John “Wes” Montgomery

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Side One: John Leslie “Wes” Montgomery, 1923-1968
Innovative, self-taught jazz guitarist “Wes” Montgomery was born in Indianapolis. He began performing in clubs along Indiana Avenue, a Black cultural hub for the city, in the 1940s. He lived in a house near here on Cornell Ave., later razed for the interstate. He toured internationally but regularly returned to the city to play, often with his brothers Monk and Buddy.

Side Two: “Wes” Montgomery
Montgomery developed a distinct style of picking with his thumbs and using octaves. By blending his unique sound with elements of pop, he found mainstream success in the 1960s. Considered one of the most influential guitarists of all time, he had several albums top the Billboard charts. He won Grammy Awards for Goin’ Out of My Head, 1967, and Willow Weep for Me, 1970.

Installed 2023 Indiana Historical Bureau, William G. Pomeroy Foundation, The Indianapolis Jazz Foundation, and jazz lovers worldwide