He worked as a welder during the day to support his wife and seven children, then performed at two clubs at night until well into the morning. He was a smoker who had blackouts while trying to maintain this busy schedule. During one performance, the audience included Cannonball Adderley, George Shearing, and Lennie Tristano. Adderley was so impressed by Montgomery's guitar playing that he persuaded Orrin Keepnews to sign him to Riverside. Keepnews was also persuaded by a gushing review written by Gunther Schuller. In New York City Montgomery recorded "A Dynamic New Sound, the Wes Montgomery Trio", his first album as a leader after twenty years as a musician. In 1960 he recorded "The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery" with Al Heath, Percy Heath, and Tommy Flanagan.