James "Jim" Alan Johnston is a music composer who has been working for World Wrestling Entertainment since the 1980s; His work is often accredited to the name James A. Johnston.
Johnston is famous for writing many of the memorable entrance theme songs for WWE, including the theme songs for The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin, among hundreds of others.
Johnston has mentioned in past interviews that he suffers from stage fright and a fear of live audiences, and it was this fear that led to him seeking a more 'studio oriented' music career. His first job in the entertainment business was working with MTV and VH-1 to create bumpers and commercial cues, before a chance meeting in a sushi restaurant with a WWF producer led to him joining Vince McMahon's professional wrestling company. Initially composing TV themes for shows and commercial buffers, Johnston gravitated towards wrestlers entrance themes, before eventually becoming a complete music composer for the company.
In 1989, Johnston composed original music for No Holds Barred, a movie starring Hulk Hogan. Although the score was never commercially released, the theme tune "No Holds Barred", with vocals by John Joyce, was later released on WWE's Anthology album in 2002.
To date, this is the only movie soundtrack to his credit, although he is rumored to be involved with future WWE Films projects.
Johnston has been recognized in entrance themes such as Triple H's "My Time" theme where he is referred to in the lyrics (Yo Jimmy, hit me with that Triple H). Silkk the Shocker also gives Johnston a shout out at the end of the song "I'm Comin'" (MVP's Theme) when he says "Jim on the Track". He is also vocally featured on the WWE Originals album where he is featured in skits with Steve Austin between tracks.
James Everett Johnston (April 16, 1917 - November 1973) was an American football end and running back in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and the Chicago Cardinals. He played college football at the University of Washington.
