ABOUT

You’ll hear a hint of Brazos-bottom drawl in the voice that sets the tone for Cody Joe Hodges’ sound. He’s a “real” country singer who was raised in the honky-tonks of Texas.  He now resides in Nashville and tours nationally year-round.

In today’s country music world - with synthesized, programmed instruments & all the bells and whistles never imagined 20-30 years ago, Cody Joe isn’t worried as much about fitting in with what’s trendy. He’s more concerned with making his brand of country music one that will last – a sound that true country music fans will appreciate.  You might not see a fiddle and steel at every show he currently plays, but when you listen to his recordings, it’s clear that this guy LOVES that traditional country sound.

“I’ve been traveling around, releasing singles since my first Texas single ‘Getting Back to Country’ (peaked at #23 in 2015).  Since then, we’ve been playing shows, honing talent, and making new fans along the way.  I'm a lot better than I was in 2015.  One thing I’ve noticed is that there are so many ‘real country’ fans out there, & they’re craving that real country sound.  Metaphorically speaking, I’m like a guy who has a passion for fixing up old cars.  I like to take that old school country sound and ‘update’ it, giving it a modern/fresh vibe," says Hodges.

“The last 10 years have been a learning curve for me – transitioning from a dedicated student at Texas A&M, to earning my way as a singing soldier in the Army, to a grunt-loading power lineman in the Texas heat.  If you think Texas is hot in the summer, just think about what it’s like to be working most of the day, 40 feet in the air with no shade and temperatures well over the 90’s and many over 100.  That was my dad’s profession for over 40 years and I thought I would give it a try after the being honorably discharged from the Army.  I found that I really enjoyed the work, but after a couple years of moonlighting as a musician, I needed to make a decision on what I’d devote the next 20-30 years to, and music seemed like the best option.  Plus, I’ve got a huge passion for real country music, and I noticed that “real country” sound fading from many of the country radio stations.  When I left the powerline business in 2013, I knew it was time to make a move and I’m glad to see other fresh country acts bringing back the traditional country magic.  It’s something new to a lot of kids”, says Hodges.

As an independent artist, Cody Joe is well on his way to finding his place in the country music world. His last recording, “Roll That Way” (https://youtu.be/sqRt1tqhpfM), has become a dancehall favorite, packing the dance floor to many who are hearing it for the first time.  He also released a patriotic song recently, which connected with fans, called “God, Family & Country” (https://youtu.be/fxdPfiGIXMY).   

While his sound is more traditional, with recorded originals like ‘Rush’, ‘Hellbent on Loving You’, ‘Reasons’, and his new single, a cover of ‘House of the Rising Sun’, it’s clear to see this guy’s tool box contains more than just one trick.

He’s released several singles in the last few years and is working on a new album of gathered material from songs co-written with his wife, Jamie, and many other songwriters he’s collaborated with over the years.

Background on Cody Joe Hodges: 

Cody Joe Hodges had his first job at the age of 9, when he went to the bank and asked for a loan (with his father as co-signer) for a snow cone stand in Caldwell, Texas.  Hodges named it ‘The Sno-Cone Express’ after one of his hero’s Nolan Ryan, where he worked for 6 years.

Once he was old enough to drive, he got a job at his Uncle Steve’s tire, oil & lube shop at the age of 15.  Since then, he’s learned about life from several very talented people and had several different jobs that have all helped him (in one way or another) prepare for his music career. 

During his time at Texas A&M, Hodges found himself in many different job-related situations before he graduated - a machinist for the oilfield, fixing fences, a boll-weevil inspector, playing music, cleaning stalls and feeding animals as a ranch hand, life-guarding for the city pool, working as an electrical hand, and everything but manage a large college night club. 

After graduating from Texas A&M in ‘06, he took off to Nashville for the first time to chase his dream and landed a job on Broadway.  Having too much fun and with only a few months of Nashville under his belt, he moved back home to “get away from music city”.  Not long after, he joined the Army and Hodges' talent was discovered while he was playing music with a homeless man on a Tejon street in Colorado Springs.  Recruited as an Army entertainer for the group “Harmony in Motion” out of Fort Carson, CO, he played some of his biggest shows to date with the group, honing his craft along the way.   Upon discharge the Fall of 2009, he moved back to Texas, and landed a job in Brenham, TX as a power lineman for the city.  It was then that he started a band called ‘The Linemen’.  The group disbanded in 2012, the same year their album was released.   Leaving the power line business in 2013, Hodges started his solo career.  In 2015, with the songwriting help of his wife (Jamie), he released his first song ‘Getting Back to Country’.  It did well, peaking at #23 on the TRRR (www.texasregionalradioreport.com) chart that year. That same year, Hodges was invited to the The Country Music Association of Texas Awards, where they named him the Rising Star of Texas in 2016. 

Since then, it’s been one road trip after another with Hodges averaging close to 150 shows a year, putting on several thousands of miles, honing his craft and serenading country fans.

Cody Joe Is currently traveling across America performing solo & full band shows at various venues, festivals & private events.