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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