Jack Johnson and To the Sea

If you haven't heard of Jack Johnson yet, youreleased in December of 2002. The soundtrack
may soon as his sound and name are becomingalso featured Jack.
more mainstream with the release of his newIn 2003, Jack Johnson released his second
single "To The Sea."full-length album On and On. It would be the first
Johnson, born Jack Hody Johnson, is not only aalbum to be recorded at Johnson's Mango Tree
singer and songwriter, but a filmmaker as well asStudio in North Shore, Oahu. Johnson said he
a surfer. Growing up with a father who was acredits most of the inspiration for the album to a
well-known surfer, Jeff Johnson, young Jack tookchildhood friend, Andrew Brown.
an interest in the sport and began surfing at theBy 2004, Jack was performing at the Austin City
age of 5. By the time he was 17, he became theLimits Festival and starred in the 2004 surf film A
youngest invitee to make the surfing finals at theBrokedown Melody. In October of 2004, Jack
Pipeline Masters on Oahu's north shore. After anreturned to the Mango Tree Studio along with
accident at the Pipeline that left him with 150Zach Gill who played accordion, melodica and
stitches in his forehead, not to mention knockingpiano, to follow-up on his 2003's On and On with
out a few of his teeth, he ended his surfing.the release of In Between Dreams, which was on
Jack also learned to play the guitar at a youngthe market March 1, 2005.
age. During family gatherings, Jack said his dad'sIn 2006, the soundtrack Sing-A-Longs and
friends came over and had singalongs. He felt itLullabies for the Film Curious George, was
natural to write songs that anybody could listen toreleased by Jack Johnson. The album also
and this is the route he took as an adult.featured Adam Topol, Ben Harper, G. Love,
Jack also attended the University of California,Kawika Kahiapo, Matt Costa, Merlo Podlewski and
Santa Barbara and graduated with a film degree.Zach Gill. The soundtrack was the first to make
Now with music and film under his belt, it was justNo. 1 since the Bad Boys II soundtrack in 2003,
a matter of choosing what route he wanted toand it was the first soundtrack for an animated
take. Johnson said during his college years,film to top the Billboard 200 since the Pocahontas
songwriting influences included Bob Dylan, Jimisoundtrack in 1995.
Hendrix, Radiohead Otis Redding, G. Love andIn February of 2008, Jack Johnson enlisted J.P.
Special Sauce, Nick Drake, Ben Harper, ThePlunier to produce his fourth full-length studio
Beatles, Bob Marley, Neil Young and A Tribe Calledalbum Sleep Through The Static. The album was
Quest.made using 100% solar energy at the
Jack's professional career began after G. LoveSolar-Powered Plastic Plant studio in Los Angeles.
befriended him and would later record his songThe album was followed by a live album DVD of
"Rodeo Clowns." The song would appear on hisJohnson's 2008 world tour entitled En Concert.
1999 album Philadelphonic. In regards to his filmThen in February 2010, Johnson produced Animal
career, soon after, Jack co-directed Thicker ThanLiberation Orchestra's fifth studio album Man of
Water, a documentary surf film. He alsothe World. But it wasn't until his release of To the
composed the accompanying soundtrack. The filmSea followed by a tour that brought him to the
was released in 2000.forefront. Johnson, not a mainstream performer,
Jack Johnson's music soon caught musician Benachieved No. 15 on USA Today's alternative
Harper's ear. Harper was especially interested inairplay chart for his single "You and Your Heart".
Jack's debut album Brushfire Fairytales. The albumJohnson's album To the Sea was inspired by his
was released in 2001 with Harper making a specialnewly founded appreciation for his life on the
appearance with his lap steel guitar.ocean and everything that entailed. Johnson's
In 2002, Jack and his wife Kim, created Brushfirefather, who had died of cancer, sent Jack into a
Records, a company designed to releasewriting hiatus and on an introspective roll. The
soundtracks for surf films.album celebrates his father, his father's wisdom
Jack went on to direct and star in another surfand passion for the ocean along with his love for
film The September Sessions. The film washis own wife and children.