Five for Fighting’s sixth album, "Bookmarks," marks both a return to an earlier time as well as a new musical palette for singer/songwriter John Ondrasik.

“Bookmarks is certainly a more modern record from a production and melodic standpoint than my last few albums, though, as usual, it contains my lyrical slant. It was wonderful to re-partner with my producer buddy Gregg Wattenberg as we started this Five for Fighting thing together 13 years ago.”

That “thing” happened to be the platinum album "America Town" featuring the iconic song “Superman,” an album Ondrasik and Wattenberg made on a shoestring budget in 1999. "Bookmarks" reflects the best of their prior collaboration, along with all that’s transpired in the intervening years. And once again, Ondrasik’s music contains timely cultural introspection as well as an honest look into that which is us.

Ondrasik exploded onto the music scene with the release of "Superman" in 2000 on "America Town." Having written those thousands of songs just for fun during first his youth and then his time at UCLA (an Applied Science and Mathematics major), the public adoration of “Superman” stunned his mother – a way to actually make money writing and playing music! Ondrasik’s father, a rocket scientist, was less surprised. As a businessman himself, he appreciated the long hours of dedication Ondrasik had put into honing his craft (45,000 hours, according to math major Ondrasik’s calculations!).

Inspiration plus an intense work ethic, Ondrasik had become an overnight sensation in only 20 years.

"Superman" continued to embed itself in the nation’s consciousness with the events of 9/11, as Ondrasik joined other superstar musicians for the fundraiser, “The Concert for New York,” a 2001 event dedicated to first responders affected by the events of September 11th.

Fast-forward three years with Ondrasik still searching for that second No. 1 Billboard hit. Recording in his studio, an 8’ x 4’ closet, and working on his third album, "The Battle for Everything." His wife, Carla, had been a music publisher before leaving the business to devote her time to their two children, Johnny and Olivia, but he didn’t ordinarily bounce his songs off of her.

This time he did, and he held his breath as she listened and wept. “I immediately knew that I was either onto something, or my career was over.”

Turns out he was onto something, another No. 1 Billboard hit, the now-standard "100 Years."

Since, Ondrasik has ranged well beyond work in the studio to the world beyond.

Ondrasik has compiled five albums to give away to United States troops, with over a million distributed containing hit songs and bits from superstar musicians and comedians, in addition to Five for Fighting music.

Another major philanthropic contribution came in the spring of 2007 when Ondrasik broke new ground by creating a video charity website – the first of its kind. Fans could participate in creating videos based around the question from his hit, “World,” namely, “What kind of world do you want?” and watch videos to contribute funds to their favorite causes. Through the site, over a quarter of a million dollars was raised for Augie’s Quest, Autism Speaks, Fisher House Foundation, Save the Children, and Operation Homefront.

Raising money and awareness for those organizations plus many others, Ondrasik finds it easy to get involved in worthwhile causes, often quoting his close friend Augie Nieto, who has ALS: “It’s about significance, not success.” In that vein, he’s also lectured at a TEDx event, spoken at colleges and in other motivational settings and still spends time at the family business, Precision Wire Products, where he worked in college as he began his music career and now working with his father in the business founded by his grandfather, toiling together alongside fellow metalworkers. All of them, making a difference. Significance.

“At the end of the day, it really is about doing your part, each one of us. In whatever area we can. What kind of world do you want?”

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