Bobby Johnston (born 1967 in

Olean, New York Olean ( ) is a Administrative divisions of New York#City, city in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. Olean is the largest city in Cattaraugus County and serves as its financial, business, transportation and entertainment center. It is ...

) is a Los Angeles based

film composer A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film. The score comprises a number of orchestral, instrumental, or choral pieces called cues, which are timed to begin and end at specific points during the film in order to ...

multi-instrumentalist A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays two or more musical instruments, often but not exclusively at a professional level of proficiency. Also known as woodwind doubler, doubling, the practice allows greater ensemble flexibility and mor ...

and

author In legal discourse, an author is the creator of an original work that has been published, whether that work exists in written, graphic, visual, or recorded form. The act of creating such a work is referred to as authorship. Therefore, a sculpt ...

. He has composed original music scores for several films, including

King of the Ants ''King of the Ants'' is a 2003 American independent neo-noir crime thriller film directed by Stuart Gordon, written by Charlie Higson, and starring Chris McKenna, Kari Wuhrer, George Wendt, Vernon Wells, and Daniel Baldwin. It was adapted from ...

, Wristcutters: A Love Story, Edmond, Stuck,

Mother's Day Mother's Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family or individual, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on different days in many parts of the world, most commonly in Mar ...

Marfa Girl ''Marfa Girl'' is a 2012 drama film written and directed by Larry Clark and released on his website. The film follows a group of youngsters living in the town of Marfa. It won the Marcus Aurelius Award for Best Film at the 2012 Rome Film Festival. ...

, Bleed Out and City of Gold. He often worked with director

Stuart Gordon Stuart Alan Gordon (August 11, 1947 – March 24, 2020) was an American Filmmaking, filmmaker, theatre director, screenwriter, and playwright. Initially recognized for his provocative and frequently controversial work in experimental theatre, Go ...

. Johnston became known for an unusual approach to film composition, using only acoustic instruments and usually performing every instrument himself. Over his career, he has also brought in many instrumental soloists to accent his sound. Most notable are his scores to ''Edmond'', which featured trumpet player Asdru Sierra from

Ozomatli Ozomatli is an American rock band, formed in 1995 in Los Angeles. They are known both for their vocal activist viewpoints and incorporating a wide array of musical styles – including salsa, jazz, funk, reggae, hip hop, and others. The group ...

and ''Crazy Eyes'', featuring Big Sir vocalist

Lisa Papineau Lisa Papineau is an American musician and songwriter. She has released four solo albums, and is the songwriter and vocalist for Los Angeles band Big Sir (band), Big Sir. Papineau is a frequent collaborator of Japanese composer Jun Miyake and has a ...

. 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 The Sundance Film Festival is an annual film festival organized by the Sundance Institute. It is the largest independent film festival in the United States, with 423,234 combined in-person and online viewership in 2023. The festival has acted ...

, 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 The Lone Ranger is a fictional masked former Texas Ranger who fought outlaws in the American Old West with his Native American friend Tonto. The character has been called an enduring icon of American culture. He first appeared in 1933 in a ...

''. His music has often been heard on the popular radio program

This American Life ''This American Life'' is a weekly hour-long American radio program produced in collaboration with Chicago Public Media and hosted by Ira Glass. It is broadcast on numerous public radio stations in the United States and internationally, and is ...

and has been included on two of the show's greatest hits CDs. Johnston's first book, "The Saint I Ain't: Stories from Sycamore Street" was published by Fomite Press on February 9, 2021. It is a collection of fictional short stories presented in a hybrid style of poetry and personal narrative.

Film scores

Feature films

*''Death & Taxes'' (2024) *''Obsession'' (2019) *''She's Just a Shadow'' (2019) *'' Bleed Out'' (2018) *''Fallen Star: Finding Home'' (2016) *'' City of Gold'' (2015) *''

Tales of Halloween ''Tales of Halloween'' is a 2015 American comedy horror anthology film consisting of ten interlocking segments, each revolving around Halloween. Segments were directed by Neil Marshall, Darren Lynn Bousman, Axelle Carolyn, Lucky McKee, Andrew Kas ...

'' (2015) *''A New York Heartbeat'' (2013) *''

'' (2013) *'' The Barrens'' (2012) *'' Crazy Eyes'' (2012) *'' Let Go'' (2011) *''

'' (2010) *''

Cherry A cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus ''Prunus'', and is a fleshy drupe (stone fruit). Commercial cherries are obtained from cultivars of several species, such as the sweet '' Prunus avium'' and the sour '' Prunus cerasus''. The na ...

'' (2010) *''Spooner'' (2009) *'' No Impact Man: The Documentary'' (2009) *'' Hotel California'' (2008) *'' Stuck'' (2007) *''Humble Pie'' (2007) *'' Wristcutters: A Love Story'' (2006) *'' Edmond'' (2005) *''Guns Before Butter'' (2005) *''Dead Doll'' (2004) *''Greener Mountains'' (2004) *''Scorched'' (2003) *''

'' (2003) *''A Little Crazy'' (2003) *'' Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election'' (2002) *''Extra: in The Background of a Dream'' (2001)

Television

*''How and Why'' (2014 pilot) *'' Fear Itself'' (2008) TV Series (Episode "Eater")

Short films

*''Shopping Cart People'' (2022) *''YO! An Introduction to the US Youth Observer at the UN'' (2013) *''What Do We Have In Our Pockets?'' (2013) *''Forward'' (2007) *''We Are Phamaly'' (2003) *''Boiler Maker'' (2003)

Soundtrack releases

*''King of the Ants'' (2024, limited-edition vinyl LP release, Treasured Films K *''Bleed Out'' (2019,

Milan Records Milan Records is a record label located in Los Angeles, California specializing in film scores and soundtrack albums. In addition, Milan has an electronic catalog which features down-tempo, chillout, and eclectic electronic releases. In July 2 ...

) *''Tales of Halloween'' (2019, limited-edition vinyl LP release, Burning Witches Records) *''Fallen Star: Finding Home'' (2018,

) *''City of Gold'' (2016,

Lakeshore Records Lakeshore Village Entertainment, LLC was an American independent film production, finance, and former international sales and distribution company founded in 1994 by Tom Rosenberg and Ted Tannebaum. Lakeshore Entertainment is headquartered in Bev ...

) *''Tales of Halloween'' (2015, Aleph Records) *''No Impact Man: The Documentary'' (2012,

) *''Crazy Eyes'' (2012,

) *''Mother's Day'' (2012,

) *''Fear Itself: Original Score from the Series'' (2009,

Lionsgate Lions Gate, Lion Gate or similar terms may refer to: Gates *Lion Gate at Mycenae in Greece *Lion Gate, one of the entrances to the ancient Hittite city of Hattusa, now in Turkey *Lion Gate, one of the entrances to the gardens of Hampton Court Pala ...

Records) *''Wristcutters: A Love Story'' (2007,

) *''Extra: in the Background of a Dream/Dead Doll'' (2007,

Citadel Records Citadel Records is an independent record label from Sydney, Australia. It was established in the early 1980s by John Needham. Bands released through Citadel include Died Pretty, Deniz Tek, Kim Salmon and the Surrealists, The Trilobites, Porcela ...

) *''Edmond'' (2007,

) *''King of the Ants'' (2004, La-La Land Records)

Books

*''The Saint I Ain't: Stories from Sycamore Street'' (2021, Fomite Press)

References

External links

Official composer website
*

Interview/featured guest - Morricone Island, WFMU, NYC

Interview - Assignment X
*
Official author website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnston, Bobby American film score composers Living people 1967 births People from Olean, New York La-La Land Records artists