Jim Johnston

As a boy growing up in Pocahontas, Arkansas, composer Jim Johnston studied piano and trumpet, but he wanted to play the guitar instead. ∙ Johnston was on his way to studying architecture in grad school when he decided to pursue a career in music, much to his conservative father’s dismay. ∙ At his favorite sushi bar, Johnston met WWF art director Brian Penry, who recommended the fledgling composer to Vince McMahon. ∙ For Johnston's first task at the WWF, Vince McMahon asked him to compose a 20-second, high-energy saxophone theme for Wrestlemania I. ∙ Since the mid-’80s, Johnston has composed iconic walk-up music for such wrestling superstars as The Rock, The Undertaker, and Stone Cold Steve Austin. ∙ Both Johnston’s WWE: The Music, Vol. 4 and Vol. 5 achieved Platinum status. ∙ Johnston has won five BMI Cable Awards for his work on WWE Raw.