Wes Montgomery

John Weslie “Wes” Montgomery (b. Indianapolis, March 6, 1923 – d. Indianapolis, June 15, 1968) – Guitarist. Learning to play the guitar by ear at age nineteen by copying Charlie Christian’s recorded solos, Wes left his home town to tour and record with Lionel Hampton’s band from 1948 to 1950. Weary of life on the road, he returned to Indianapolis to work a factory job during the day and play in the Indiana Avenue clubs at night—all to support his family of eight children. Rediscovered at Indy’s Missile Lounge by Cannonball Adderley, Wes’s career took off in the mid to late 1950s, and he began recording prolifically, sometimes with brothers Buddy (piano) and Monk (bass). Starting in 1959, Wes had his own combo and found time to work with others including John Coltrane, whose sextet he played with briefly in 1960, and Wynton Kelly. Through his recordings, he revolutionized the jazz guitar with his smooth single-note thumb technique and his melodic use of block chords and octaves. In his last few years, he abandoned traditional jazz in favor of playing pop-tune arrangements, which reached a wider audience. Even though his career was shortened by a heart attack at age forty-five, Wes Montgomery is one of the most influential guitarists in the history of jazz.