Theo Katzman

Katzman grew up in a musical family in Manhasset, New York.^[2][3] He attended Manhasset High School.

His father, Lee Katzman, was a jazz trumpet player and would take him to rehearsals at an early age.^[4] When he was about twelve he started playing drums, guitar, and writing songs.^[5] In 2004, Katzman moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan and studied jazz at the University of Michigan.^[6]

In 2005, he joined the instrumental group Toolbox which evolved into the band Ella Riot.^[7] Katzman toured with the band from 2007 to 2010.^[4] During that time the band released an EP titled My Dear Disco and an album titled Dancethink.

In early 2010, Katzman pursued a solo career to focus on his singing and songwriting.^[4] He formed the trio Love Massive, who performed regularly and opened at the Ann Arbor Folk Festival in 2011.^[6] Katzman released an EP titled Solo Acoustic in 2010 and released his first studio album Romance Without Finance in 2011.^[8][9] In late 2011, he moved to Brooklyn and released music videos for two of his songs, "Hard For You" and "Brooklyn".^[10] In 2012, he opened for several artists including Vanessa Carlton, Matisyahu, and Vienna Teng.^[11][12] In 2013, he was the musical director and the opening act for Darren Criss on his national tour, Listen Up,^[13][14] and released a single titled "Pop Song".^[9]

Katzman has worked with several artists as a songwriter and producer. He co-wrote and produced Face the Fire, an album by Michelle Chamuel, and co-wrote several songs for an album by Criss.^[15][16] He performs with the Irish-fusion band The Olllam, funk band Vulfpeck, and as a solo act.^[17][18]

Katzman released a single titled "Hard Work" in October 2016.^[19] Katzman's second studio album Heartbreak Hits was released in January 2017. According to Katzman, the album's concept was about heartbreak and loss.^[16] A review by Lee Zimmerman noted the album's "upbeat" tone despite the underlying lyrical concept.^[20]

In October 2019, Katzman released a single titled "You Could Be President", a preview of his third studio album Modern Johnny Sings: Songs in the Age of Vibe.^[21] In December 2019, Katzman released two EPs of three songs each from the upcoming full-length album. These EPs were thematically organized, and were titled Modern Johnny Tackles the Issues^[22] and Modern Johnny Wallows in Introspection and Gently Goes Mad.^[23] The full album was released in January 2020 under the label Ten Good Songs.^[24]

Katzman released his fourth studio album, Be The Wheel, in March 2023.^[25] The album was recorded live to tape at Cinnamon Ranch, Katzman's studio in Michigan.^[26] Katzman released four songs, including the title track, as singles before the release of the full album. He also formally announced his record label, Ten Good Songs, for recordings and productions by Theo Katzman.^[27] In 2023, Ten Good Songs released both Be The Wheel and an album by May Erlewine titled The Real Thing.^[28] In 2025, Katzman released a single through Ten Good Songs titled Rome Wasn't Built in a Day^[29]

Katzman grew up listening to classic rock and soul music.^[8] His influences include soul, R&B, funk, rock and folk.^[6] As a songwriter, a primary focus for him is a song's lyrical theme. He writes parts for guitar, bass, drums, and keyboards. His favorite songwriters are those who "capture a moment in cultural time" such as Frank Ocean, Joni Mitchell and Paul Simon.^[4][5]

Katzman's father, Lee Katzman, was a jazz trumpet player with the big bands of the 50s and 60s (Stan Kenton Band, Benny Goodman, Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa) and the CBS and NBC orchestras. In the late 60s he was a member of Herb Albert's Baja Marimba Band. Katzman's maternal grandparents, Albert Tipton (flutist) and Mary Norris (pianist) were both classical musicians with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, the Aspen Music Festival and the Philadelphia Orchestra.^[5]

In addition to his solo work, Katzman is a member of the funk band Vulfpeck. Formed in 2011, Vulfpeck is a four piece instrumental group made up of Katzman on guitar, drums and vocals, Jack Stratton on keyboards, drums and guitar, Woody Goss on keyboards, and Joe Dart on bass.^[2] The band has released four EPs and six studio albums.^[30]