Theodore Katzman (born April 2, 1986) is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as a founding member and multi-instrumentalist of the funk band Vulfpeck and for his work as a solo artist. His musical style is a fusion of pop, jazz, funk, and indie rock. He founded the independent record label Ten Good Songs. He has recorded with and contributed to the works of several artists including Michelle Chamuel, Tyler Duncan, May Erlewine, Teddy Geiger, Benjamin Jaffe, Jacob Jeffries, Rett Madison, and Antwaun Stanley. Katzman has released four studio albums, with his latest Be the Wheel released in March 2023.
Early life and education Katzman grew up in a musical family in Manhasset, New York. He attended Manhasset High School. His father, Lee Katzman, was a jazz trumpet player and would take him to rehearsals at an early age. When he was about twelve he started playing drums, guitar, and writing songs. In 2004, Katzman moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan and studied jazz at the University of Michigan.
Career In 2005, he joined the instrumental group Toolbox which evolved into the band Ella Riot. Katzman toured with the band from 2007 to 2010. 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. He formed the trio Love Massive, who performed regularly and opened at the Ann Arbor Folk Festival in 2011. Katzman released an EP titled Solo Acoustic in 2010 and released his first studio album Romance Without Finance in 2011. In late 2011, he moved to Brooklyn and released music videos for two of his songs, "Hard For You" and "Brooklyn". In 2012, he opened for several artists including Vanessa Carlton, Matisyahu, and Vienna Teng. In 2013, he was the musical director and the opening act for Darren Criss on his national tour, Listen Up, and released a single titled "Pop Song".
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. He performs with the Irish-fusion band The Olllam, funk band Vulfpeck, and as a solo act.
Katzman released a single titled "Hard Work" in October 2016. Katzman's second studio album Heartbreak Hits was released in January 2017. According to Katzman, the album's concept was about heartbreak and loss. A review by Lee Zimmerman noted the album's "upbeat" tone despite the underlying lyrical concept.
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. 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 and Modern Johnny Wallows in Introspection and Gently Goes Mad. The full album was released in January 2020 under the label Ten Good Songs.
Katzman released his fourth studio album, Be The Wheel, in March 2023. The album was recorded live to tape at Cinnamon Ranch, Katzman's studio in Michigan. 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. In 2023, Ten Good Songs released both Be The Wheel and an album by May Erlewine titled The Real Thing. In 2025, Katzman released a single through Ten Good Songs titled Rome Wasn't Built in a Day
Style Katzman grew up listening to classic rock and soul music. His influences include soul, R&B, funk, rock and folk. 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.
Personal life 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.
Vulfpeck In addition to his solo work, Katzman is a member of the funk band Vulfpeck. The band was formed in 2011 as a four-piece instrumental group with Katzman on guitar, drums and vocals, Jack Stratton on keyboards, drums and guitar, Woody Goss on keyboards, and Joe Dart on bass. The band has released four EPs and six studio albums.
Discography Albums Studio albums Solo albums Title Album details Romance Without FinanceReleased: November 15, 2011 Label: Self-released Format: CD, digital download Heartbreak HitsReleased: January 6, 2017 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download, streaming Modern Johnny Sings: Songs in the Age of VibeReleased: January 10, 2020 Label: Ten Good Songs Format: Digital download, streaming Be the WheelReleased: March 10, 2023 Label: Ten Good Songs Format: Digital download, streaming
with Ella Riot Title Album details DancethinkReleased: October 11, 2009 Label: Self-released Format: CD, digital download
with Vulfpeck Title Album details Mit Peck (EP)Released: December 20, 2011 Label: Vulf Format: Vinyl, digital download Vollmilch (EP)Released: December 20, 2012 Label: Vulf Format: Vinyl, digital download My First Car (EP)Released: December 6, 2013 Label: Vulf Format: Vinyl, digital download Fugue State (EP)Released: August 26, 2014 Label: Vulf Format: Vinyl, digital download Thrill of the ArtsReleased: October 9, 2015 Label: Vulf Format: CD, LP, digital download The Beautiful GameReleased: October 17, 2016 Label: Vulf Format: LP, digital download Mr. Finish LineReleased: November 7, 2017 Label: Vulf Format: LP, digital download Hill ClimberReleased: December 7, 2018 Label: Vulf Format: CD, vinyl, LP, digital download Live at Madison Square GardenReleased: December 10, 2019 Label: Vulf Format: Vinyl, LP, digital download, streaming The Joy of Music, the Job of Real EstateReleased: October 23, 2020 Label: Vulf Format: Vinyl, digital download, streaming SchvitzReleased: December 30, 2022 Label: Vulf Format: Vinyl, digital download, streaming Clarity of CalReleased: March 4, 2025 Label: Vulf Format: Vinyl, digital download, streamingMSG II (Live at Madison Square Garden)Released: December 12, 2025 Label: Vulf Format: Vinyl, digital download, streaming
