Jack Hody Johnson (born May 18, 1975) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, filmmaker, and former professional surfer from the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. His music combines acoustic folk, pop, soft rock, reggae, and surf-inspired rhythms, usually favoring relaxed arrangements, conversational vocals, and lyrics concerned with relationships, everyday life, community, and the environment.
Johnson grew up surfing and began playing guitar at the age of 14. While studying film at the University of California, Santa Barbara, he worked with filmmakers Chris and Emmett Malloy on surf documentaries. Their 2000 film Thicker Than Water featured several of Johnson's songs and established him as both a filmmaker and a musician. He later contributed to The September Sessions, another surf film, while his songwriting began attracting attention beyond the surfing world. G. Love & Special Sauce recorded Johnson's song "Rodeo Clowns" for their 1999 album Philadelphonic, helping to introduce his writing to a broader audience.
Producer J.P. Plunier, known for his work with Ben Harper, helped Johnson develop his first album, Brushfire Fairytales, released in 2001. The record's warm acoustic sound, understated performances, and informal storytelling made it a successful alternative to the polished pop dominating the period. The album also included a guest appearance by Harper and gave its name to Johnson's record label, Brushfire Records, which he established in 2002.
Johnson expanded his sound on On and On (2003), retaining the easygoing musical style of his debut while addressing consumerism, politics, and social responsibility. His commercial breakthrough came with In Between Dreams (2005), an album built around songs such as "Better Together", "Banana Pancakes", and "Good People". Its accessible melodies and intimate production made it his most widely recognized studio album and firmly defined the mellow acoustic style associated with his name.
In 2006, Johnson recorded Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies for the Film Curious George. The soundtrack, led by the single "Upside Down", became his first album to reach number one on the Billboard 200. He followed it with Sleep Through the Static (2008), To the Sea (2010), and From Here to Now to You (2013), each continuing his commercial success while introducing changes in mood and production. The concert film and live album En Concert documented his 2008 world tour.
After All the Light Above It Too (2017), Johnson took a longer break from full-length solo releases. He returned with Meet the Moonlight in 2022, collaborating with producer and guitarist Blake Mills. The album presented a more spacious and textural approach without abandoning Johnson's preference for subtle grooves and natural-sounding performances. In 2023, In Between Dub reworked songs from his catalog through reggae and dub treatments by producers including Mad Professor and Lee "Scratch" Perry.
Johnson's career has consistently connected music with environmental and educational work. In 2003, he and his wife, Kim Johnson, founded the Kokua Hawaii Foundation, which supports environmental education in Hawaiian schools and communities. He also established the Johnson Ohana Foundation and has used Brushfire Records, concert events, and touring initiatives to support environmental, art, and music education. That combination of accessible songwriting, independent-minded production, filmmaking, and environmental advocacy has made Johnson one of the defining acoustic pop artists of the 2000s and beyond.