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I started playing piano at eight in the Philadelphia suburbs, originally focusing on classical music before branching out into rock, blues, and more. I began writing songs and forming bands at fourteen, then moved to New York City to work as a copywriter while continuing to pursue music. A chance encounter led me to a live audition with Junior Wells, and I joined his band, moving to Chicago at age 23 to tour for three years. Since then I’ve led Chicago bands like Oh My God and the Claudettes, toured worldwide as a keyboardist with a wide range of artists, and I write all the music and lyrics for the Claudettes and compose for the stage in Chicago. I also composed and recorded the original score for the FX/Hulu series The Bear (which won 10 Emmys in 2024) with my music partner JQ.…I started playing piano at eight in the Philadelphia suburbs, originally focusing on classical music before branching out into rock, blues, and more. I began writing songs and forming bands at fourteen, then moved to New York City to work as a copywriter while continuing to pursue music. A chance encounter led me to a live audition with Junior Wells, and I joined his band, moving to Chicago at age 23 to tour for three years. Since then I’ve led Chicago bands like Oh My God and the Claudettes, toured worldwide as a keyboardist with a wide range of artists, and I write all the music and lyrics for the Claudettes and compose for the stage in Chicago. I also composed and recorded the original score for the FX/Hulu series The Bear (which won 10 Emmys in 2024) with my music partner JQ.

Brian Berkowitz (Johnny Iguana)

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I started playing piano at eight in the Philadelphia suburbs, originally focusing on classical music before branching out into rock, blues, and more. I began writing songs and forming bands at fourteen, then moved to New York City to work as a copywriter while continuing to pursue music. A chance encounter led me to a live audition with Junior Wells, and I joined his band, moving to Chicago at age 23 to tour for three years. Since then I’ve led Chicago bands like Oh My God and the Claudettes, toured worldwide as a keyboardist with a wide range of artists, and I write all the music and lyrics for the Claudettes and compose for the stage in Chicago. I also composed and recorded the original score for the FX/Hulu series The Bear (which won 10 Emmys in 2024) with my music partner JQ.…I started playing piano at eight in the Philadelphia suburbs, originally focusing on classical music before branching out into rock, blues, and more. I began writing songs and forming bands at fourteen, then moved to New York City to work as a copywriter while continuing to pursue music. A chance encounter led me to a live audition with Junior Wells, and I joined his band, moving to Chicago at age 23 to tour for three years. Since then I’ve led Chicago bands like Oh My God and the Claudettes, toured worldwide as a keyboardist with a wide range of artists, and I write all the music and lyrics for the Claudettes and compose for the stage in Chicago. I also composed and recorded the original score for the FX/Hulu series The Bear (which won 10 Emmys in 2024) with my music partner JQ.

Available to hire

I started playing piano at eight in the Philadelphia suburbs, originally focusing on classical music before branching out into rock, blues, and more. I began writing songs and forming bands at fourteen, then moved to New York City to work as a copywriter while continuing to pursue music. A chance encounter led me to a live audition with Junior Wells, and I joined his band, moving to Chicago at age 23 to tour for three years. Since then I’ve led Chicago bands like Oh My God and the Claudettes, toured worldwide as a keyboardist with a wide range of artists, and I write all the music and lyrics for the Claudettes and compose for the stage in Chicago. I also composed and recorded the original score for the FX/Hulu series The Bear (which won 10 Emmys in 2024) with my music partner JQ.

Skills

Experience Level

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Language

English

Fluent

Work Experience

Copywriter at Warner Books, Time Warner

January 1, 1993 - January 1, 1994

Wrote mass-market, trade and hardcover cover copy for Warner Books; contributed to editorial materials for various publications.

Senior Copywriter at Playboy Enterprises, Inc.

January 1, 1997 - January 1, 2001

Wrote copy for the Playboy catalogs (Playboy, Spice, Collectors' Choice Music and Critics' Choice Video) and related websites; managed the catalog division's Internet copywriter and a stable of freelancers.

Copywriter at Collectors' Choice Music

January 1, 2001 - Present

Principal copywriter for a long-running music catalog and its website; produced promotional content and product descriptions; wrote projects for Rhino Records, Yellow Dog Records and other labels.

Founder / Keyboardist at Oh My God

January 1, 2000 - January 1, 2009

Co-founded Chicago rock band Oh My God; crafted the band's distorted organ sound and a blend of punk energy with pop melodicishness; toured nationally and in the UK; released multiple albums/EPs (2000–2009).

Keyboardist at The Claudettes

January 1, 2013 - Present

Formed as a piano–drums duo and expanded into a four-piece band; wrote all music and lyrics for the project; released multiple albums and EPs and earned critical acclaim.

Band Leader / Musician at Johnny Iguana's Chicago Spectacular!

August 1, 2020 - Present

Blues bandleader project; released the 2020 Delmark album featuring acclaimed blues artists; toured and recorded with the project.

Keyboardist and Founder at The Claudettes

January 1, 2013 - Present

Co-founded The Claudettes, a piano-drums duo that evolved into a four-piece; wrote music and lyrics; released three albums and an EP (2013-2020).

Co-Founder at Oh My God

January 1, 2000 - January 1, 2009

Co-founded Chicago-based band Oh My God; helped develop a signature distorted organ sound; toured across the U.S. and the U.K.; released multiple albums.

Founder / Blues Band Leader at Johnny Iguana's Chicago Spectacular!

January 1, 2020 - Present

Blues bandleader; debut album released August 2020; toured and collaborated with blues greats; led a project that charted and earned critical acclaim.

Composer at The Bear (FX/Hulu)

January 1, 2022 - Present

Original score for FX/Hulu series The Bear, created with music partner JQ.

Keyboardist / Musician at The Claudettes

January 1, 2013 - Present

Piano–drums duo evolved into a four-piece; writes all music and lyrics for the band; tours and records with the Claudettes; also works as a keyboardist with a wide array of artists

Blues Band Leader at Johnny Iguana's Chicago Spectacular!

January 1, 2020 - Present

Debuted as a blues bandleader in 2020; released an album on Delmark; collaborated with blues greats such as Billy Boy Arnold, Lil' Ed, Matthew Skoller, and John Primer

Composer (Original Score) at The Bear (FX/Hulu)

January 1, 2022 - Present

Composed and recorded the original score for The Bear in collaboration with JQ; series won 10 Emmys in 2024