Artists: Biography Monte Warden  

Monte Warden won his first Austin Music Award (for best new band) when he was 15 years old. The group in question was the country trio, Whoa Trigger!, which the young Warden rode all the way into his next band, the Wagoneers, which scored a major-label deal with A&M after performing at the first SXSW. The band's Stout and High debut was released to critical acclaim.

The early to mid-'90s found Warden launching a solo career, resulting in three albums showcasing his signature blend of Buddy Holly hooks, hot rockabilly guitar licks and straight-up Texas honky-tonk. His self-titled solo debut was named one of the 100 best American albums of the 20th century by the British music magazine, NME.

Warden's biggest success in recent years has been as a professional songwriter, landing cuts in several movies and television shows and with artists like Kelly Willis, Patty Loveless, George Jones, Bruce Robison, Travis Tritt and George Strait, to name a few. Warden co-wrote Strait's hit, "Desperately." In the fall of 2005, Warden was awarded his first BMI songwriting award for success in the country field. In 2006, he was awarded the prestigious BMI Million-Air award, signifying over 1 million radio performances of "Desperately." Warden writes exclusively for Moonkiss Music and lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife and publisher, Brandi, and their three sons.