Bio

Johnzo West is a singer, songwriter and guitarist born and raised in the great state of Indiana; Guitarist for Fortress Social Club, Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus.

He formed his first band, a trio called The Swell, while attending Indiana University in Bloomington, IN, releasing the full length Love Grenade (2004) and the 4-song EP Say It Like You Mean It (2005). Johnzo later relocated to Los Angeles, California, and recorded his first solo album Bring On The Burden (2008), a collection of mostly acoustic home recordings, as well as the 4-song EP Blood, Sweat & Beers (2010). His most recent solo album, Glory, was released in February 2013.

In late 2011, Johnzo and Miley Cyrus recorded a cover of Bob Dylan's You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go. The track appeared on Amnesty International's Chimes Of Freedom album, a tribute to Bob Dylan. Miley and Johnzo appeared alongside 70+ artists including Adele, Kris Kristofferson, My Morning Jacket, Bad Religion, the Avett Brothers, Lucinda Williams, Queens of the Stone Age, Elvis Costello, Sting, Jackson Browne, Maroon 5 and Ziggy Marley. Miley and Johnzo shot a video for Lonesome with photographer/director James Minchin III. The video reached #1 on both MTV and CMT, and in one month surpassed 3 million views on YouTube. The duo has performed on The Ellen Degeneres Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and at charity events such as "Trevor Live" at the Hollywood Palladium, Muhammad Ali's "Celebrity Fight Night", and the Los Angeles "City of Hope" benefit concert.

In the spring of 2012, Johnzo played guitar on Billy Ray Cyrus' album, Change My Mind, alongside drummer Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp, Smashing Pumpkins, Rolling Stones, Trey Anastasio) and bassist Dusty Wakeman (Dwight Yoakam, Lucinda Williams). He has also performed with Cyrus on The Tonight Show, The View, Good Morning America, Canada AM and Canada's Breakfast Television.

Johnzo has shared the stage with Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus, Rascal Flatts, Lionel Richie, Florence + The Machine, Robin Thicke, Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers Band, Toots and the Maytals, Rick Springfield, Jackie Greene, Ha Ha Tonka, Jade of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Benevento Russo Duo, The Cadillac Black, Easy Star All-Stars, Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise, Leroy Powell, Rose's Pawn Shop, Zack Hexum, VHS or Beta, Ari Hest and many more.

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"A shiny new roots band... Cali Girl is a gentle rocker that reminds me of I See Hawks In LA and no less than Elvis Costello." - My Old Kentucky Blog (U.S.)

"They happily cite influences as diverse as alt-country, reggae and soul... far from being a sloppy mish-mash though, the songs are tightly constructed roots-led rockers that demonstrate a nice line in lyrical wordplay and toe-tapping rythms." - Mad Mackerel (U.K.)

"Melodic rock songs with a country feel taking cues from early seventies Neil Young and the latter day output of The Byrds." - Here Comes The Flood (Netherlands)