User:Wesblues

Wes Jeans (Jan. 13,1981 - present)

One of the greatest moments in the never-ending evolution of music was the invention of the Blues. From its beginning in the swamps and deltas of the South the Blues has spread throughout the United States planting its roots across the nation. When the Blues found its way to Texas, it fueled such legends as Blind Lemon Jefferson, Lightnin Hopkins, Albert Collins, Johnny Winter, ZZ Top, as well as Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan. This generation of Texas Blues has unleashed a powerful young guitar slinger. A guitaristthat drops the unsuspecting jaw of Blues lovers everywhere. A player some have said "is destined to be a Texas legend - a truly genuine Texas Blues Player, Wes Jeans. Michael Wesley Jeans was born in the heart of East Texas on January 13, 1981, only fifteen minutes from where legendary Freddie King was born. Jeans grew up in a musically-enriched family and showed an interest in performing at a young age. It wasn't until the age of 15that Jeans chose his path. Jeans found an old three-string guitar in his closet and began learning the beginning riff of "Sunshine of Your Love." Jeans' natural ability to learn music by ear and his relentless passion for playing caused an explosion of talent that most beginners only dream of. In 1996, after only playing nine months, Jeans entered the International Jimi Hendrix Competition held in Austin, TX and placed second among fifteen hundred other young guitar players. Special guest Al Hendrix, father of Jimi Hendrix, told Jeans, "In my eyes, you won because you played straight from the heart like Jimi." The dream of playing music for a living, moral support from his family and friends, and the ever-encouraging words of Al Hendrix set Jeans into motion. Soon, Jeanswas playing area venues and festivals, attracting booking agents and record labels. In 1999, Jeans signed a record contract with Ice House Records of Memphis, TN and began work on his debut album HANDS ON. Jeans recruited Al Green's bass player and drummer, John Williams and Lloyd Anderson, as well as Albert King's former B-3 player, Gregg Redding. After being mastered at legendary Ardent Studio, HANDS ON was released in the summer of 2000. It became the highest pre-sale of any Ice House release and reached #26 on the National Blues Sales Chart. Along with Jeans' growing popularity, came the demand for new releases. In response, in 2004, Jeans and long-time friend and bassist, Syd Hydro, along with drummer Adam Hagerman, recorded a four-song demo at Night Song Studio in Knoxville, TN. The success of the independently-released demo fueled the group to film a live DVD. On New Year’s Day 2005, Wes and his band recorded LIVE AT JUANITAS DVD in Little Rock, AR. This raw footage of Texas style Blues and Jimi Hendrix flare quickly became Jeans' number one seller. Throughout his career, Jeans has had the honor of meeting and sharing the stage with many musical greats such as B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Vaughan, Billy Gibbons, Lynryd Skynyrd, Lance Lopez, Chris Duarte and Kenny Wayne Shepherd, just to name a few. After the October 2003 show opening for B.B. King in Shreveport, LA, Jeans' performance received a standing ovation. King asked Jeans onto his bus where he told him,"Son, you keep your head on straight, you are going places." Not only has he earned the respect of his peers, Jeanshas perked the ears of the media and has been featured by many newspapers, magazines and radio stations throughout the country and Canada. When a poll was done by Guitar Player Magazine in late 2003, readers voted Jeans number three among the Young Gun Guitar Players in the nation between Jonny Lang and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. In early September 2005, Jeans performed and starred in a feature-length documentary “Solidbodies” that focuses on the guitar’s musicians have preferred over the past 50 years, Fender and Gibson. This Lightning Lab Production was filmed in the Historic Memphis Brewery and released in 2006. By June 2006, Jeans released his 2nd studio album "Forest of the Pine" under Texas Music Records. The album was produced by fellow axe-slayer Lance Lopez and is nothing short of blues/rock perfection. The record showcases Jeans' amazing blues guitar prowess and guest stars Memphis' Eric Gales. Jeans has followed the album release with touring playing shows with such notables as B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Eric Johnson, Robert Cray, Warren Haynes, Ian Moore, Doyle Bramhall II, David Lee Roth, and many more. In August ’06, XM Radio-Bluesville picked up "Forest of the Pine" and has kept it in regular rotation on Stone Blue.“This CD kicked my ass! It’s one of the best blues/rock CDs of 2006,” said Bluesville’s Aaron Lee. By January of 2007, "Forest of the Pine" climbed its way up to the 3rd position on the German Blues Charts. In 2007 and 2008 between tours, Jeans also played on several artists’ albums before he released his third full length album, “Live in Music City Texas” in 2009 to much acclaim. Live in Music City Texas has been a staple on XM-Sirius Satellite Radio and countless blues shows since its release. Wes and band toured in support of that album for several years before coming off the road. Jeans was named East Texas (ETX) Blues Artist of the Year in 2012, 2013, and 2014. Jeans was also awarded ETX Guitarist of the Year in 2013 and 2016 and ETX “Music Legend” award in 2014. Jeans was named East Texas (ETX) Blues Artist of the Year in 2012, 2013 and 2014. He was awarded ETX Guitarist of the Year in 2013 and 2016 and the first ever ETX “Music Legend” award in 2014. In 2014, Jeans took a gig touring with country artist Jason Helms. After a year of touring as Helms’ guitarist Jeans then went into business opening a music school and recording studio in his hometown in 2015. After working and teaching for a year, Jeans joined Texas Country artist Darrin Morris in 2016 playing all over the southern US.

In 2017, Jeans was honored as an official “Texas Tornado” and later joined forces with Lance Lopez in support of his “Tell The Truth Tour”. Working under Intrepid Booking Agency they toured the US heavily for 2018.

2019 saw Wes put his powerful Trio back together and start touring as a solo artist once again. The band worked tirelessly through 2019 and are planning to release a new album and tour in support of it in 2020.. Wes Jeans is the real deal, a "true to the Blues" Texas star.