John Leslie “Wes” Montgomery, an American jazz guitarist. Born March 6, 1925 in Indianapolis, Indiana as part of a musical clan that included his brothers Monk (string and electric bass), Buddy (vibraphone, piano), and Buddy (vibraphone). On June 15, 1968, he died from a heart attack. Montgomery is most well-known for his unusual technique on the guitar. He used octaves, block chords and plucks the string with his right thumb instead of using a pick. These techniques are the result of Montgomery’s self-taught technique, which would have been discouraged if he had taken formal lessons. They also gave him a unique voice when playing the guitar. Three parts can be described as the bulk of Montgomery’s record career as a leader. From 1959 to 1963, Montgomery recorded mostly in small groups for the Riverside label. He was signed to Verve Records in 1964 and 1966. There he recorded with orchestral backing and a big band. Montgomery began to record instrumental pop for AM radio, which was a precursor of smooth jazz. A&M Records released these sessions. Montgomery, who is undoubtedly the most influential jazz guitarist today, has taken up the place that Charlie Christian, a pre-bop/swing guitar, left off. Many well-known guitarists, such as Pat Martino and Lee Ritenour, have listed Montgomery as a major influence. Text contributed by users is available under Creative Commons By–SA License. It may also be available under GNU FDL.
