Bio

Wes Montgomery was born in 1923 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Wes was first introduced to guitar when his older brother, Monk Montgomery, bought him a four stringed guitar. He would eventually relocate to Akron, Ohio to attend high school. He started his music career in the mid 40’s, playing with the bandleader Lionel Hampton. During his time with Hampton, he would frequently fly back to Indianapolis to be with his family. He also held a day job as a welder, and would play gigs at night. Wes Montgomery eventually signed to Riverside Records where he would turn in some of his most seminal recordings. His style was one of the most unique guitar styles at the time. He would pluck the strings with his thumb, giving his tone a warm, muted quality, and he would extensively use octaves to give a deep sense of atmosphere. A few notable musicians that Wes played with are: Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb, Johnny Griffin, Tommy Flanagan, Percy Heath, Eddie Higgins, and Charles Mingus.