2/25/26-Sir Monti Rock III/Disco Tex Passed

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Joseph Montanez Jr. was born in Bronx, New York in 1939 into a Puerto Rican Family. He became the flamboyant performer Sir Monti Rock III in the 1960s and gained fame with multiple appearances on The Merv Griffin Show and Johnny Carson.

Disco Tex & the Sex-O-Lettes was created as a collaboration with Four Seasons producer Bob Crewe in 1974. The first single “Get Dancin'” became a sensation, selling millions of copies and reaching the American & UK Pop Top 10 and #1 on the Disco Chart. The full length version was over seven minutes, satisfying needs of discos at the time.

In February 1975, he released the “Disco Tex & the Sex-O-Lettes Review” LP, which also became a big hit.

The follow-up single, “I Wanna Dance Wit’ Choo (Doo Dat Dance)” peaked at # 23 and became a UK Top 10 in 1975. Both records became instant staples at dance clubs. Rock also appeared as a DJ in the “Saturday Night Fever” movie.

Rock had a falling out with producer Crewe, telling “The Lost 45s” that he didn’t receive royalties for the records and left the business. Moving to Las Vegas, he became an ordained minister, went back to being a hair stylist and performed whenever the mood struck him.

Rock was openly gay at a time few performers were visible.

He died from COPD complications at his home in Las Vegas, on February 23, 2026, at the age of 86.