Band

The scratch of the needle on record yields just a few seconds of silence – the time of just a few

revolutions of the vinyl before the music plays. In that silence, there is excitement, anticipation

and potential. Every album has it but only two have Jerry Zinn ready to deliver a uniquely

modern yet classic country experience. The bearded frontman of the Los Angeles-based honky

tonk band West of Texas, Zinn has spent the past 20 years creating music and living a life

worthy of his classic country sound.

With a dry wit, sharp pen, and keen ear, Zinn presents something new and challenging within

even the most conservative interpretation of country music. His commitment to the craft finds

its foundation in the songwriting. The turns of phrase and clever licks would not feel out of

place on the lips of George Jones, Johnny Bush, Buck Owens, or Merle Haggard – but sound just

right coming from Zinn.

Born in California and growing up the son of a military family – Zinn saw the world throughout

his childhood. But he found his home in country music by diving deep into his grandfather’s

vintage record collection as a [teen]. From that moment forward, he knew he wanted to add his

mark on the long history of country music. First started in 2003, West of Texas toured Southern

California and beyond with other “real” country musicians, such as Summer Dean, Brennen

Leigh, Deke Dickerson, The Cowpokes, among others.

The original group released a 3-song EP in 2010 and began working on a full-length album. After

a nearly decade-long fight for his health and voice, Zinn recovered and released his full-length

album in 2021, at the very beginning of the West Coast country revival that marked the end of

the pandemic. This album earned the band an Ameripolitan nomination in 2023.

Now Zinn and West of Texas are back with a new album, titled “Hot Motel Nights” that will be

sure to join the creates of collectors and music lovers alike. The tracks of the album touch on

real life, hard love and stupid men doing stupid things – often all in the same song.