James West (born December 18, 1953), also known as Kimo, is an American-Canadian guitarist best known for working with "Weird Al" Yankovic.
Biography
West was born in Toronto, Ontario on December 18, 1953, and grew up in Tampa, Florida. At age 12, he started playing guitar. By age 16, he was playing professionally in various Florida rock bands, including at least one with later bandmate Steve Jay.
In the early 1980s, he came to Los Angeles, where Jay introduced him to "Weird Al" Yankovic. He auditioned for Yankovic after being introduced by Steve Jay and the two have worked together ever since. West can be heard and seen on all of Yankovic's videos, albums, and concerts since 1983.
West is also a composer for film and television and produced a number of CDs for independent artists. He has released fourteen solo slack-key guitar albums. He performs regularly at concerts and festivals.
In 2018, he received his first Grammy nomination a Moku Maluhia: Peaceful Island in the category of Best New Age Album. In 2020 his album, More Guitar Stories received another Grammy nomination for Best New Age Album and subsequently won that category.
He has a private studio in Los Angeles, but spends several months a year in Hana, Hawaii. He retains his Canadian citizenship.
Discography
With "Weird Al" Yankovic In 3-D Dare to Be Stupid Polka Party! Even Worse UHF - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff Off the Deep End Alapalooza Bad Hair Day Running with Scissors Poodle Hat Straight Outta Lynwood Alpocalypse Mandatory Fun
Co-leader albums With Greg Leisz, Hotel Honolulu – The Hawaiian Tribute to the Eagles (CHM, 2007) With Ken Emerson, Slackers In Paradise (Westernmost, 2016)
Solo albums 1999 – Coconut Hat 2004 – Nurturing the Garden – commission for the National Tropical Botanical Garden on Kaua'i 2005 – Slack Key West 2006 – The Hawaiian Tribute To Sublime: Livin's EZ 2007 – Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar-Kimo Style 2008 – Kimo's Hawaiian Slack Key Christmas 2012 – Na Lani O Maui: Maui Skies 2013 – Ki Ho'alu Christmastime 2015 – Guitar Stories: Slack Key & Beyond 2018 – Moku Maluhia: Peaceful Island 2020 – More Guitar Stories 2021 – Ka Honua Maluhia: Peaceful World
Producer "Eia Mai Ka La" by Kapo Ku Lily Wilson by Lily Wilson Jose Can U See? by Bill Dana The Enchanted Forest Broken by Cynthia Clawson The Koolanesian Heart by Norm Compton Stepping Out by Diana Krall
Compilations The Rocky Story
Awards and nominations Grammy Awards
Year Category Nominated work Result 2019 Best New Age Album Moku Maluhia: Peaceful Island 2021 More Guitar Stories
References
External links Official website
http://www.westernmostmusic.com/ Jim West entry on Dean Guitars website