In the two decades since his first major single, “Superman (It’s Not Easy),” hit the stratosphere, John Ondarasik, the man behind Five For Fighting has kept growing and evolving his sound.
To date, Five For Fighting has released six studio LPs, including the platinum-certified America Town and The Battle for Everything; and the top-10 charting Two Lights, along with an EP and live albums.
Five For Fighting’s music has been featured in more than 350 films, television shows, and commercials. Ondrasik has penned major hits, including the chart-topping “100 Years,” “The Riddle,” “Chances,” “World,” and “Easy Tonight,” which have earned over one billion streams and place him as a top-10 Hot Adult Contemporary artist of the 2000s.The reflective “100 Years” has joined “Superman (It’s NotEasy)” as part of the American Songbook.
This Fall Ondrasik is touring with top musicians including Tony-Award-winning concertmaster and co-orchestrator of Moulin Rouge! The Musical Katie Kresek (Violin), Melissa Tong (Violin), who toured with Post Malone in 2023, and Broadway’s Chris Cardona (Viola) and Peter Sachon (Cello).
We spoke with him about his upcoming concert at the Count Basie in Red Bank, his love of touring, and what to expect with this upcoming intimate concert setting.
Tell us John, what's your favorite thing about touring?
The joy of performing across the nation with world-class musicians, who also are my second family, is like nothing else. Since the pandemic, I think both musicians and audiences have a new appreciation for the magic that only happens in a live setting.
It's been a while since you toured, what should the audience expect with this tour including the String Quartet?
The String Quartet format allows a very intimate and dynamic experience where we go behind the music, tell stories behind the songs, and have a one-on-one relationship with the audience. The string arrangements not only add an extra dimension to the popular songs but allows me to pull songs from my catalogue with incredible arrangements from renowned composers. The quartet always has a surprise of their own that I look forward to every night! To share the stage with such incredible musicians every night is a gift that keeps giving. Such an intimate format allows me to share the stories behind the songs, and the adventures along the way.
You are an outspoken activist and humanitarian, tell us about your passion for your charity, What kind of World do you Want?
The most rewarding part of my career is using my songs and platform to shine the light on heroic people and charitable causes. Whether it's our troops and Gold Star Families, ALS patients, or the critical need for music in every school, What Kind of World Do You Want strives to make our world a freer and better place for all.
Five for Fighting play in Red Bank, NJ at Count Basie Center for the Arts, on October 9th, 2024. Check out www.thebasie.org for more information.
For more information on Five for Fighting's charity visit https://www.whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com/
Since the pandemic, I think both musicians and audiences have a new appreciation for the magic that only happens in a live setting.