Switchfoot was formed in San Diego, CA, by singer/guitarist Jonathan Foreman and his bassist brother Tim Foreman. With the addition of drummer Chad Butler, Switchfoot recorded their debut LP, 1997's The Legend of Chin, appearing on Charlie Peacock's re:Think imprint. New Way to Be Human followed two years later; it was a huge hit, with the title track garnering a 1999 Dove Award for Song of the Year. Keyboardist Jerome Fontamillas joined up for 2000's Learning to Breathe, which found Switchfoot taking more steps toward mainstream modern rock. Breathe would prove to be a transition album for the group. Its success, together with their significant presence on the hit soundtrack to the 2002 Mandy Moore vehicle A Walk to Remember, set Switchfoot up for a major-label run. Beautiful Letdown, their Columbia/RED debut, dropped in spring 2003; it represented the quartet's full evolution toward a more accessible mainstream sound. The album eventually went double platinum on the strength of constant touring and the radio hits "Dare You to Move" and "Meant to Live." It hit number one on Billboard's Christian Albums chart, and number 16 on the Top 200. In September 2005 Switchfoot returned with their fifth album, Nothing Is Sound, their first Top Ten hit on the Top 200. It was the first Switchfoot recording to include the work of additional guitarist Andrew Shirley (formerly of the contemporary Christian group All Together Separate), who had been a touring member of Switchfoot since 2003. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide