Jeff Russo (born August 31, 1969) is an American composer, songwriter, guitarist, vocalist and music producer, and one of the two founding members of the rock band Tonic. He is also a founding member of the Americana band Low Stars.
Russo is also known for his work as a composer on various films and television series, notably the Noah Hawley series Fargo, Legion and ' (as well as his film Lucy in the Sky); the Star Trek series ', ', ', and '; the American remake of Utopia; as well as Counterpart, Snowfall, and For All Mankind. He also scored the miniseries The Night Of, Brand New Cherry Flavor, and Ripley, and the acclaimed video game What Remains of Edith Finch. For his work on Fargo, he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special in 2017.
Russo began his music career as a rock musician, co-founding the band Tonic. In 2006 he was invited (by his friends, Wendy & Lisa) to assist in the studio while they worked on multiple film and TV projects, and he realized how much he enjoyed the process. He scores two Peabody Award nominated shows: CBSâÂÂs ' and FXâÂÂs Legion, starring Dan Stevens and Aubrey Plaza. He also scores on NetflixâÂÂs The Umbrella Academy starring Elliot Page, Robert Sheehan and Mary J. Blige, which is based on the popular comic book series by Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba. He wrote for Noah HawleyâÂÂs feature directorial debut from Fox Searchlight, Lucy in the Sky, starring Natalie Portman and Jon Hamm, and Altered Carbon, an adaptation of Richard K. MorganâÂÂs sci-fi novel. His film work includes scoring Mark WahlbergâÂÂs action-thriller film Mile 22, Craig MacneillâÂÂs Lizzie, starring Chloë Sevigny and Kristen Stewart, which premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, and Jon AvnetâÂÂs Three Christs, starring Richard Gere, which premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival. His first connection with the Star Trek franchise was his contribution to Star Trek: Discovery.
Russo and his wife, musician Nina Gordon of Veruca Salt, have two children.