!
Nov 22 2021
Producer Doug Diamond: "Little Too Late" is an awesome mid-tempo Blues-Rock song about lost love. With superb performances all around, excellent production value - and most importantly - great songwriting and melody, it's a real treat for any listener.
Nov 22 2021
Grammy Award-winning producer Jason Miles (Miles Davis, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, The Crusaders, George Benson, Herb Alpert, Grover Washington Jr.): "It's hard to sell a blues song but they really pull it off with "Nob Hill Blues". This song and performance are right on the money."
Nov 22 2021
From the venerable Joe Vitale (Eagles, Joe Walsh, CSN): "House On Fire" is a great tune!! It certainly speaks to the masses. It is melancholy and pure. It tells the truth. I feel that its story has been shared by many of us. I'm sure that we've all felt this way at some point in our lives.....It's the kind of song that's eternal.....We will all fall in and out of love until the end of time !!! This is a GREAT song !!