Birch Johnson is a studio trombonist and five time Emmy nominated composer based in New York. After graduating from the University of Alabama and earning a Masters Degree from the Eastman School of Music, he toured as lead trombonist and soloist with Woody Herman, Gerry Mulligan, Gil Evans, Tito Puente, Lionel Hampton and the Original Blues Brothers Band. He appeared as an actor in the “Blues Brothers 2000” film.
Birch has recorded with Aretha Franklin, Paul McCartney, Donald Fagen, Sting, Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Tony Bennett, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Bon Jovi, Rod Stewart, David Byrne, George Michael, Jimmy Buffet, Elvis Costello, Bono, Queen Latifah, John Legend, Sinead O’Conner, Garth Brooks, K. D. Lang, Harry Connick, Jr., Marianne Faithfull, Phyllis Hyman, Diana Krall, Train, Dr. John, Aaron Neville, Steve Tyrell, Jane Monheit, Dina Carroll, Ray Simpson, Woody Herman, Chuck Mangione, Earl Klugh, Ghostface Killah, Dave Sanborn, Art Farmer, Benny Golson, Enrico Pieranunzi, the Blues Brothers Band, David Bromberg and many others.
His other credits include playing on hundreds of commercial recordings and television shows (including Smash, Royal Pains, Grey’s Anatomy, Fringe, Privileged, Wise Guys, Saturday Night Live, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Tony Awards and Late Show With David Letterman), many dozens of feature film soundtracks (including Third Degree Burn [featured soloist], the Pink Panther [2006], Old School, Aladdin, the Untouchables, Shaft [2000], Mambo Kings, Manchurian Candidate [2004], Hercules [Disney], Beauty and the Beast [Disney], Cotton Club, Sleepless in Seattle, the Alamo [Disney], Pocahontas [Disney]), and many Broadway shows (including Book of Mormon, On the Town, Hairspray, Memphis, 42nd Street, Annie, Cats and Saturday Night Fever).
As a composer, Birch has written extensively for CBS Sports, CNN, Headline News, Guiding Light, the Turbocharged Thunderbirds and As the World Turns.
