OUR TEAM

Vernon West is a lifelong musician, songwriter, and two-time cancer survivor whose creative journey began in Boston’s vibrant rock scene of the late 1970s. Touring nationally and internationally with his band Sass, and later releasing original music under the names West, Westboys, The V.W. Bus Band, and Sass to West, Vernon has performed for millions and amassed over a million combined streams across Spotify, Apple Music, and other platforms. His music videos and live performances continue to reach a global audience through his Westboys YouTube channel and social media communities. Across five decades, his life and work have been guided by creativity, resilience, and a deep commitment to truth-telling.

In 2024, after emerging victorious from his second battle with cancer following a long fight with leukemia—including a life-saving bone marrow transplant—Vernon was inspired to “pay it forward” by founding Out of the Blue – The Podcast. Featured in the book Bone Marrow Transplant Survivors, his recovery sparked a new mission: creating a platform not just for survivors, but thrivers—people from all walks of life who have faced unexpected, life-changing events and found their way from pain to purpose. The podcast is a family-driven endeavor, co-hosted and produced alongside his children: Jackie West (co-host and media manager), Vernon West III (co-host, artist, designer, and theme composer), and Samantha West (co-host and co-founder), with longtime friend Joe Gallo serving as producer. Together, they share stories of transformation, healing, and hope—reminding listeners that love and kindness are real, and no one has to suffer alone.

Vernon has been married to his wife Anne-Marie since November 21, 1987, and their three children—Jacquelyn, Vernon III, and Samantha—have been creative collaborators and performers across his musical projects and Out of the Blue. A man in long-term recovery, Vernon has maintained 35 years of sobriety, is an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous, and has shared the message of experience, strength, hope, and the Twelve Steps on hundreds of panels and presentations across communities, institutions, and prisons throughout the United States since 1990.