RJ Chesney has deep roots in the American South, having grown up in Macon, Georgia and Biloxi Mississippi. His voice is deep and sonorous

with a twang. Gospel, blues, country, and folk breathe in and inspire his songs. RJ evokes Hank Williams Sr. meets John Prine with a little Townes Van Zandt & Leonard Cohen thrown in. RJ has toured America and Europe several times and has earned a very loyal following. Most recently he returned to Europe in January & February 2024 , playing shows in London, England.  Bergen & Voss Norway.  RJ toured the big Island of Hawaii in April 2024 and then Canada in August 2024 including stops in Toronto, Montreal and Moncton. RJ is deep into production on his upcoming 4th album A SOUTHERN MAN to be released in fall of 2026.

 

RJ released his debut album PRAYERS OF A WAYWARD SON in 2010. Independently released, Prayers of a Wayward Son sold copies in over

fourteen countries including England, Ireland, Switzerland and the USA. All by grass roots word of mouth.  

 

RJ’s second album, ANGELS FALLING, was released in 2015 to rave reviews, including this quote by Terry Roland in No Depression magazine - "If these songs were paintings, they would be Andrew Wyeth's starkly beautiful American landscape work. These songs are landscapes of the soul.”

 

In 2019 RJ released his third album, AMATEUR REVOLUTION, a collaboration with notable Norwegian Producer-Composer HP Gundersen and Los Angeles producer Jason Hiller. Amateur Revolution  features great musicians from both the Los Angeles, California  and Bergen, Norway music scenes. The album was  widely praised in the USA and throughout Europe:

 

Paul Kerr from AmericanaUK - ‘Amateur Revolution’ is not going to be the most polished album to grace the decks this month. It’s all the better for that as the loose-limbed feel here runs throughout the 12 songs gathered, the sort of feel that one associates

with The Basement Tapes or Doug Sahm, just a bunch of musicians having some great fun performing some great songs and Paul Jackson - Fatea Records UK -  “Country music is a very broad church these days,

particularly when you think of acts like Chris Stapleton and Sturgill Simpson, so it's great to get others coming along to push the boundaries further. Solid songs, great performances from the band and crisp production make Amateur Revolution a fine record indeed."

 

and from Music Morsels - "I have often wondered what Hank Williams Sr’s songs would have sounded like if he were alive today. L.A. (by way of Macon and Biloxi) songsmith RJ Chesney channels those types of roots with his latest release. Vocally, it has a bit less twang and more grit than Hank, and the songs, while strongly retro, have an earthy depth to them giving

them a subtle modern kick. The lyrics tend to be introspective and occasionally dark with a touch of humor in the right places. With excellent production from highly regarded Norwegian producer H.P.

Gunderson, this music just feels like it came from the formative years of country and that is a very good thing these days."

 

If you love true roots music, that stirs your soul deep inside, you'll

be a fan of RJ too!