Chairman of the Board

Singer/songwriter/surfer and record label owner Jack Johnson divides his time between the waves and stage. And as a member of a new environmental advocacy group, he's found a way to make his songs help save the sea.

Jack Johnson

"I grew up in Hawaii wearing just sandals, surf trunks and a shirt all the time because it was always so hot," says singer/songwriter/surfer/filmmaker Jack Johnson. "When I started doing shows in Los Angeles and the clubs were really starting to fill up, I had this moment when I realized, wait a minute, this is actually happening. If I don't be careful, I might just have to get dressed up for the rest of my life."

Well, it did happen for Johnson. After two albums, the platinum-selling Brushfire Fairytales and On and On and a third recording, The September Sessions, that is a soundtrack to a surf film that Johnson made with a group of friends called The Moonshine Conspiracy, Johnson is one of the most successful singer/songwriters working today. And he can wear whatever he wants.

As you would expect from someone who grew up surfing and appreciating the beautiful environment of Oahu, Hawaii, Johnson is an easy-going, thoughtful and humble soul whose acoustic, meditative and funky songs work well with sunsets and sand as a backdrop. What Johnson has done is take that vibe and bring it to the masses who also want a taste of that good life.

Johnson, whose manager is a longtime friend who used to edit his surf films, attributes much of his success to innocence and a bit of luck.

"We were lucky because, early on, we said no to a lot of things. We started getting approached by all of these big labels who were being very enthusiastic. But we were so afraid of them that we turned them down initially. It was very tempting when you're driving around in a minivan and barely trying to pay bills back home. It was because we were proud of what we had done and didn't want to give that up. Fortunately, they then asked what we wanted, and we just said that we wanted creative control, and they gave it to us."

So now Johnson has an enviable situation. He has his own label, Brushfire Records, but with major distribution through Universal. "They don't get to hear anything until we finish the record" he says. "They just print what we hand to them. That's been really nice."

What has also been nice for Johnson is the sense of community that he fosters in his art and which in turn nourishes him. He still works with the same group of artists and filmmakers that he has known for years. He toured last year with kindred souls and label-mates, G. Love and Donavon Frankenreiter, and he still works with the same group of musicians with whom he began his recording career.

That sense of community also translates into a social responsibility that Johnson practices in his business affairs. Johnson, Brushfire Records and The Moonshine Conspiracy are all members of 1% for the Planet, an alliance of businesses who all donate 1% of their annual net revenues to environmental organizations worldwide.

"I had met 1%'s Yvon Chouinard, who had founded Patagonia, and was able to go on a few surf trips with him," says Johnson. He's an amazing guy who has done a lot of amazing things. He's funny. But he's so educational to talk to. So I learned a lot about the organization and how important it is. It's a really cool way to help out and easy to do. Who's going to miss 1% of their revenue?"

Johnson's new album will be released on March 1st. Until then, his fans will have to live with a new single, "Sitting, Waiting, Wishing," available at the iTunes store and his Some Songs Live EP, featuring Johnson, G. Love and Donavon Frankenreiter , which was performed live on surf champ Kelly Slater's radio show, K-OS. For more info on Jack Johnson, visit www.jackjohnsonmusic.com. For more info on 1% for the Planet visit www.onepercentfortheplanet.org.

By Erik Philbrook