Cody Johnson

Cody Johnson
Born (1987-05-21) May 21, 1987
Huntsville, Texas
Origin Sebastopol, Texas
Genres Texas country
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Instruments Vocals, guitar, drums
Years active 2006–present
Labels CoJo
Associated acts Trent Willmon
Website www.thecodyjohnsonband.com

Cody Johnson (born May 21, 1987 in Huntsville, Texas[1]) is an American country music singer-songwriter. He has self-released six albums; the sixth album Gotta Be Me debuted at number two on the Billboard's Country Albums chart.[2]

Career

Johnson began singing and playing guitar when he was twelve years old.[1] In 2006, he formed the Cody Johnson Band with his dad Carl and drummer Nathan Reedy.[3] Together they recorded an album, Black and White Label.[3] In 2007, the band added a lead guitar player, Matt Rogers, and recorded a live album, Live and Rocking, at Shenanigans and Confetti's Club in Huntsville.[4][5] Following the release of the album, Johnson's father quit the band.[4]

By 2009, Danny Salinas joined the band on bass guitar.[5] Their first professionally produced album, Six Strings One Dream, was released in September 2009.[4][6] Three singles from the album reached the top 10 of the Texas music charts.[1] Following the release of the album, the band added Chris Whitten on fiddle and Jeff Smith on lead guitar.[4] Jody Bartula replaced Whitten on fiddle in 2010.[5][6]

Johnson's next album, A Different Day, was released in 2011 and produced by Trent Willmon.[7] Johnson won the 2011 Texas Regional Music Award for New Male Vocalist of the Year.[3][7] After the win, Johnson left his day job with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to focus on music full-time.[1] He teamed with Kyle Park in 2012 for the Dancin' and Drinkin' at Johnson Park Tour.[8] Also in 2012, Johnson's band, now composed of Reedy, Smith, Bartula and bassist Joey Pruski, changed their name to the Rockin' CJB's.[3]

Johnson's fifth album, Cowboy Like Me, was released on January 14, 2014.[9] The album was Johnson's second produced by Trent Willmon.[9] It sold 8,000 copies in its first week of release, debuting at number 7 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 33 on the Billboard 200.[10] As of 2014, Johnson's band is composed of Smith, Bartula, Pruski and drummer Miles Stone.[11]

The sixth album, Gotta Be Me, was released on August 5, 2016.[12] The album debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard 200,[13] and at No. 2 on the Top Country Albums chart, selling 23,000 copies in the US in its first week.[14] This make the album Johnson's most successful release yet, which is achieved without major label support or widespread radio play.[2]

Discography

Albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
US Country
[15]
US
[16]
US
Indie

[17]
Black and White Label
  • Release date: 2006
  • Label: CoJo
Live and Rocking
  • Release date: May 2007
  • Label: CoJo
Six Strings One Dream
  • Release date: September 1, 2009
  • Label: CoJo
A Different Day
  • Release date: October 31, 2011
  • Label: CoJo
Cowboy Like Me
  • Release date: January 14, 2014
  • Label: CoJo
7 33 7
Gotta Be Me
  • Release date: August 5, 2016[18]
  • Label: CoJo
2 11
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Leggett, Steven. "Cody Johnson | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  2. 1 2 Parton, Chris (August 16, 2016). "Cody Johnson on Beating Music Row at Its Own Game". Rolling Stone.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Griffin, Andrew W. (March 2, 2012). "Up-and-coming Texas musician Cody Johnson talks to Red Dirt Report". Red Dirt Report. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Cody Johnson Bio". Red 11 Music. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 Spencer, Haylee (April 15, 2011). "The Cody Johnson Band performs Saturday at the fair". The Courier of Montgomery County. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  6. 1 2 Dotson, Maggie (April 7, 2011). "Chilifest: Cody Johnson Band". Maroon Weekly. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  7. 1 2 Tarradell, Mario (May 30, 2013). "Spotlight on Texas Artists: Cody Johnson builds a country-music career with the right foundation". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  8. McDonnell, Brandy (February 29, 2012). "Kyle Park does 'Whatever It Takes'". NewsOK. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  9. 1 2 Webb, Penny Lynn (January 14, 2014). "Cody Johnson Brings Back Country With New Album "Cowboy Like Me"". County Life Magazine. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  10. Bjorke, Matt (January 22, 2014). "Country Album Chart News: The Week of January 22, 2013: Jennifer Nettles, Jon Pardi, Rosanne Cash Debut In Top 5". Roughstock. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  11. Wilderman, Jill (March 3, 2014). "Spot On: Cody Johnson". Spotlight Country. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  12. Betts, Stephen L. (August 5, 2016). "Hear Cody Johnson's Autobiographical 'Gotta Be Me' Album". Rolling Stone.
  13. "Billboard 200". Billboard. August 27, 2016.
  14. Asker, Jim (August 16, 2016). "Jon Pardi's 'Boots' Kicks Up First Country Airplay No. 1". Billboard.
  15. "Ccody Johnson Album & Song Chart History - Country Albums". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  16. "Ccody Johnson Album & Song Chart History - Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  17. "Ccody Johnson Album & Song Chart History - Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  18. Shelburne, Craig (May 27, 2016). "Artist Updates: Eric Paslay, Cody Johnson, Clark Manson, Hannah Ellis". MusicRow. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
  19. Bjorke, Matt (October 5, 2016). "Top 10 Country Albums Sales Chart: October 3, 2016". Roughstock.

External links

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