Introduction
James West (born December 18, 1953), also known as Kimo, is a 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 | Nominated |
| 2021 | More Guitar Stories | Won |