Wes Westmoreland III was born into a family whose musical history goes back many decades. His granddad, H. D. Westmoreland Sr., an accomplished fiddler, began teaching Wes to play at age nine. The fiddle tunes Wes had heard all his life came easy to him and he began to play in contests all over the state of Texas. At these contests he was exposed to the music of the fiddle masters of Texas. If you listen to Wes play today, you will sounds of Major Franklin, Benny Thomasson, Norman and Vernon Solomon, Louis Franklin, Texas Shorty and other fiddlers that became his heroes. He also was heavily influenced by the music and sound of Bob Wills and other Western swing pioneers.
During his high school years he played country dances with his Granddad. They also traveled to many contests together. At the age of 18, he won the National Junior Championship Fiddle Contest held in Weiser, Idaho.
Wes attended college at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas. While there he played with the Tarleton Jazz Band and won Most Valuable Player at the State competition. During his college years he also played with Red Stegall and Moe Bandy and still managed to earn a degree in Chemistry.
Wes is a four time World Champion Fiddler, a seven time Texas State Champion Fiddler, a four time “TOTFA” Champion, and has finished in the “top 3 ” his last two trips to the National Fiddle Championship in Weiser, Idaho.
In 1989 Wes made the move to Branson, Missouri to play for Boxcar Willie for one year before accepting a job to play for Mel Tillis. He played for Mel for ten years. During those years he not only played shows in Branson, he also traveled with Mel and the “Statesiders” to the Grand Ol Opry in Nashville, Las Vegas, Okinawa, and all across the United States. During his stay with Mel, Wes learned to coordinate an 18 piece band and played not only first, but also second, third and fourth fiddle harmonies.
Wes has a degree in pharmacy and now works at Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple, Texas.
