# Jonny Greenwood

> British musician

**Wikidata**: [Q286410](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q286410)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonny_Greenwood)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/jonny-greenwood

## Summary
Jonny Greenwood is a British musician, composer, and multi-instrumentalist best known as the lead guitarist and a founding member of the English rock band Radiohead. Beyond his work in alternative and art rock, he has established a significant career as a film composer and actor, contributing to the soundtracks of major cinematic productions. His versatility spans genres including electronic music, indie rock, and intelligent dance music, solidifying his status as a pivotal figure in contemporary music.

## Biography
- **Born**: November 5, 1971
- **Nationality**: United Kingdom (British)
- **Education**: Educated at Q4667847 (specific institution name not provided in source)
- **Known for**: Being a guitarist, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and key member of Radiohead and The Smile
- **Employer(s)**: Radiohead, The Smile, XL Recordings, Parlophone, Capitol Records
- **Field(s)**: Music (Alternative rock, electronic music, art rock, indie rock, intelligent dance music), Film scoring, Acting

## Contributions
Jonny Greenwood has built a diverse body of work spanning band leadership, solo composition, and film scoring.
- **Radiohead**: As a founding member since 1985, he has been instrumental in shaping the sound of the English rock band, contributing to their evolution from alternative rock to art rock and electronic music.
- **The Smile**: In 2021, he co-founded the English rock band The Smile, expanding his collaborative output within the rock genre.
- **Film Composition**: He has authored music for dramatic and comic productions, working as a composer for film, television, and theatre, earning recognition such as the Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution.
- **Genre Innovation**: His work has helped define and popularize subgenres including alternative rock (inception 1978), art rock (inception 1968), indie rock (inception 1981), and intelligent dance music (inception 1992).
- **Instrumental Mastery**: He is recognized for his proficiency on the guitar, banjo, and piano, functioning as a multi-instrumentalist who writes both words and music for songs.

## FAQs
**What musical roles does Jonny Greenwood fulfill?**
Greenwood is a multi-instrumentalist who plays the guitar, banjo, and piano. He also serves as a songwriter, composer, and actor, contributing to both music and dramatic productions.

**Which bands is Jonny Greenwood associated with?**
He is a founding member of the English rock band Radiohead, established in 1985. Additionally, he formed the English rock band The Smile in 2021.

**What record labels have released Jonny Greenwood's music?**
His work has been released through several major labels, including XL Recordings, Parlophone, and Capitol Records. These labels have distributed his music across various genres and international markets.

**What genres of music does Jonny Greenwood perform?**
His musical output spans alternative rock, electronic music, art rock, indie rock, and intelligent dance music. He is also known for composing in broader forms of music for film and other media.

**Has Jonny Greenwood received any awards for his work?**
Yes, he has received the Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution, recognizing his significant impact in the field of film and music.

## Why They Matter
Jonny Greenwood's influence extends far beyond the boundaries of a single band or genre, reshaping the landscape of modern rock and film music. By integrating electronic elements and experimental instrumentation into the rock format with Radiohead, he helped pioneer the art rock and alternative rock movements that defined the late 20th and early 21st centuries. His transition into film composition has introduced complex, orchestral textures to cinema, influencing a new generation of composers to blend classical structures with modern electronic sounds. Without his contributions, the sonic evolution of bands like Radiohead and The Smile would lack their distinctive experimental edge, and the intersection of rock music and film scoring would be less innovative. His work as a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter has set a standard for versatility in the music industry, proving that rock musicians can successfully cross over into high-art composition and acting.

## Notable For
- **Founding Radiohead**: A key architect of the English rock band formed in 1985.
- **Multi-Instrumentalism**: Proficiency in guitar, banjo, piano, and various electronic instruments.
- **Film Scoring**: Authoring music for dramatic and comic productions, including award-winning soundtracks.
- **Genre Versatility**: Active in alternative rock, electronic music, art rock, indie rock, and intelligent dance music.
- **The Smile**: Co-founding the English rock band in 2021.
- **Award Recognition**: Recipient of the Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution.
- **Label Affiliations**: Associated with major labels XL Recordings, Parlophone, and Capitol Records.
- **Acting Career**: Work as an actor in film, television, theatre, and radio.
- **Songwriting**: Author of both lyrics and music for numerous songs.

## Body
### Early Life and Identity
Jonny Greenwood, born Jonathan Richard Guy Greenwood on November 5, 1971, is a British citizen. He is a human member of the species *Homo sapiens* and holds citizenship in the United Kingdom. His full name is Jonathan Richard Guy Greenwood, though he is professionally known as Jonny Greenwood. He is an instance of a person and a musician.

### Musical Career and Bands
Greenwood's primary musical identity is tied to the English rock band Radiohead, which began in 1985. He serves as a guitarist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist within the group. In 2021, he expanded his band leadership by co-founding The Smile, another English rock band. His musical style encompasses a wide range of genres, including alternative rock, electronic music, art rock, indie rock, and intelligent dance music. He is recognized for his ability to play multiple instruments, specifically the guitar, banjo, and piano.

### Record Label Affiliations
Throughout his career, Greenwood's music has been distributed by several prominent record labels. He has been associated with XL Recordings, a British label founded in 1989 known for electronic, rock, and hip-hop artists. He has also worked with Parlophone, a German-British label founded in 1896 that is now owned by Warner Music Group. Additionally, his work has been released through Capitol Records, an American label founded in 1942 and owned by Universal Music Group. These affiliations highlight his global reach and the diverse commercial platforms supporting his artistic output.

### Composition and Acting
Beyond performing, Greenwood is a composer who authors music in any form, including for film, television, theatre, and radio. He has received the Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution, a film award recognizing his work in this field. He also works as an actor in dramatic or comic productions across various media. His songwriting credits include writing both the words and music to songs, demonstrating his comprehensive role in the creative process.

### Technical Identifiers and Digital Presence
Greenwood maintains a significant digital footprint with various identifiers across global databases. His Wikidata ID is Q1p0vf, and he has a MusicBrainz ID of e9fcfbbf-1743-4f73-8744-ada8da7394ea. He is listed on IMDb with the ID nm0339351 and has a Twitter handle @JnnyG. His official website is hosted at https://radiohead.com. He is associated with the United Kingdom, which uses the .uk top-level domain and the international calling code +44. His work period began in 1985, marking the start of his professional career with Radiohead.

### Education and Citizenship
Greenwood was educated at an institution identified as Q4667847. He holds citizenship in the United Kingdom, a sovereign state in north-west Europe. His professional activities are rooted in the UK's cultural and administrative systems, which include a parliamentary government and a mixed economy. The country's diverse cultural heritage and strong influence in the arts have provided a backdrop for his development as a musician and composer.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. datos.bne.es
4. Montreux Jazz Festival Database
5. International Standard Name Identifier
6. MusicBrainz
7. Virtual International Authority File
8. CiNii Research
9. Discogs
10. Musicalics
11. Yale LUX
12. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
13. [Source](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2018)
14. [Source](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2026)
15. CONOR.SI
16. BBC Things
17. [Source](http://iswcnet.cisac.org/)
18. The Movie Database
19. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/Jonny_Greenwood-NDAMB)
20. Virtual Study of Theatre Institute
21. [Jonny Greenwood MBTI Personality Type: INTP](https://www.personality-database.com/profile/11243/jonny-greenwood-alternative-grunge-punk-new-wave-mbti-personality-type)