Monkey is a third wave ska band hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area, heavily influenced by artists such as the Skatalites, the Specials, Prince Buster, Elvis Costello, David Byrne, and Tito Puente. The band has released five albums, with their debut album, ¡Changito!, being listed as San Jose's Best Independent Release for 1998. They have won several awards, including the California Music Award in 1999, and have toured across the world, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and the United Kingdom. Monkey's music has been featured in movie and video game soundtracks as well as various compilations. The band was founded in 1995 by Curtis Meacham and Kevin Miller, and their lineup has undergone numerous changes, with Meacham and Miller being the constant members. The current lineup consists of Meacham, Micah Turney, Brian Lockrem, Dan Root, and Gabe Jimenez. Monkey's first label-supported album, Cruel Tutelage, was released in 2004 on Asian Man Records.
