Jill Wisoff is an American film composer, songwriter, and actress who has had a multifaceted career spanning music, theater, and film. Born in Queens, New York, she developed an early interest in the arts, which was nurtured through her education.
Wisoff holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in theater from Bennington College, where she honed her skills in acting, singing, and dancing. She later pursued a Master of Fine Arts degree in Writing with a concentration in fiction from the New School, further refining her craft.
Growing up in the Bronx and later in Frankfurt, Germany, Wisoff's formative years were marked by a love of music and performance. She began playing the flute and piccolo in her school's marching band, and later studied voice and composition at the Manhattan School of Music's preparatory division.
As a teenager, Wisoff taught folk guitar at Connecticut's Buck's Rock Work Camp, where she developed her skills as a musician and educator. She then embarked on a professional acting career, performing in musical stock at Long Island's Gateway Playhouse and later in off-off Broadway productions.
Wisoff's experience in theater led her to explore her musical talents, and she began playing lead guitar in various bands during the burgeoning NYC punk scene. She eventually joined the all-girl reggae group Steppin' Razor and moonlighted as a bassist in the New York Frets, a tristate country cover band.
In the 1980s, Wisoff's music career took off, and she toured as a bassist and backup singer with Johnny Thunders' band, known as the Oddballs, throughout Europe, Canada, and the Midwest. She also continued to act and compose for film and television, working with notable directors and producers.
Throughout the 1990s, Wisoff remained active in the entertainment industry, serving as dramaturg and director for various productions, including Southern playwright Stephen Jackson's debut production of Lethal Dose: 100, which won the Jean Dalrymple award. She also performed extensively with indie band The Con Artists and continued to score for film and television.
In the new millennium, Wisoff expanded her creative horizons, script doctoring and writing screenplays for various producers. She eventually made her film directorial debut with Creating Karma, solidifying her status as a talented and versatile artist.
