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

Company	Matrix No.	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Role
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
Decca	75754	1/26/1950	Where or when	Lionel Hampton Quintet	instrumentalist, guitar
Decca	75755	1/26/1950	There will never be another you-1	Lionel Hampton Quintet	instrumentalist, guitar

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Montgomery, Wes," accessed April 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105082.

Montgomery, Wes. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105082.

"Montgomery, Wes." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 April 2024.