A life long lover and student of music, Kevin West has embraced a variety of styles including, but not limited to, blues, rock, metal, Hip Hop and even folk/Americana singer/songwriter.
A recent graduate from the Musicians Institute in Hollywood (with Honors), West also studied jazz at the College of Charleston, South Carolina. In 2006, he won American Songwriting Magazine’s lyric contest. During his time with various bands and projects, he has performed on prominent stages (in Charleston, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, New York, Virginia) while opening for acts like Afro Man, Kevin Kinney, Rehab, Long Beach Dub All Stars/Short Bus and more. He’s also no stranger to jamming on the beach or performing in smaller, more intimate settings.
No matter the situation, the crowd or the event, Kevin’s love and passion for songwriting, performing and connecting with listeners is undeniable. Catchy hooks, infectiously rich melodies, a high caliber of musicality and a willingness to push stylistic and genre boundaries guarantees Kevin’s creations are familiar enough to grab you yet refreshing enough to make you smile and keep you listening.
He released his first album in 2011. On The Way To Nowhere was a compilation of songs curated from recordings made throughout the late 90s.
His 2006 album, My Life & Times, saw Kevin exploring jazz chords and rhyme schemes while using traditional approaches to songwriting and Hip Hop rhythms to create a Songwriter/Hip Hop cross over project.
He released his guitarist/singer-songwriter leaning album, Once In A Lifetime, in 2015. His forthcoming project sees West diving headfirst into Americana, jazz and rock styles. Story of My Life is set for release on June 15th (2019).
The six track project takes us on a journey through an eclectic but well crafted blend of songs ranging from more acoustic-country-pop sounding tracks to straight up jazz jams to more electric guitar, rock-oriented tunes.
In other words, West’s knowledge of musical styles and his ability to seamlessly explore the nuances of each gives him an edge and results in his craftsmanship standing out in the flood of talent that is accessible to us in this digital world.
Going beyond his music, Kevin also pours a lot of time and energy into charity work. He has volunteered and worked hands on with organizations such as: Communities in Schools, My Sisters House, Happy Days And Special Times, North Charleston Juvenile Detention Center, Make A Wish Foundation, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation and “COURAGEOUS KIDZ”.
Jam out to the lead single, Best of Mine, below or subscribe on YouTube.
The single is also available on Spotify.
Connect with Kevin West on his official website.
