122: Why Johnny Britt Wrote “C’est La Vie”

Welcome back to The Jazz Flyte Podcast. When I say I’ve got a special guest, I mean it, because this episode hits on two things that matter to me deeply: the music and what the music is used for when life gets real. I’m welcoming back Johnny Britt, Cleveland’s own trumpet player, vocalist, and storyteller, and we go places in this conversation that every listener can feel.Johnny takes me through his roots, from growing up in Cleveland and attending Cathedral Latin to the once-in-a-lifetime leap that changed his world: studying abroad in Paris, France. He shares what it meant to train at the prestigious Conservatoire de Versailles under Roger Delmotte, the premier trumpeter for the Paris Opera, and how living in Paris for three years shaped his artistry, his perspective, and even his language. When you hear him speak French on his website and throughout this album era, there’s a reason. Paris isn’t a gimmick for Johnny Britt. It’s a piece of his identity.We talk about his album Midnight in Paris as an homage to the city he loves, and he breaks down what makes it different: English vocals, French-inspired hooks, French spoken word, and a sound that reflects jazz clubs, romance, memory, and movement. Johnny also shares the momentum behind the project, including chart success and why he believes the best is still ahead as he prepares new releases like “A City of Lights” and his upcoming dance mix of “Boulevard Saint-Michel.”But the most moving part of this episode is Johnny’s honesty about mental health and how it entered his home through his daughter’s long battle. He doesn’t speak as an expert. He speaks as a father who has lived it. That experience led to “C’est La Vie,” a song he wrote for his daughter, and to his work as a spokesperson and messenger for mental health awareness. We talk about why he created Sound, Soul, and Healing, the free event happening February 16 in Canton, Ohio, designed to combine music, resources, community, and hope. Johnny shares his intention plainly: if he can help one person feel less alone, the mission is worth it.This conversation is about perseverance, faith, purpose, and what it means to keep going while you’re carrying your family through something you never expected. It’s also about the kind of success you can’t measure on a chart. If you’ve ever loved an artist for their sound, this episode will make you respect the person behind it even more.Connect with Johnny: https://www.johnnybritt.com/Register for the event: https://www.en-rich-ment.org/