[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 45 (Thursday, March 9, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S748]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 102--OBSERVING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF 
 JOHN LESLIE ``WES'' MONTGOMERY AND COMMEMORATING HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO 
                               JAZZ MUSIC

  Mr. BRAUN (for himself and Mr. Young) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 102

       Whereas, on March 6, 1923, John Leslie ``Wes'' Montgomery 
     (referred to in this resolution as ``Wes Montgomery'') was 
     born to Frances and Tom Montgomery in Indianapolis, Indiana;
       Whereas Wes Montgomery was naturally gifted in the musical 
     arts and became proficient on the 4- and 6-string guitar in 
     his youth;
       Whereas Wes Montgomery was a self-taught musician and 
     learned to play guitar by listening to recordings of jazz 
     guitarist Charlie Christian;
       Whereas Wes Montgomery developed a unique fingerstyle 
     playing technique uncommon to jazz guitarists in his day, 
     using the thumb to play bass notes simultaneously with 
     melodic lines;
       Whereas Wes Montgomery crafted diverse and unconventional 
     rhythms that became a defining representation of bebop-style 
     jazz guitar;
       Whereas Wes Montgomery became famous after performing in 
     jazz clubs in Indianapolis and was later recruited to tour 
     with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra;
       Whereas, in 1957, Wes Montgomery joined his brothers Buddy 
     and Monk to perform with other bands and record music with 
     Pacific Jazz Records;
       Whereas, following the release of Wes Montgomery's albums 
     ``The Wes Montgomery Trio'' and ``The Incredible Guitar of 
     Wes Montgomery'', Wes Montgomery's music became famous 
     internationally, and his band traveled extensively in Europe 
     in the spring of 1965;
       Whereas, in 1967, Wes Montgomery's album ``A Day in the 
     Life'' was rated the premier album on the Billboard Jazz 
     Albums chart, 2nd on the Billboard R&B Albums chart, and 13th 
     on the Billboard 200 chart; and
       Whereas, on June 15, 1968, Wes Montgomery passed at his 
     home in Indianapolis: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) the contributions of John Leslie ``Wes'' Montgomery to 
     jazz music continue to enrich the music industry and inspire 
     countless musicians across the world; and
       (2) the legacy of John Leslie ``Wes'' Montgomery as a great 
     Hoosier musician should be recognized and celebrated, 
     especially on March 6, 2023, which marks the 100th 
     anniversary of his birth.

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