A Bay Area troubadour with a knack for storytelling, Forest Sun applies his easy tenor to songs that move between folk, country, reggae, rock, and soul. His colorful childhood among the hippie communities of Upstate New York and subsequent world travels have fueled a prolific and wide-ranging catalog that spans nearly a quarter-century. A D.I.Y. enthusiast from the start, Sun's home-recorded 1999 debut helped launch a career that over the years saw him sharing stages with icons like Bonnie Raitt, Steve Earle, and the Beach Boys. His earthy poeticism and laid-back charm have made him a festival favorite in North America and Europe, and albums like Walk Through Walls (2005), Just Begun (2012), and Follow the Love (2022) have earned critical acclaim as well as a large fan base.

Born in Glens Falls, New York, Sun's parents were enmeshed in the area's vibrant hippie community of the late-'60s. Their love of folk music was instilled in him from a young age and he grew up listening to a variety of roots music from Toots & the Maytals to Townes Van Zandt. Encounters with influential figures like blues guitarist Rory Block and African drummer Babatunde Olatunji only helped solidify his desire to become a professional musician. Relocating to the Bay Area for college, he played in a local band with actress Maya Rudolph before heading off to Europe to study art.

Sun's career as a solo artist began in 1999 with the release of Not Afraid, which he recorded in his San Francisco bedroom. Over the next decade, he lived the vagabond life of a traveling musician, touring widely throughout Europe and America, playing stages big and small, and amassing a hard-won grassroots audience. Albums like 2001's Plenty and 2005's Walk Through Walls revealed both his craft as a storyteller and his adventurous spirit. He opened shows for Lyle Lovett, Bonnie Raitt, and Keb Mo and played support tours for likeminded singer/songwriters like Mason Jennings and Brett Dennen. He even did a tour with the Beach Boys. Meanwhile, his songs managed to find placements on major network shows like NBC's Perfect Harmony and Showtime's The Big C, as well as the soundtracks of several surf films.

Throughout his career, Sun has remained prolific in the studio: 2008 saw the release of two albums (Harlequin Goodnight and So Nice) and the charity compilation Songs for Laura, inspired by his mother's battle with cancer.

In 2010 he ventured into children's music with Just for Fun, followed two years later by the breezy Americana of Just Begun. He is also a visual artist and occasional actor with a handful of minor film credits. Sun composed the soundtrack to the 2019 documentary film Free Ticket to Egypt and has contributed songs to several films.

Heading into the next decade, he returned with a pair of back-to-back studio albums with 2021's Stubborn Breathing Heart followed a year later by Follow the Love. ~ Timothy Monger