Blues-rock guitarist, singer and songwriter Coco Montoya will perform live in Phoenix on Halloween night.

Mentored by the “Master of the Telecaster” Albert Collins and schooled by a decade on the road with John Mayall, Montoya will bring his hard-edged sound to MIM Music Theater, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., in Phoenix for a 7:30 p.m. show Thursday, Oct. 31.

His debut album came out in 1995 (which won him the Blues Music Award for Best New Artist) and for his 2023 Alligator Records album, “Writing On The Wall,” Montoya brought his road-tested band — keyboardist and songwriter Jeff Paris (Keb’ Mo’, Bill Withers), bassist Nathan Brown, and drummer Rena Beavers — into the studio with him.

“Writing On The Wall” debuted at #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart.

Produced by Grammy Award-winner Tony Braunagel (Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal) and co-produced by Jeff Paris, “Writing On The Wall” features 13 tracks include five written or co-written by Montoya. The set opens with a performance of the soul-baring “I Was Wrong,” written for Montoya by songwriter Dave Steen.

The self-taught, left-handed Montoya mastered his craft under blues master Collins’ tutelage and friendship. Initially hired to be Collins' drummer, Montoya, at Collins' urging, became the band's second guitarist. A few years later, the UK legend Mayall, who passed away in July at the age of 90, chose Montoya to be his lead guitarist in the famous Bluesbreakers.

Montoya traveled the world, soaking up both musical and life lessons.

In 2000, Montoya’s Alligator debut, “Suspicion,” quickly became the best-selling album of his career and earned regular radio airplay on more than 120 commercial stations nationwide.