Jack & Jack facts for kids

Jack & Jack
Jack Gilinsky (left) and Jack Johnson (right) performing in March 2016
Background information
Born	Jack Edward Johnson (1996-03-24) March 24, 1996 (age 29) Omaha, Nebraska, United States Jack Finnegan Gilinsky (1996-09-10) September 10, 1996 (age 28) Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Origin	Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Genres	Pop-rap R&B
Occupation(s)	Musician
Years active	2013–2020 (hiatus)
Labels	Island
Associated acts	Sammy Wilk Shawn Mendes Skate Jonas Blue
Members	Jack Johnson Jack Gilinsky

Jack & Jack is an American pop-rap music group from Omaha, Nebraska. It includes two friends, Jack Johnson and Jack Gilinsky. They are now based in Los Angeles, California.

The duo first became famous on the social media app Vine. After their success there, they started careers as musicians. Their song "Wild Life" reached number 87 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2014. They also sang on Jonas Blue's popular song "Rise" in 2018. That song reached number three in the UK Singles Chart and was a hit in many other countries. Both Jacks went to Omaha Westside High School.

Early Lives and How They Started

Jack Edward Johnson and Jack Finnegan Gilinsky were both born in Omaha, Nebraska. They met on their very first day of kindergarten. They were both named Jack and even wore the same shirt! They stayed best friends all through elementary school and high school.

Before music, Jack & Jack started with comedy in 2007. They made a YouTube channel called MotherFalconQuagmire. They created funny videos like lip-syncing songs and short parodies. Even though it was just a hobby, their videos got hundreds of views. This fun hobby stopped when they started high school.

Music Career

Becoming Famous with Vine (2013–2015)

Jack & Jack began posting short, six-second comedy videos on Vine in the summer of 2013. Jack Johnson started by posting Vines under his own name. Jack Gilinsky soon joined in, and their shared account became "Jack and Jack."

They became very famous with their "Nerd Vandals" video. It went viral and was even praised by the Huffington Post. This video helped them gain 25,000 followers very quickly. Their Vines included short song covers and funny skits. They played characters like overconcerned parents or "nerd" alter-egos named Eric and Winston.

Soon after, they joined the Magcon tour. This allowed them to travel and gain even more followers with other Vine stars. By early 2015, they had over 5 million followers. They were among the top 20 most-followed people on Vine.

After their Vine success, Jack & Jack also released two mobile games. Their first game, Let It Goat, was downloaded over a million times in its first month. They released their second game, Jack & Jack Vines Puzzle Game, in December 2014.

Focusing on Music (2014–2020)

Jack & Jack started making music in 2013. They met two sophomores, Turner and Travis Eakins, also known as Barrington Park. Together, they recorded their first songs in a small studio. This allowed them to release their music on iTunes through a company called TuneCore.

Their first original song, "Distance," came out in January 2014. They worked with famous artists like Shawn Mendes and Steve Aoki. They also worked with top producers and songwriters like Max Martin and Savan Kotecha.

Even though record labels wanted to sign them, the duo decided to stay independent for a long time. Jack Johnson said they didn't want their money "stolen" or to make less money. They believed they could get their songs on the charts by themselves.

By February 2015, they had sold 1 million songs on iTunes. Many of their songs, like "Doing It Right" and "Wild Life," made it onto the Billboard Top Digital Songs List. Their song "Like That" even topped the Billboard charts. Its music video paid tribute to The Beatles' famous Abbey Road album.

On July 24, 2015, Jack & Jack released their first EP (a mini-album) called Calibraska. It quickly reached number one on the US iTunes album charts. In early 2017, they finally signed with Island Records. They hoped this deal would help them become even more popular. They released their second EP, Gone, later that year. In January 2018, they were chosen as Elvis Duran's Artist of the Month.

On January 25, 2019, the duo released their first full album, A Good Friend Is Nice, through Island Records. They then went on tour in North America and Europe to promote the album.

Hiatus and Solo Careers (2020–Present)

On April 17, 2020, Jack Gilinsky released his first solo song, "My Love," featuring Don Toliver. On the same day, he announced that Jack & Jack would be taking a break.

Jack Johnson also started his solo career. He released his first solo song, "You Lie," on September 4, 2020, using the name JVCKJ. On September 10, Jack Gilinsky released his second solo song, "Lose Somebody," featuring Iann Dior. Jack Johnson then released his first solo project on December 4, 2020, which included "You Lie" and six other songs.

Music Style and Influences

Both Jacks play instruments and write music. They enjoy many different types of music, including reggae, R&B, pop, and hip hop. These styles influence their own songs.

They have said that artists like Anderson Paak, Roy Woods, PartyNextDoor, and Daniel Caesar have inspired them. They also grew up listening to bands like Blink 182, U2, Tom Petty, and AC/DC. Even though their music is different, these bands still influenced them.

Tours and Performances

Digitour (2014)

After graduating from high school in June 2014, Jack & Jack realized they could make money from their popularity. They went to Los Angeles to prepare for their own tour, called DigiTour Jack and Jack. This tour visited 18 cities across the United States. Almost all shows sold out! The tour featured live music, fan interactions, and funny skits.

During this tour, Jack & Jack also performed at the Teen Choice Awards. They were even nominated for the "Choice Viner" award. They also performed at the 2014 INTOUR, a social festival.

After the tour ended in September 2014, a movie about Jack & Jack's tour was released online in December 2014. It showed fans what happened behind the scenes.

Before their own headline tour, Jack & Jack toured with other social media stars in 2013. These included Nash Grier, Cameron Dallas, and Shawn Mendes.

First Headline Shows

On December 20, 2014, Jack & Jack performed their own music show in their hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. It was held at the Ralston Arena. Other performers like Emblem3 and Hot Boy joined them.

Guest Performances

Jack & Jack partnered with Verizon. They performed at Verizon store openings in Michigan (November 2014) and Houston (January 2015).

On February 27, 2015, Jack and Jack appeared on TV for the first time. They were on ABC's show The View. They talked about fame and bullying. They also performed their song Tides live.

On March 21, 2015, Jack & Jack performed internationally for the first time. They were the opening act for The Janoskians at a sold-out event called JanoFest at Wembley Arena in London, England.

They also performed at Fullscreen's NewFronts in New York City on May 4, 2015. On May 9, 2015, Jack & Jack performed at the VITY Concert Experience in Hollywood, California. Other special guests included Tyga and Kid Ink. At this event, they also confirmed their Summer tour for 2015.

Summer Tour 2015

Jack & Jack's Summer tour in 2015 included many separate performances. It started in May in Chicago with two concerts.

They continued their tour with DigiTour from June. They headlined eight events across the United States, performing alongside artists like Demi Lovato and Trevi Moran.

Helping Others (Philanthropy)

Jack & Jack have worked with many brands to help others. They have promoted skin-cancer awareness and anti-bullying messages. They joined Ryan Seacrest's 2015 Super Bowl #MakeItHappy campaign. This campaign encourages people to be kind online. They also worked with Michelin to promote safe driving.

Jack & Jack have appeared at charity events like Miles for Music. They also supported the Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times fundraiser. They have shown support for The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center in Omaha, Nebraska. In December 2015, they performed at the T.J. Martell Foundation's New York Family Day event.

Filmography

Awards and Nominations

Discography

Studio Albums

• A Good Friend Is Nice (2019)

EPs

• Calibraska (2015)
• Gone (2017)

See also

In Spanish: Jack & Jack para niños