Donavon Frankenreiter began his professional life as a surfer. Born in Southern California. He landed a sponsorship with Billabong as a young teenager and moved to Hawaii when he was 14. There, he rented a home from the parents of Jack Johnson, a fellow surfer with an untapped musical talent. The two became fast friends, learning guitar together and hanging out between trips to the beach. Music was always a hobby for Frankenreiter, who began playing guitar in a local rock band called Sunchild during his late teens, but it wasn't until 2002 that he found himself leading his own band.
His twin obsessions have carried him around the globe and into his fans' hearts. As Frankenreiter prepares to release his first live album, the 37-year-old singer/songwriter/pro surfer admits he still thrives on simply taking the plunge at every live show. ''We don't have a set show, if we did, I would go crazy,'' he says. ''You never know what's going to happen. I love that element of surprise with music and surfing — you never catch the same wave twice.'' This live album from his performance at the Belly Up on December 28th and 30th 2013 really shows the perfect antidote to trying times: warm, organic, and overwhelmingly hopeful. ''The first thing I do is grab a surfboard or guitar if I'm depressed or bummed — I think that's why a lot of my songs are positive and uplifting, because those two things make me happy. I've really enjoyed living in the moment, enjoying what's going on right now,'' he says. As Frankenreiter crisscrosses the globe on more surfing and musical adventures, his talent continues to glow.
Total Play Time: Approx. 71 Minutes
Engineered by Matt Grundy