{"id":7466,"date":"2016-03-12T07:00:01","date_gmt":"2016-03-12T13:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/?p=7466"},"modified":"2016-03-07T13:23:25","modified_gmt":"2016-03-07T19:23:25","slug":"cody-johnson-give-a-cowboy-a-kiss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/2016\/03\/12\/cody-johnson-give-a-cowboy-a-kiss\/","title":{"rendered":"Cody Johnson: Give a Cowboy a Kiss"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"51-atxl1\"<\/a>\u201cI don\u2019t want to be labeled as \u2018Texas\u2019 or \u2018Nashville.\u2019 I am me: <\/em>Texas, outlaw, cowboy, country, and a God-fearing man using the gift He gave me.\u201d That is how Cody Johnson<\/a>, better known by fans as \u201cCoJo,\u201d describes himself as an artist and that is exactly why I think he one of the most unique artists out there today. He is a hard-working man from east Texas that is living out his dream to be a country artist. His music is downright full of talent and so relatable that he makes you feel like you\u2019re living out each song. I became hooked on his music when I first heard \u201cTexas Kind of Way,\u201d but his latest album absolutely did not disappoint and got me hooked for good.<\/p>\n

What I think is so unique about Cody\u2019s music is its unique mix of Country and Rock, which resembled Garth\u2019s enthusiasm and Chris LeDoux\u2019s style to some extent. His music is honest, heartfelt, and meaningful, and he sings about parts of his life that contribute to where he is today. Growing up in East Texas, he was a country boy that liked to hunt and fish, and family was very important to him. His \u201cag science\u201d teacher is actually responsible for convincing him for form a band, and he realized he was in love with the music and everything about performing at a talent competition. He starting singing in small bars and dance-halls and began selling CD\u2019s out of the back of his truck during three years of bull-riding. He is a true cowboy, born and raised, and his dedication to his dream makes me respect him as both an individual and an artist.<\/p>\n

Cody is a pro at packing dance-halls to max capacity, and even better at holding smaller acoustic shows. I have seem him perform on three separate occasions, and each of those I had the absolute best time singing his songs at the top of my lungs. His music is exactly what I think of when discussing what \u201creal\u201d country music is. He gives each show his absolute best effort, whether it\u2019s a crowd of thousands or a just a few. He genuinely loves the music and that is extremely evident after going to a few of his shows.<\/p>\n