John Ondrasik (Five for Fighting)

Five for Fighting's Latest CD, Two Lights

The End Zone, Utah - July 13th 2001

The Official Five for Fighting Website

The End Zone, Utah - July 13th 2001

About Five for Fighting

Five For Fighting has one main member, John Ondrasik, who considers himself mainly a singer and songwriter, though he is also competent as a guitarist and pianist. The name he picked for his band refers to a form of discipline used in the turbulent sport of hockey. Players who fight during the game are sent storming away to cool down for five minutes in a penalty box. In other words, they get five for fighting.

Ondrasik, born and raised in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, started his musical training when he was only two years old. His mother, a piano teacher, gave him lessons. When he was around 13, he appropriated — which is a nicer way of putting it than saying stole — his sister's guitar. He taught himself to use this instrument and soon to write music. Somewhere along the way, he also took vocal lessons in opera. He soon discovered that opera wasn't his cup of tea, and Ondrasik leaned toward music by artists like Billy Joel, Journey, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and Earth, Wind & Fire.

In 1997 Ondrasik, using the stage name Five For Fighting, saw the release of his debut album, Message for Albert, recorded under the Capitol Records label. "Last Great American," "2 Frogs," "Wise Man," and "Day by Day" are some of the arena rock — salted with pop — that fans can sample on this first album. Released on Columbia Records, Five For Fighting's sophomore offering, American Town, didn't come until three years later. Continuing his themes of love and life, although with a more political spin, Ondrasik re-teamed with producer Greg Wattenberg and had mixing help from Jack Joseph Puig, who has worked with the Goo Goo Dolls, Beck, Counting Crows, and Semisonic. When he isn't recording, Ondrasik tours often, and has traveled with artists like the Dave Matthews Band and with singer David Gray.

--Charlotte Dillon, All-Music Guide

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