James Poyser

James Poyser

Birth : 1967-01-30, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, UK

History

James Jason Poyser (born January 30, 1967) is an American songwriter, record producer, musician and current member of the hip hop band The Roots. Poyser officially joined The Roots in 2009, composing and performing live as the house band for NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and subsequently The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. He is sometimes used as comic foil, especially for his use of deadpan facial expressions, and is frequently used as the pianist for Fallon's "thank-you notes" after the monologue ends. His work in film and television include composing theme songs for shows such as Wyatt Cenac's Problem Areas, Hawthorne, The Break with Michelle Wolf, contributing music to the TV shows The Equalizer, Black-is, The Chappelle Show, and to the movies Fame, Dave Chappelle's Block Party, and Totally Awesome, among many others.

Profile

James Poyser
James Poyser
James Poyser

Movies

Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Original Music Composer
Melvin, a British author living in America, returns home to London for Christmas to introduce his American fiancée Lisa to his eccentric British-Caribbean family. Their relationship is put to the test as she discovers the world her fiancé has left behind.
Two Distant Strangers
Two Distant Strangers
Original Music Composer
A man trying to get home to his dog gets stuck in a time loop that forces him to relive a deadly run-in with a cop.
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
The Roots
When his new album fails to sell records, pop/rap superstar Conner4real goes into a major tailspin and watches his celebrity high life begin to collapse. He'll try anything to bounce back, anything except reuniting with his old rap group The Style Boyz.
Night Catches Us
Night Catches Us
Music
After growing up during the tumultuous 1960s, ex-Black Panther Marcus returns to his home in Philadelphia in 1976 and reconnects with Pat, the widow of a Panther leader. Marcus befriends Pat's young daughter and attempts to conquer his demons. Interfering with Marcus's good intentions are the neighborhood's continuing racial and social conflicts, as well as old enemies and friends -- both with scores to settle.
Totally Awesome
Totally Awesome
Music
Do you prefer to wax on or wax off? Preacher won't let you dance? Well then, put Baby in the corner and come on down, 'cause VH1 is bringing back more of the'80s you love in this feature-length film, Totally Awesome. The Gundersons have just moved across the country and the kids - Charlie, Lori, and Max - are trying their best to acclimate themselves into a new school and all kinds of dilemmas therein: the need to dance, the pitfalls of young love, the quest for popularity, scientific genius and of course the quirky but loveable Japanese gardener. Totally Awesome takes all your favorite '80s-flick mainstays and weaves them into the biggest and baddest plotline ever conceived. Tot say it is radical would be an understatement.