Telling stories through music from my hillside home on the shores of Lake Superior.

The tracks found here are a collection of music that I wrote and recorded myself over the past couple of years. The pandemic gave me the opportunity to capture and 'sketch' a lot of things that were in my head and this is a record of that process. In the future, I hope to work with a producer and talented musicians to bring some of these songs to their full potential, but for now, they are here to share. 

Everything you hear was recorded after the kids were sound asleep and with little experience in production. I trust you can hear that they're not final drafts. 

Thanks for listening.

Every now and then someone walks into your life who you feel compelled will make a difference in it. A musical relationship is no exception. Jonathan Maness and Wendy Crowe met in 2011 when Wendy asked Jonathan to engineer and produce her debut solo album “The Way I Am”. When Jonathan and Wendy started working together, they immediately recognized a special musical connection. The often arduous tasks of writing and recording became fun, spontaneous and rewarding. Not too long after starting that journey, an opportunity came to play together, and it was immediately evident that the chemistry on stage was just as strong as the chemistry in the studio. By the spring of 2012, they had a busy calendar and were performing in Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, and North Carolina. In 2013 they opened for Guy Clark, Rhonda Vincent, and Tyler Hilton (One Tree Hill, Walk The Line).

WestWend is unlike any other duo in today’s music scene. Wendy and Jonathan’s chemistry remains an intregral part of their stage show. Wendy's honeyed alto is richly complimented by a winning smile that lights up their stages. Jonathan’s rich baritone and agile flat picking are well known to audiences on both sides of the Atlantic, and he’s also an expert arranger and producer. Their talents together join his instrumental chops to a quickly growing catalog of original material. Their close duet harmony brings the songs home to the listener, while instrumental support from East Tennessee’s best musicians round out an exciting show package.

Currently WestWend is wrapping production on a contemporary bluegrass/acoustic project, “Linger For A While”, with an official release date of September 15th, 2014. WestWend’s debut full-length recording, “Linger For A While” features fresh new songs by Wendy Crowe, Jonathan Maness, Melba Montgomery, Jerry Salley, Leslie Satcher, Keith Sewell and more! This recording also showcases a smattering of bluegrass and country standards, for the traditional country and bluegrass fan. “Linger For A While” has a little something for everybody in its 14 tracks.

Say what you mean & Mean what you say. Don't pop your gums with empty words. 

Followers of WestWend