[8] Born in San Francisco, California, Nestell was the son of Katherine "Katie" Drake and stage actor Edward "Ned" Westell,[9][10][11] who died just two years later, at age 56.
Having evidently picked up the essentials of blacksmithing and thus, at least temporarily, followed in the footsteps of his stepfather, he had nonetheless resumed use of his birth father's name.
Initially heard as a solo act, featured at least semi-regularly on KELW in Burbank, California,[13][14][7] he later expanded the act to what became known as the Trail Herd Quartet, led by Nestell and featuring Gilbert "Pee Wee" Holmes, Everett Cheetham, and Drew Stanfield.
Aside from the radio station, the group was reportedly featured in the 1930 western Bar-L Ranch, both on the soundtrack and in assorted non-musical supporting roles onscreen.
[17] Following a series of strokes, Westell died at his home in Bishop, California on October 18, 1966 from a heart attack.