Jack Johnson, Bahamas perform at amphitheater in Tampa

Jack Johnson took an unusual path to music stardom. He first gained fame as a professional surfer (following in the footsteps of his dad, Jeff Johnson), then directed and acted in some surf-themed films.

Meanwhile, he was playing in obscure soft-rock bands that garnered some attention from people who mattered in the California music scene.

He released a couple of mildly successful recordings and performed with Ben Harper and Toots and the Maytals on a “Saturday Night Live” episode hosted by Donald Trump. His first big hit came in the form of a soundtrack album for a kid’s movie, “Curious George.” Johnson’s whimsical lyrics and innocent-sounding melodies were a perfect fit for the movie and were appealing enough to stand on their own.

In the 11 years since, Johnson has become the king of feel-good pop music. He’ll perform at MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre in Tampa on Wednesday.

Opening for Johnson is a guy who goes by the name Bahamas. He’s a Canadian singer-songwriter whose real name is Alfie Juvanen. His latest album, “Bahamas is Alfie,” earned him Juno Awards for Adult Alternative Album of the Year and Songwriter of the Year, and was named the best album of the year by the CBC radio show Q.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4, MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, 4802 U.S. 301, Tampa. $27-$81. 813-740-2446, livenation.com.

This story was originally published September 27, 2017 at 4:50 PM with the headline "Jack Johnson, Bahamas perform at amphitheater in Tampa."