Graham Hicks
Hicks on Six
EdmontonSun.com
July 10, 2008

WES IMMORTALIZED


       Wes Montgomery

Wes Montgomery left much of Edmonton dazed and dismayed when he passed away, far too soon and unexpectedly, in April of 2005.

Gone, but not forgotten.

The legendary radio morning man, sportscaster, MC and athlete will be inducted into the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Broadcaster Hall of Fame this fall.

He'll be the third CFCW announcer so honoured, following the late Curly Gurlock and the happily retired, still making music, Bev Munro.

His entire career, Wes bounced from city station to city station - from Top 40 CHED in the 1960s and '70s, through K-Lite, CFRN and CISN until he found a long-term home at CFCW in 1993.

Yet somehow, he always stayed on top of his game. With his accurate wit, Wes was the MC of choice at any major Edmonton sports function. And a top-notch curler in his own right.

Wes certainly burned the candle at both ends, perhaps contributing to his premature death.

But, oh my friends, the light that candle gave off.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Columnists/Hicks_Graham/2008/07/10/6114761.html

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I loved listening to Wes, especially when he was doing mornings at CHED.  Wes' best quality: the ability to laugh at himself; and he was always in touch with the struggle to make it through each day. People identified with that.  Wes was the common man.  

One of Wes' great qualities was the ability to make people feel better, no matter how down in the dumps they were. He was great at CHED when the station was a Top 40 powerhouse, but I think I enjoyed listening to him more when he was with Jackie Rae on CFCW. They really clicked together. And, if there are radio stations in Heaven, I'm sure Wes is still entertaining.

He was the best Edmonton ever saw and among the best ever in the business.