Cody Johnson
Cody Johnson | |
---|---|
Birth name | Cody Daniel Johnson |
Born | Sebastopol, Texas, U.S. | May 21, 1987
Origin | Huntsville, Texas |
Genres | Country Music |
Occupation | Singer-Songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, drums |
Years active | 2006–present |
Labels | CoJo, Warner Nashville |
Website | www |
Cody Daniel Johnson (born May 21, 1987)[1] is an American country music singer-songwriter. He has self-released six albums followed by a major label album Ain't Nothin' to It. The sixth album Gotta Be Me debuted at number two on Billboard's Country Albums chart,[2] while the seventh album reached number one.
Early life
Cody Daniel Johnson, also known as "CoJo", was born and raised in East Texas by his parents Sheila and Carl Johnson. He grew up taking an interest in acting. Later on Johnson gave up on his childhood dream of becoming an actor because he did not believe he was good enough to make it in the tough Big screen scene.[3] Johnson discovered his passion for music at the age of twelve years old and never looked back. He started writing his own songs in Jr. High when one of his teachers encouraged him to start a band with some of his friends which ended up being first runner-up in an all women's choir talent contest.[4] Johnson attended Groveton Jr-Sr High School where he continued to learn and grow as an artist. Johnson graduated from High School in 2005 and briefly attended Angelina College in Lufkin Texas. The aspiring musician then decided that college was not for him and that he was going to continue pursuing his career as a singer and songwriter. Johnson is now happily married to his current wife Brandi Johnson and has two daughters named Clara Mae and Cori.
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.[5] Together they recorded an album, Black and White Label.[5] In 2006, 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.[6][7] Following the release of the album, Johnson's father quit the band.[6]
By 2009, Danny Salinas joined the band on bass guitar.[7] Their first professionally produced album, Six Strings One Dream, was released in September 2009.[6][8] 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.[6] Jody Bartula replaced Whitten on fiddle in 2010.[7][8]
Johnson's next album, A Different Day, was released in 2011 and produced by Trent Willmon.[9] Johnson won the 2011 Texas Regional Music Award for New Male Vocalist of the Year.[5][9] 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.[10] Also in 2012, Johnson's band, now composed of Reedy, Smith, Bartula, and bassist Joey Pruski, changed their name to the Rockin' CJB's.[5]
Johnson's fifth album, Cowboy Like Me, was released on January 14, 2014.[11] The album was Johnson's second produced by Trent Willmon.[11] It sold 8,000 copies in its first week of release, debuting at number 25 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 33 on the Billboard 200.[12] As of 2014, Johnson's band comprised Smith, Bartula, Pruski, and drummer Miles Stone.[13]
The sixth album, Gotta Be Me, was released on August 5, 2016.[14] The album debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard 200,[15] and at No. 2 on the Top Country Albums chart, selling 23,000 copies in the US in its first week.[16] It was Johnson's most successful release yet, achieved without major label support or widespread radio play.[2]
Johnson made Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo history by becoming the first unsigned/independent artist to play to a sold out crowd.[17]
Johnson's seventh album, Ain't Nothin' to It, was released on January 18, 2019. It includes the single "On My Way to You", which is his first Top 40 hit on Country Airplay. The album and single were both released via Warner Bros. Records Nashville. In 2019, Johnson collaborated with Brooks & Dunn on a new version of their hit song "Red Dirt Road" which appears on their album Reboot.
