Cody Johnson (born May 21, 1987 in Sebastopol, Texas[1]) is an American Texas country 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]

Contents 1 Career 2 Discography 2.1 Albums 2.2 Singles 3 References 4 External links 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 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.[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 was Johnson's most successful release yet, achieved without major label support or widespread radio play.[2]

Discography Albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales US Country[15] US[16] USIndie[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 — US: 43,900[19] "—" denotes releases that did not chart