Bobby Johnston

Who is Bobby Johnston?

Bobby Johnston is a film composer and multi-instrumentalist. He has composed original scores for several films, including The Barrens, Wristcutters: A Love Story, Edmond, Mother's Day and No Impact Man: The Documentary. He often works with director Stuart Gordon.

Johnston is known for an unusual approach to film composition, using only acoustic instruments and usually performing every instrument himself. On occasion, he will bring in an instrumental soloist. Most notable are his scores to Edmond, which featured trumpet player Asdru Sierra from Ozomatli and Crazy Eyes, featuring Big Sir vocalist Lisa Papineau. He also worked with percussionist Greg Ellis on the scores to A New York Heartbeat, Mother's Day and The Barrens.

Johnston was a performer at the Sundance Music Café as part of the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, where Wristcutters: A Love Story had its world premiere.

Johnston's composition I'm Leaving You was featured on the soundtrack to the 2013 film The Lone Ranger.

His music has often been heard on the popular radio program This American Life and has been included on two of the show's greatest hits CDs.