Florida native JJ Grey was bitten by the surfing bug before he turned to music. Not long after he picked up the guitar, though, he started to compose his first songs. With the help of Daryl Hance, a work colleague who also happened to play the six-string, JJ Grey & Mofro was born. In 1994, an opportunity arose to record a disc in the U.K., but the project ultimately fell through. Instead, fans had to wait until 2001 to hear JJ Grey & Mofro's debut album, Blackwater. The follow-up, Lochloosa, was released three years later. Since then, the band's frequent touring and recording has attracted a sizeable audience. The live album Brighter Days came out in 2011.