“Monte was not only one of my best friends, he was a visionary who extended my brand beyond the movie and TV screens to major brands, pop and urban culture. He made sure I was constantly working between film jobs. He always looked you straight in the eye and was honest, trustworthy and loyal – qualities nearly extinct in our industry. I owe a tremendous amount of my fan base to his promotion of me as an entertainer. ” –actor Laz Alonso
Lamonte Cordell Wanzer or “Monte” as we called him, had the executive, management and celebrity wrangling and deal-making down to a fine art. Monte started his business before hip-hop and DJ culture rose to the prominence both enjoy today. Monte saw the value in a celebrity DJ named Biz Markie. The creation of BizMont Entertainment would become the pinnacle highlight for many events. Events from the Essence Music Festival to corporate events with the likes of Procter & Gamble to working with ad agencies and promoters from around the world, this executive had the gift of negotiation and professionalism. For Biz Markie, Doug E. Fresh, Laz Alonso and many other entertainers, BizMont Entertainment and Monte represented a connection between business-to-business transactions from the entertainer to the corporation utilizing a methodology that had a full-time staff able to answer questions, execute contracts, and make it happen.
It was the personality that made “street” more Wall Street as it looked at how the value of a DJ, the value of a leading man could play a role in the activation of any engagement at a corporate level for a Fortune 500 company, to the kickoff or the onstage presence of the world’s best entertainers. The character best of all that I remember is what he said to me when we were working together. Unselfishly, Monte and I were able to work with one talent without stepping on any toes. He said, “Let’s get it done.” Getting it done unselfishly, being able to coalesce objectives between the talent being represented at the highest level and the accomplishment of booking, oftentimes several times a day and being on time.
For many who do not know the needs of urban entertainers the opportunity to create value is what BizMont and Monte did for many. Adding value and professionalism in an urban landscape that is now only being mimicked by others, but it was Monte, the trailblazer, who kept the DJ and the Hollywood leading man at the forefront of consideration for Fortune 500 companies. He was also an asset to promoters looking for that next level access and dependability and respect that would garner the objectives of the brand managers and the club owners who wanted extraordinary events and extraordinary talent and access. Monte made stars.
He will be missed by all of us in the industry for his commitment to get the job done, to make it happen, to be on time, to be compensated at the highest possible level and to smile and know that the show must go on. We will all move on but not without fond memories and deep care and concern. We send a special love to his wife and his daughter and his family. We say to Monte, job well done. Good and faithful servant to so many, we love you.
