Born: 6 March 1923 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
Died: 15 June 1968 (sudden heart attack) in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA (aged 45).
Wes is known for the use of his thumb rather than a plectrum; his trademark use of octaves in both melody and improvisation; his highly original melodic and rhythmic imaginaton. His favoured guitars were Gibson L5s strung with Gibson heavy gauge flat wound strings.
Brother of the pianist and vibraphonist Buddy Montgomery (1930–2009), and of the bassist Monk Montgomery (1921–1982).