Johnny Britt

Johnny Britt is a singer, composer, and trumpeter from Louisville, Kentucky, United States. He is widely recognised as the lead singer of the Motown MoJazz group Impromp2 and has established himself as a versatile recording artist and producer.

Early Life

Born in Louisville, Britt was raised in Cleveland, Ohio, where he was immersed in gospel music at his uncle's church, The House Of God. He began singing in the choir at the age of four and started his professional performance career at seven with the group The Courageous Young Men. After taking up the trumpet at 12, he later studied classical trumpet at the Conservatoire de Versailles in France under Roger Delmotte of the Paris Opera. His formal education continued in Chicago at Governors State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in music and received the Gerald Myrow Award for Outstanding Composer.

Career

Britt's professional breakthrough occurred when he was discovered by Otis Williams and hired as the youngest-ever musical director for The Temptations. This relationship led to his role as co-music producer for the Emmy Award-winning miniseries The Temptations. In 1995, he founded Impromp2, a duo signed to Motown's MoJazz label that blended jazz, hip-hop, and R&B, releasing four albums and performing for President Bill Clinton. As a soloist, Britt has released several albums, including Marvin Meets Miles (2016), So Hot (2018), and Mo Jazzin’ (2020). His technical contributions extend to major film scores, serving as a featured trumpet soloist for Hans Zimmer on Hidden Figures and Dunkirk, and performing in the Academy Award-winning film La La Land. His songwriting credits include the chart-topping jazz track 'Contact' for Boney James, which earned him Gold and Platinum status.

Personal Life

Britt is based in Los Angeles, California, where he resides with his wife. He maintains a strong professional legacy through his diverse body of work that bridges American soul and European classical traditions. His community involvement includes past work as the musical director for America Sings on the GMC Network. He has collaborated extensively with prominent figures such as David Bowie, Jennifer Lopez, Josh Groban, Maxwell, and Luther Vandross, cementing his reputation as a respected technical musician and vocal trainer.

Current Activities

In early 2025, Britt released his French-inspired studio album Midnight in Paris, which commemorates his 30th anniversary as a recording artist.