Five for Fighting will rock North Central College with a Sept. 27 performance.
The performance is on the eve of the 2012 Ryder Cup, an international golf event that will draw thousands of fans to the Chicago area’s Medinah Country Club starting Sept. 28.
Five for Fighting is the artist name for celebrated singer/songwriter John Ondrasik. Born in California to a musical family, Ondrasik was just two years old when he started playing piano, later adding guitar. His debut album, “Message for Albert,” was released in 1997, and his breakthrough came in 2001 with the release of the platinum album “America Town” that included the Grammy-nominated song “Superman.” Already climbing the charts prior to 9/11, “Superman” went on to have a life of his own, becoming a song of healing for the nation.
Ondrasik’s relationship with 9/11 survivors and families has led to life-changing experiences and celebrated philanthropic work for the singer, who has performed concerts for U.S. service men and women USO concerts around the world. Five for Fighting’s popular songs include “100 Years,” “World” and “Freedom Never Cries.”
Five for Fighting’s new album “Slice” is co-written by Ondrasik and Academy Award-winning composer Steven Schwartz (“Wicked,” “Godspell,” “Pippin.”) Ondrasik says the songs are stories of friends, family members and American service men and women set to music filled with the spirit of the great songs of his youth.
“Every round I try to write the best songs I can, and perhaps step out of the box a bit,” he says. “To me, records are about offering my worldview while providing sentiments to which people may attach themselves or escape into.”
Five for Fighting performs at 8PM Thurs., September 27, in North Central College’s Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave. Tickets are $65, $55 and $50; call the North Central College Box Office at 630-637-SHOW (7469) or visit northcentralcollege.edu/showtix.
