Jim West (guitarist)

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Jim West

Jim West performing guitar for "Yoda", March 10, 2007
Born December 18
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

James "Jim" "Kimo" West (born December 18, (year unknown) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada) is a guitarist best known for working with the singer-songwriter "Weird Al" Yankovic. West 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 albums, videos, and concerts. In Al' concerts, in the 80's during Like a Surgeon, Jim used to wear a cone bra, but then, he quit and Ruben Valtierra started.

West is also a composer for TV and film and produced a number of CDs for independent artists. He has released three solo slack-key guitar albums. He performs regularly with Hui, a Hawaiian music ensemble.

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[edit] Biography

Born in Toronto, West grew up in Tampa, Florida. He started playing guitar at age 12[1], and by age 16 he was playing professionally in various Florida rock bands, including at least one with Steve Jay. He came to Los Angeles in the early eighties, where Jay introduced him to Yankovic. West still lives in the Los Angeles area, but spends several months a year in Hawaii. He retains his Canadian citizenship.

[edit] Discography

[edit] With Weird Al

[edit] Solo Albums

  • Coconut Hat
  • "Nurturing the Garden - commission for the National Tropical Botanical Garden on Kaua'i
  • Slack Key West
  • The Hawaiian Tribute To Sublime: Livin's EZ
  • Hotel Honolulu - The Hawaiian Tribute to the Eagles

[edit] Producer

  • 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

[edit] Compilations

  • The Rocky Story

[edit] External links

v • d • e
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Band members
EPs
Studio albums
Compilations
Singles
"My Bologna" · "Another One Rides the Bus" · "Ricky" · "I Love Rocky Road" · "Eat It" · "King of Suede" · "I Lost on Jeopardy" · "This Is the Life" · "Like a Surgeon" · "I Want a New Duck" · "One More Minute" · "Dare to Be Stupid" · "Living with a Hernia" · "Christmas at Ground Zero" · "Fat" · "Lasagna" · "I Think I'm a Clone Now" · "UHF" · "Money for Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies*" · "Isle Thing" · "Smells Like Nirvana" · "You Don't Love Me Anymore" · "Taco Grande" · "Jurassic Park" · "Bedrock Anthem" · "Achy Breaky Song" · "Headline News" · "Amish Paradise" · "Gump" · "Germs" • "Spy Hard" · "The Night Santa Went Crazy" · "The Saga Begins" · "It's All about the Pentiums" · "Don't Download This Song" · "Ode to a Superhero" • "White & Nerdy" · "Canadian Idiot" · "eBay"
Filmography
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