Jack Johnson
Biography
Jack Hody Johnson, born May 18, 1975, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, filmmaker, and former professional surfer. He is known for his laid-back, acoustic-driven music that blends folk rock, soft rock, and surf rock. Johnson grew up on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, where his father, Jeff Johnson, was a well-known surfer. He began surfing at the age of five and by seventeen, he was the youngest invitee to make the finals of the prestigious Pipeline Masters surfing competition. However, a serious surfing accident a week later, which required over 100 stitches in his forehead, effectively ended his professional surfing career.
Music Career
During his recovery from the surfing accident, Johnson focused on his other passion, music, which he had started at the age of eight by learning guitar and began songwriting at twelve. He attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he graduated with a B.A. in film studies in 1997. His initial foray into the creative world was through film, directing the surf documentaries "Thicker Than Water" (2000) and "The September Sessions" (2002), for which he also provided the soundtracks. Johnson's musical break came after his song "Rodeo Clowns" was featured on G. Love & Special Sauce's 1999 album, "Philadelphonic". This exposure led him to record his debut album, "Brushfire Fairytales," released in 2001. The album, with its mellow and acoustic feel, found a wide audience and achieved platinum status.
Studio Albums
Following the success of his debut, Johnson has released several more albums, many of which have topped the Billboard 200 chart. His discography includes:
- On and On (2003)
- In Between Dreams (2005)
- Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies for the Film Curious George (2006)
- Sleep Through the Static (2008)
- To the Sea (2010)
- From Here to Now to You (2013)
- All the Light Above It Too (2017)
- Meet the Moonlight (2022)
His albums have sold over 25 million copies worldwide.
Personal Life and Activism
Johnson married his college girlfriend, Kim, in 2000, and they have three children. The family resides on the North Shore of Oahu. Johnson is a dedicated environmentalist. In 2003, he and his wife founded the Kōkua Hawaii Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports environmental education in Hawaiian schools and communities. They also established the Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation in 2008 to support environmental, art, and music education globally. Johnson has been a leader in the music industry's greening movement, donating 100% of his tour profits to charity. In recognition of his environmental work, he was appointed a UN Environment Programme Goodwill Ambassador.