Mark Johnson

Mark Johnson is a Grammy Award Winning Producer/ Engineer and Award-Winning Film Director. For the past 20 years, Mark has worked with some of the most renowned producers in the music, film and television industries, and with such musical artists as Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, Keith Richards, Sara Bareilles, Bono, Robbie Robertson and Ringo Starr. In hopes of showcasing musical talent found on the streets, Johnson parlayed his musical knowledge and technical skills to turn his vision into what is now known as Playing For Change. Mark has recorded and filmed music around the world in over 60 countries and he has dedicated his life to connecting the world through music.
Playing For Change (www.playingforchange.com) is a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. The idea for this project arose from a common belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people. Mark’s vision became an effort to share this truth with the world. Playing For Change is the 2019 recipient of the prestigious Polar Music Prize often referred to as the Nobel Prize of Music.
Mark Johnson has also been a keynote speaker at the United Nations, TED Global, the World Economic Forum in Davos and a featured guest on “The Colbert Report”, “Tavis Smiley”, “Bill Moyer’s Journal and CNN heroes. Such icons as Norman Lear, Chris Blackwell and Howard Schultz have supported Playing For Change and the PFC movement continues to grow one heart and one song at a time.