Schvitz
Live albums Title Album details Jam in the Van - Theo Katzman (Live Session, Azusa, CA, 2016)Released: December 19, 2016 Label: Jam in the Van Format: Digital download, streaming Theo Katzman on Audiotree LiveReleased: April 9, 2018 Label: Audiotree Format: Digital download, streaming My Heart Is Live in BerlinReleased: April 26, 2019 Label: Ten Good Songs Format: Vinyl, digital download, streaming Modern Johnny Sings: Songs in The Age of LiveReleased: 2022 Label: Ten Good Songs Format: Vinyl, digital download, streaming Live From the Other SideReleased: September 13, 2024 Label: Ten Good Songs Format: Vinyl, digital download, streaming
Extended plays TitleAlbum details Solo AcousticReleased: 2010 Label: Self-released Format: CD, digital download Theo Katzman on Audiotree LiveReleased: 2018 Label: Audiotree Format: Digital download, streaming Modern Johnny Tackles the IssuesReleased: December 6, 2019 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download, streaming Modern Johnny Wallows in Introspection and Gently Goes MadReleased: December 20, 2019 Label: Ten Good Songs Format: Digital download, streaming
Singles As lead artist Title Year Album "Pop Song" 2013 rowspan=3 "Hard Work" 2016 "My Heart Is Dead" "You Could Be President" 2019 Modern Johnny Sings: Songs in the Age of Vibe / Modern Johnny Tackles the Issues "Rome Wasn't Built in a Day" 2025
As featured artist Title Year Album"Something Good" 2018Mother Land"Highest Bidder" "Easy" 2022 Tiny Beautiful Things"Worlds Apart" "Sunday" Art"Leon Keys" Leon Keys (EP)"One More Try" 2023The Nostalgiac"Like a Movie" Stranger to the Feeling"Lisa Never Wanted to Be Famous" 2026Lost in the Wonder
Production and writing credits Year ArtistAlbumSongNotes 2012 These Holy Days "Heartbreak Season" drums, bass, co-producer "Shoot Me With Your Best Shot" drums, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, vocals, co-producer "These Holy Days" drums, percussion, vocals, co-producer 2012 "Hide It Away" co-producer, bass, guitar, snare drum 2013 The Last Fears "Ordinary Man" drums, additional arranging "Home" drums, co-writer "Figure It Out" drums, guitar "Ordinary Man" drums, guitar "Happier" drums, bass 2013 "Go Down Singing" co-producer, bass, guitar, snare drum, writer 2013 "Famous" co-producer, drums, acoustic guitar, electric guitar 2014 Confluence co-writer (tracks 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11), backing vocals (tracks 1, 3) 2014 "You Just Want My Money" co-writer, co-producer, backing vocals, bass, guitar, drums 2015 Face the Fire writer, performer, producer (all tracks) 2015 Vérité "Wasteland" bass, guitar 2017 Kesha Rainbow "Rainbow" percussion 2018 Mike Viola The American Egypt "Collins" drums2018Woman BelieverDunzo (EP) drums (tracks 1, 2, 3), bass (tracks 2, 3), guitar (track 3)2019May ErlewineSecond Sight"That's My Home"electric guitar2019Ryan LermanNoisy Feelings"American Dream"backing vocals"Hard To Break Up"drums"Windy Day"backing vocals"Mexico"drums, percussion2019Allen StoneBuilding Balance"Miscommunicate"co-writer"Chippin' Away"co-writer2020Woody and JeremyStrange Satisfaction drums (tracks 1 and 7), guitar (track 7), background vocals (tracks 3, 4, 7)2020Carly Rae JepsenDedicated Side B"Window"bass, backing vocals, drums, guitar, co-writer, co-producer2018Woman BelieverThe Hot Years percussion (track 7), guitar (track 14)2021Antwaun Stanley and Tyler DuncanAscensionwriter, drums, guitar, congas, percussion2021Rett MadisonPin-Up Daddyproducer (all tracks), drums (all tracks), percussion (tracks 1 and 7), guitar (tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9), background vocals (track 1), Wurlitzer (track 2)2021Hobo JohnsonThe Revenge of Hobo Johnson"I Want You Back"co-writer2023May ErlewineThe Real Thingproducer, drums2023Taylor AshtonStranger to the Feeling"Strong Hands"background vocals2023Rett MadisonOne For Jackie"Lipstick"drums, congas, additional percussion"Fortune Teller"Wurlitzer, background vocals"One for Jackie, One for Crystal"percussion, congas, bass drum"Mediums, Therapists, and Sheriffs"drums2024Brittany HowardThelma the Unicorn Soundtrack"Fire Inside"co-writer, guitar2025May ErlewineWhat It Takesproducer, drums2025Benjamin JaffeSongs for Agreementproducer, drums2025Jacob JeffriesYou Got the Right Ideaproducer, drums
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