Discography
Albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Country [18] |
US [19] |
US Indie [20] | |||
Black and White Label |
|
— | — | — | |
Live and Rocking |
|
— | — | — | |
Six Strings One Dream |
|
— | — | — | |
A Different Day |
|
— | — | — | |
Cowboy Like Me |
|
7 | 33 | 7 | |
Gotta Be Me |
|
2 | 11 | — |
|
Ain't Nothin' to It |
|
1 | 9 | — |
|
"—" denotes releases that did not chart |
Singles
Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Sales | Certification | Album | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [25] |
US Country [26] |
US Country Airplay [27] |
CAN Country [28] | |||||
2016 | "With You I Am" | — | 46 | 40 | — |
|
Gotta Be Me | |
2017 | "Wild as You" | — | — | 53 | — | |||
2018 | "On My Way to You" | 78 | 13 | 11 | 20 |
|
|
Ain't Nothin' to It |
2019 | "Nothin' on You" | — | 43 | 55 | — |
|
| |
2020 | "Dear Rodeo"[34] (featuring Reba McEntire) |
— | 44 | 34 | — | |||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart |
Other charted songs
Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album |
---|---|---|---|
US Country [26] | |||
2019 | "Ain't Nothin' to It" | 42 | Ain't Nothin' to It |
Music videos
Year | Video |
---|---|
2016 | "With You I Am" |
2018 | "On My Way to You" |
2020 | "Dear Rodeo" (with Reba McEntire) |
References
- ^ a b c d Leggett, Steven. "Cody Johnson | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
- ^ a b Parton, Chris (August 16, 2016). "Cody Johnson on Beating Music Row at Its Own Game". Rolling Stone.
- ^ "Cody Johnson | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
- ^ "Cody Johnson About Me | Cody Johnson". www.codyjohnsonmusic.com. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
- ^ a b c d 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.
- ^ a b c d "Cody Johnson Bio". Red 11 Music. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
- ^ a b c Spencer, Haylee (April 15, 2011). "The Cody Johnson Band performs Saturday at the fair". The Courier of Montgomery County. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
- ^ a b Dotson, Maggie (April 7, 2011). "Chilifest: Cody Johnson Band". Maroon Weekly. Archived from the original on September 5, 2014. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ McDonnell, Brandy (February 29, 2012). "Kyle Park does 'Whatever It Takes'". NewsOK. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
- ^ a b Webb, Penny Lynn (January 14, 2014). "Cody Johnson Brings Back Country With New Album "Cowboy Like Me"". County Life Magazine. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
- ^ 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. Archived from the original on September 5, 2014. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
- ^ Wilderman, Jill (March 3, 2014). "Spot On: Cody Johnson". Spotlight Country. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
- ^ Betts, Stephen L. (August 5, 2016). "Hear Cody Johnson's Autobiographical 'Gotta Be Me' Album". Rolling Stone.
- ^ "Billboard 200". Billboard. August 27, 2016.
- ^ Asker, Jim (August 16, 2016). "Jon Pardi's 'Boots' Kicks Up First Country Airplay No. 1". Billboard.
- ^ [1] [dead link]
- ^ "Cody Johnson Chart History: Country Albums". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
- ^ "Cody Johnson Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
- ^ "Cody Johnson Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
- ^ Shelburne, Craig (May 27, 2016). "Artist Updates: Eric Paslay, Cody Johnson, Clark Manson, Hannah Ellis". MusicRow. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
- ^ Bjorke, Matt (May 15, 2017). "Top 10 Country Albums Chart: May 15, 2017". Roughstock.
- ^ Stecker, Liv (October 2, 2018). "Everything We Know About Cody Johnson's 'Ain't Nothin' to It'". The Boot. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
- ^ Bjorke, Matt (March 10, 2020). "Top 10 Country Albums Pure Sales Chart: March 9, 2020". RoughStock. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
- ^ "Cody Johnson Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
- ^ a b "Cody Johnson Chart History: Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
- ^ "Cody Johnson Chart History: Country Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
- ^ "Cody Johnson Chart History: Canada Country". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
- ^ Bjorke, Matt (December 13, 2016). "Top 30 Digital Country Singles Chart: December 13, 2016". Roughstock.
- ^ Bjorke, Matt (April 8, 2019). "Top 30 Digital Country Tracks: April 8, 2019". RoughStock. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
- ^ "American single certifications – Cody Johnson – On My Way to You". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ Bjorke, Matt (February 11, 2020). "Top 30 Country Digital Downloads: February 10, 2020". Rough Stock. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
- ^ "American single certifications – Cody Johnson – Nothin' On You". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ https://bulletins.billboard.com/country/country_update_0817.pdf
External links
- Official website
- Catalog record for Cody Johnson Band at the United States Library of Congress