The J. Wesley Foundation was created to honor the memory of Jon Wesley (Wes) Buckner, son of Kevin and Mary Buckner. Wes was born on January 23, 2001 and passed away tragically on March 28, 2015.
 
Even before he was born, it was evident Wes loved music. He was especially active when he heard a piano or organ solo, and his parents knew from the beginning that he had a special connection to music. At a young age, he shared his talent with those around him—by age 6, he was performing his own compositions. In sixth grade, Wes composed The Onomatopoeia of Magic, for the Utah National PTA Reflections.
 
Growing up, Wes often said that he “thought in music.” With his special gift, he could hear a song only once and play it in its entirety. He loved to perform—the bigger the crowd, the better. While he loved listening to and playing all genres of music, his true passion was for composing original pieces.  
 
Wes aspired to be a singer/songwriter when he grew up, and we hope other musicians fulfill this dream with the help of our foundation.