Wes Montgomery

John Leslie "Wes" Montgomery (March 6, 1923 – June 15, 1968) was an American jazz guitarist. Montgomery was known for his unusual technique of plucking the strings with the side of his thumb, and for his extensive use of octaves, which gave him a distinctive sound.

Montgomery often worked with his brothers Buddy (Charles F.) and Monk (William H.) and with organist Melvin Rhyne. His recordings up to 1965 were oriented towards hard bop, soul jazz, and post bop, but around 1965 he began recording more pop-oriented instrumental albums that found mainstream success. His later guitar style influenced jazz fusion and smooth jazz.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 6, 1923 (Indianapolis), Died June 15, 1968 (Indianapolis)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1949 - 1950

Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar, electric guitar

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 27 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 74727 1/27/1949 Chicken shack boogie Lionel Hampton Sextet instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 74728 1/27/1949 New Central Avenue breakdown Lionel Hampton Sextet instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 74729 1/27/1949 Benson boogie Lionel Hampton Sextet instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 74730 1/28/1949 Hamp's boogie woogie No.2 Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 74731 1/28/1949 Hamp's gumbo Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 74732 1/28/1949 Beulah's sister's boogie Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 74733 1/28/1949 Wee Albert Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 74853 4/26/1949 What's happening baby? Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 74854 4/26/1949 Drinking wine spo-dee-o-dee Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 74855 4/26/1949 Moonglow Lionel Hampton instrumentalist, electric guitar  
Decca 74897 5/10/1949 The hucklebuck Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 74898 5/10/1949 Baby, you're great Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 74899 5/10/1949 Lavender coffin Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 75636 12/29/1949 Rag mop Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 75637 12/29/1949 For you my love Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 75638 12/29/1949 Sky blue Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 75664 1/5/1950 I've been a fool Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 75665 1/5/1950 How you sound Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 75666 1/5/1950 I almost lost my mind Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 75743 1/25/1950 Everybody's somebody's fool Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 75744 1/25/1950 I'll never be free Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 75745 1/25/1950 Sad feelin' Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 75746 1/25/1950 Hamp's gumbo Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 75752 1/25/1950 Please give me a chance Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 75753 1/25/1950 I wish I knew Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
(Results 1-25 of 27 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Montgomery, Wes," accessed November 25, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105082.

Montgomery, Wes. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105082.

"Montgomery, Wes." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105082

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.