James Poyser
0.1Sound

James Poyser

Jan 30, 1967 - Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, UK

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.

Credits

Cast

Media
Movie2016Popstar: Never Stop Never StoppingThe Roots
Movie2025SNL50: The Homecoming ConcertSelf
Movie2017Dave Matthews Band - Concert for Charlottesville
TV Show1997The Chris Rock Show1
TV Show1959The GrammysSelf1

Crew

Media
Movie2020Two Distant StrangersOriginal Music ComposerSound
Movie2023Maxine's Baby: The Tyler Perry StoryOriginal Music ComposerSound
Movie2006Totally AwesomeMusicSound
Movie2010Night Catches UsMusicSound
Movie2021Boxing DayOriginal Music ComposerSound
Movie2025Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL MusicMusicSound
TV Show2021The EqualizerOriginal Music ComposerSound