Jim West
Background information
Birth nameJames West
Born (1953-12-18) December 18, 1953
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
GenresRock, slack-key guitar
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, producer
Instrument(s)Guitar
Years active1979–present
LabelsWesternmost, Scotti Brothers, Volcano, Placebo
Websitejimkimowest.com

James West (born December 18, 1953), also known as Jim "Kimo" West, is a Canadian guitarist best known for working with "Weird Al" Yankovic.[1] 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.

Biography

West performing guitar for "Yoda" in a Jedi costume on March 10, 2007

West was born in Toronto, Ontario on December 18, 1953, and grew up in Tampa, Florida. At age 12, he started playing guitar.[2] By age 16, he was playing professionally in various Florida rock bands, including at least one with Steve Jay.

In the early 1980s, he came to Los Angeles, where Jay introduced him to "Weird Al" Yankovic.

He has a private studio in Los Angeles,[3] but spends several months a year in Hana, Hawaii.[4] He retains his Canadian citizenship.

In 2018, he received his first Grammy nomination a Moku Maluhia: Peaceful Island in the category of Best New Age Album.[5]

In 2020 his album, More Guitar Stories received another Grammy nomination for Best New Age Album and subsequently won that category.[6]

Discography

With "Weird Al" Yankovic

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

YearCategoryNominated workResult
2019 Best New Age Album Moku Maluhia: Peaceful Island Nominated
2021 More Guitar Stories Won[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Working with "Weird Al" Yankovic". iZotope. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
  2. ↑ ""Weird Al" Yankovic: Biographies". Archived from the original on February 8, 2001. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  3. ↑ "A Little About Kimo". jimkimowest.com. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  4. ↑ Collins, Dan (March 6, 2023). "Maui is About to Get Weird". Maui Time Weekly. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  5. ↑ "61st GRAMMY Awards: Full Nominees & Winners List". December 7, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Jim Kimo West - Winner details". www.grammy.com.
  7. ↑ "Jim Kimo West - Winner details". www.grammy.com.
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