Bobby Wooten III (born January 20, 1989) is an American musician, composer, producer, and bassist from Chicago, Illinois.
He earned a Grammy nomination for his work on the Tony-winning Broadway production of David Byrne’s American Utopia.
Who is Bobby Wooten III?
Bobby Wooten III is an American musician, composer, producer, and instrumentalist who built his reputation on Broadway and in studio work across multiple genres.
His credits span from the Broadway stage to commercial campaigns for major brands.
He played bass on two major Broadway productions: Moulin Rouge! The Musical and David Byrne’s American Utopia. The latter earned a Grammy nomination, an Emmy nomination, and a Tony Award for Best Musical Revival.
Bobby credits his family’s gospel ensemble, the Wooten Choral Ensemble, as his primary musical influence and inspiration.
His production and session work spans collaborations with artists including David Byrne, Carly Rae Jepsen, Post Malone, Jennifer Lopez, Mac Miller, Jennifer Hudson, and Rick Ross. He also composed the score for the 2023 film Rare Objects.
In 2022, he attracted wider public attention through his brief relationship with actress Katie Holmes.
Early Life of Bobby Wooten III
Bobby Wooten III was born on January 20, 1989, in New Jersey. His family later relocated to Chicago, Illinois, where he grew up and developed his musical roots.
Music ran deep in the Wooten family from an early generation. His grandfather founded the Wooten Choral Ensemble in 1949, a gospel choir that shaped Bobby’s earliest musical experiences.
His father worked as a musician as well, doing pop music and studio work while playing keyboards in Marcus Miller’s band.
Bobby started his musical journey playing the piano as a child. He later transitioned to bass when he was older, initially inspired by the popularity of Blink-182 in the early 2000s.
He describes himself as a largely self-taught bassist, crediting the electric energy of rock alongside his formal jazz training for shaping his playing style.
Bobby Wooten III Age
Bobby Wooten III is 37 years old as of 2026, born on January 20, 1989. His zodiac sign is Aquarius.
In 2025, David Byrne’s American Utopia was added to the Criterion Collection, keeping Wooten’s Broadway performance in the cultural spotlight years after the show’s run.
Bobby Wooten III Ethnicity and Nationality
Bobby Wooten III is American, born in New Jersey and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He is Black, with deep roots in African American gospel music tradition through his family’s choral ensemble.
His grandfather’s founding of the Wooten Choral Ensemble in 1949 placed Bobby inside a musical legacy that extends back more than 75 years.
That heritage has directly influenced his approach to music as both a performer and composer.
Bobby Wooten III Height and Weight
Bobby Wooten III stands at 5 feet 9 inches (approximately 1.75 meters) tall. His weight has not been publicly confirmed across reliable sources.
On stage, his physical presence as a bassist and dancer in American Utopia drew attention from critics and audiences alike. He served simultaneously as a bassist, singer, and dancer during the Broadway run.
Bobby Wooten III Musical Style and Influences
Bobby’s style blends gospel roots with jazz training, funk, and rock. He cites his family’s gospel choir as the primary foundation of his musical voice.
He studied jazz formally at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, where the upright bass became a key part of his training. That jazz background later made him adaptable across both live performance and studio production settings.
His commercial work reflects how wide his range extends. Production credits include campaigns for Google, Adidas, ESPN, and Nike, as well as contributions to the TV series Empire.
Bobby Wooten III Education
Bobby Wooten III attended Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, where he studied jazz and business. His primary instrument during his formal training was the bass.
The Jacobs School program gave him both the technical grounding of jazz and the business knowledge to navigate a career in music. He later joined the faculty at NYU Tisch School of the Arts as an adjunct instructor.
His NYU role placed him within the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, where he brought his professional experience into the classroom.
Bobby Wooten III Career
Early Career
After completing his studies, Bobby moved to New York City and began building his reputation as a session musician, instrumentalist, and producer. His early studio work connected him with a broad network of artists.
He worked on productions with Jennifer Lopez, Mac Miller, Jennifer Hudson, and Rick Ross during his early years in the industry.
Commercial campaigns for brands including Adidas and ESPN also became part of his early professional portfolio.
Bobby also contributed to the Empire TV series as part of his commercial production work. Those credits established his profile well before his Broadway breakthrough.
Broadway Breakthrough
Bobby joined the band for Moulin Rouge! The Musical on Broadway, which won ten awards at the 74th Tony Awards including Best Musical. That run placed him at the center of one of Broadway’s most celebrated productions.
