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Following the demise of Sweet Corn. Wes played in two country bands, Rustler and Cross Country before forming the Cardy Baker Duo with Sue Baker.
In 1980 he went solo and turned fully pro making the first of eleven visits to Norway where he was well received with a programme that was predominantly country and folk which people liked over there.  By this time, he was writing a lot of songs, and one in particular, Cuckoo Hill became very popular with his Norwegian audience.
Wes and Jan Mellon first met in c1976 at the Colne Valley Theatre Group in Suffolk where they were both members, Wes was a founder member of the group and wrote and directed a number of plays and variety shows for them. Coming from a musical background, most of Jan’s early musical years were involved with school choirs, amateur dramatics and music hall performing at dances close to her home. At one time she had piano lessons the dropping of which she now deeply regrets. Still, the rudiments learned in the music lessons helped her pick up the guitar (and later mandolin) and helped her with her first love, harmony singing. Jan also sung with her ex at open mic nights in her local pub. Later, when Wes was writing and directing a musical based on country music, Jan helped with some of the lyrics for the songs and this sowed the seeds for later song writing.
After singing in a couple of local bands, Shimano and an un-named trio that Wes lovingly called Jack-Nee-Jan, Wes asked Jan to join him in a new duo and in December 1986 they formed Cardy and Coke. This was Jan’s first experience of singing Country. It wasn’t until she heard the songs of Merle Haggard (as sung by Wes) that the doors to a whole new world of wonderful music were opened.
The duo instantly proved popular and in 1989 they expanded to become the five piece Wes Cardy band which ran alongside Cardy and Coke duo. The original rehearsal line up comprised Wes Cardy (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Jan Mellon (lead vocals, acoustic guitar and mandolin), Mick Hunt (bass), Tom Crosthwaite (lead guitar) and Paul Grist (drums). By the time the band started gigging Tom was replaced by Robbie Bearns as he had no transport and couldn’t get to gigs.
From the start, Wes and Jan were keen that the band should include original songs in their repertoire.  These included British, Irish and even some Norwegian songs. One of Wes’ own songs, One More Story, co written with Rupert Kingston was receiving a lot of air play on local radio at this time. This was Jan’s first ‘proper band’, and they consider part of their later success was having a male and female front line. Jan has always shared lead vocals with Wes.
The band made a rocky start with several changes in personnel with some of the musicians being ‘poached’ by other bands, but by the Summer of 1990 their line up was more settled and comprised: Wes Cardy (lead vocals and rhythm guitar). Jan Mellon (lead vocals, acoustic guitar and mandolin). Tony Ryan (pedal steel guitar). Tony Ryan was at ease playing behind a vocalist or as an instrumental soloist. He was a well respected player and appeared each year at the prestigious Festival of Steel Guitar at Newbury. At this time, Tony was the bands most recent recruit with a long career in country music having previously played with Hobo and Alberta.  Prior to Tony joining, the band had a lead guitarist so his arrival gave them a new Country sound although he did play lead guitar on a couple of songs.  Kelvin (Kevin) Ward (bass). Kelvin had played in many bands including Tawney and Rustler. He was also a lover of jazz and played a jazz guitar. Kelvin had a reputation for never smiling and became known as the ‘rotating manikin’ – if you see him, try and make him smile! Bill Johnson (drums). Bill had 15 years playing with MOR bands and only recently switched to country before joining Wes.
Wes’ long standing conviction that home grown British Country Music stands alongside the best of American imports, prompted him to defy his critics and c1991 he promoted what became a sell-out annual event, the All British Show, at the Halstead Empire, in North Essex.
As a respected songwriter in his own right, Wes has on three occasions won the UK Country Radio Awards, twice for Best Song in 1995 with Special Absent Friends co-written with Greg Tingey (this also received a nomination in the Great British Country Music Awards) and in 1998 with All That I Do Is For You co-written with Jan Mellon. The bands album, The Collection, containing these songs was voted Listeners’ Choice Album of the Year in 1998. Another of his songs Cuckoo Hill which had been popular in Norway in the 80s, was nominated in 1996 but was pipped to the post by Charlie Landsborough’s What Colour Is The Wind and Jimmy Nail’s Crocodile Shoes.
Over the years, the band have supported many famous acts including Gerry and The Pacemakers, Marty Wilde, The Bachelors, Raymond Froggatt, Charlie Landsborough, George Hamilton IV, Pete Sayers and even Wes’ all time hero, Ken Dodd!
With the band and duo, Wes and Jan quickly established a loyal following in East Anglia and the south east. By the turn of the 20th century however, band bookings dwindled as many clubs started booking only solos and duos in an attempt to keep costs down. The band played their last gig at Christmas 2000.  There had been many changes in personnel over the 12 years they were playing and the last line up of the band included Dave Ainsworth (bass), Rob Turville (lead guitar) and Matt Cantwell (drums).
As with anything in life, luck plays as large a hand as talent and with the help of friends, Wes’ songs reached the ears of Ken Dodd and Daniel O’Donnell both of whom recognised the potential of Special Absent Friends. Ken Dodd started closing his theatre shows around the UK with the song and in 2001 recorded it on an album called Absent Friends for sale at his shows.  Daniel O’Donnell also recorded (Our) Special Absent Friends on his 1997 album of the same name and another of Wes’ songs Love Me (I Love You) co-written with Charlie Ruffle.  When I Needed You (co-written with Joan Hart) was short listed for Listeners’ Choice in the UK Country Radio Awards 2000.  In 2001 Cardy and Coke recorded another album of mostly original songs entitled My Love Song For You with two songs penned by Jan.
Cardy and Coke went from strength not only at clubs and festivals but also in theatres in East Anglia. In 2007 Wes and Jan teamed up with Steve Cherelle in a theatre show, Remembering John Denver celebrating his memory and his music 10 years after his death. This show continued on and off for 10 years.
Over the years the band, and before they were formed, Cardy and Coke Duo, have recorded many live albums, far too many to list individually.  The first of these were cassette albums but later ones were cds. These have appeared very regularly to represent the evolving repertoire of songs. Many of the albums have included original songs often written or co-written by Wes and Jan. Albums containing original songs have always proved to be the best sellers.
36 years after Cardy and Coke was formed, Jan and Wes are still together. During lockdown they both recorded videos separately and once they were able to form a bubble together, like many other artists they made regular live streams and also collaborated on videos with George Paying, Jim Martin and Julie Dawn.
With two years off during the pandemic, the increased cost of fuel, the stresses of life on the road along with personal circumstances led them re-evaluate the priorities in their lives. Whilst they still love making music together, they decided retire from the Country circuit in July 2025 although they will still do some local Country gigs in Essex and Suffolk along with Irish Clubs. Jan stressed “we are still very much alive if not kicking quite so high!”