Montgomery, Wes (1923-1968), was a popular and influential American jazz guitarist. Montgomery played the electric guitar. He was the leader of the generation of jazz guitarists, following Charlie Christian in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s, who brought the instrument to great popularity and prominence. Montgomery’s melodic style gained him success among jazz fans and also attracted listeners outside the jazz field. Montgomery influenced such guitarists as George Benson, Kenny Burrell, Pat Martino, and Pat Metheny.
John Leslie Montgomery was born on March 6, 1923, in Indianapolis. He taught himself to play the guitar as a teenager, listening to records by Charlie Christian. Montgomery made his earliest recordings from 1957 to 1959 with his brothers, bassist Monk Montgomery and vibraphone player Buddy Montgomery. Wes made the first recordings under his own name in 1959. His album The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery (1960) is considered a jazz guitar classic. By 1963, he had gained a national reputation playing jazz in a small group setting.
From 1964 until his death, Montgomery recorded albums primarily with orchestral backing. The resulting sound, sometimes called “soft jazz,” appealed to pop music followers. Montgomery’s best-selling albums in this style include Bumpin’ (1965) and A Day in the Life (1967). In concerts and in clubs, however, Montgomery continued to play “straight-ahead jazz,” a more traditional form of jazz. He was at the peak of his popularity when he died suddenly of a heart attack on June 15, 1968.
See also Jazz .