His most career-defining work came with David Byrne’s American Utopia. Bobby joined the show’s band during rehearsals in February 2018 and performed as a bassist, singer, and dancer throughout the production’s run.
American Utopia opened on Broadway in 2019 and ran until 2022.
Spike Lee filmed the Broadway production, which later earned a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theatre Album and an Emmy nomination. The production also won the Tony Award for Best Musical Revival.
Bobby described the experience on his Instagram: he wrote that it would “always feel special” to him that he performed in a Broadway show “not as a character, but as myself.”
Recent Work
In 2020, Bobby launched an internet series called America, Learn Your History. The project provided facts about American history that had been overlooked or undertaught, covering topics related to Black history and broader American narratives.
He also joined Carly Rae Jepsen’s touring band in April 2022 for her Coachella performance.
He appeared with the band at various festival dates through 2022 and returned for the Australian leg of her tour in 2023.
In 2023, Bobby composed and produced the score for the film Rare Objects. That film also starred and was directed by Katie Holmes.
As of 2025, American Utopia’s Criterion Collection release kept his Broadway work accessible to new audiences.
Bobby Wooten III Awards and Recognition
American Utopia earned a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theatre Album, which included Bobby as a performer on the live cast recording.
The production also received an Emmy nomination and won the Tony Award for Best Musical Revival.
His Broadway work on Moulin Rouge! sits alongside his American Utopia credits as part of a strong two-show Broadway record. Moulin Rouge! won Best Musical at the 74th Tony Awards.
Bobby also received recognition at the 2023 American Theatre Wing Gala, where he was among those celebrated in connection with his Broadway career.
Bobby Wooten III Partner
Bobby Wooten III and actress Katie Holmes began dating in early 2022. The couple made their red carpet debut at The Moth’s 25th Anniversary Gala on May 26, 2022, where Bobby presented honoree David Byrne with the 2022 Moth Storyteller of the Year Award.
Holmes also attended the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of her film Alone Together with Bobby by her side. The couple dated for approximately eight months before splitting in December 2022.
Bobby’s relationship status has not been publicly confirmed since that split.
Bobby Wooten III Net Worth
Bobby Wooten III’s estimated net worth is $3 million as of 2026. His income draws from multiple streams including Broadway performances, studio production credits, touring, commercial work, and his faculty role at NYU Tisch.
His commercial production credits include work for Google, Adidas, ESPN, Nike, and LeBron James, adding significant income beyond live performance.
Composition work including the Rare Objects film score also contributes to his overall earnings.
His long career collaborating with high-profile artists across film, television, and live music gives him a broad and stable income base.
Bobby Wooten III Social Media
Bobby maintains an active Instagram presence under the handle @bobbywooten3. His posts cover his musical work, reflections on touring and Broadway, and his America, Learn Your History project.
He also uses Instagram to acknowledge mentors and collaborators, including his frequent posts about David Byrne’s influence on his career. His official website at bobbywooten.com includes a full professional bio and project history.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bobby Wooten III’s net worth?
Bobby Wooten III’s estimated net worth is $3 million as of 2026, built through Broadway performances, studio production work, touring, and commercial campaigns.
How old is Bobby Wooten III?
Bobby Wooten III is 37 years old as of June 14, 2026, born on January 20, 1989, in New Jersey.
Who is Bobby Wooten III married to / dating?
Bobby Wooten III is not publicly known to be in a relationship as of 2026. He dated actress Katie Holmes for approximately eight months in 2022 before they split in December of that year.
What is Bobby Wooten III’s biggest achievement?
His most celebrated credit is performing on David Byrne’s American Utopia on Broadway, which won the Tony Award for Best Musical Revival and received Grammy and Emmy nominations.
Where was Bobby Wooten III born?
Bobby Wooten III was born in New Jersey and grew up in Chicago, Illinois.
What is Bobby Wooten III famous for?
Bobby is famous for his work as a bassist, composer, and producer, particularly his Broadway roles in American Utopia and Moulin Rouge! The Musical, and his Grammy nomination for the American Utopia cast recording.
The Bottom Line
Bobby Wooten III performed as bassist, singer, and dancer in David Byrne’s American Utopia from its 2018 rehearsals through its Broadway closing in 2022, earning a Grammy nomination in the process.
His family’s gospel choir, the Wooten Choral Ensemble, founded in 1949, shaped the musical foundation he later brought to Broadway, film, and studio work with artists across multiple genres.
He composed the score for the 2023 film Rare Objects and continues to work as an adjunct instructor at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, bringing his professional experience to the next generation of musicians.
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