Last summer I fell in love. His name was Jack. Jack Johnson that is. It was love at first sight, or first sound. The first song of his I heard was Upside Down. I had no clue who sang it but I did not care, I loved it. I could not get it out of my head.  Then I heard his name, Jack Johnson.

My first CD of his was Brushfire Fairytales, which in fact was his first album. It was the first of three, followed by On and On and his latest, In Between Dreams. And of course one cannot forget the Curious George soundtrack. Jack has also done the music for two of his own films, Thicker than Water and September Sessions.

Of course, Jack’s success was not found until In Between Dreams, which featured the hits Sitting, Waiting, Wishing and Upside Down.

Each of his albums seems to vary in style. With influences ranging from The Beatles, to Hendrix, and Radio Head, his music takes on a different life with each song. His genre is an acoustic/folk sound with parts that do not fit in a category. A lot of the extra inspiration for his music comes from his childhood, growing up in Hawaii.  

Jack Johnson was born on the North Shore of Oahu. Until he picked up a guitar and started writing music at the age of 14, his soul lied with the ocean and surfing. He has been featured in numerous surf films that were filmed on the islands, as has his music. His songs are obviously influenced by the sounds of his native land.

He travels to Oahu often. While there, he spends much of his time volunteering at schools and playing at festivals to benefit local charities.

One of the charities closest to his heart is the Kokua Hawaii Foundation, which is focused on encouraging the idea of recycling toward children. Jack visits a traveling preschool with this organization in order to educate children on making the earth a globally green planet. 

Jack does not play alone. He travels with two close friends to provide the backup to his lead guitar and vocals. Adam Topol supplies the beats. As a fellow Pacific coast native, though a Californian, Topol also has a passion for surfing. Merlo, bassist, is from the east coast but shares classic music tastes with both Jack and Adam. 

When he is not playing music, Jack makes movies. Before his music was featured in the soundtracks, he was behind the camera and in action in front of them. Jack’s music and surfing skills are both featured in A Broken Down Melody.

His well-grounded roots make for experiences that drive his lyrics to a level that is relatable to anyone who hears it. Because of his past, and the influences of his home, Jack Johnson’s music has a unique quality that cannot be overheard.