Jack Hartmann was born on March 2, 1950, in sunny Florida. That makes him 75 years old in 2025. He grew up in a house filled with love for both books and rhythm. His parents encouraged big dreams, even if they stayed out of the spotlight themselves. That early freedom helped Jack mix schoolwork with song from the very start.
Family Life
Jack has shared life with his wife, Lisa Dixon Hartmann, since March 26, 1983. Lisa spent more than fifteen years teaching kindergarten, so she knows exactly how young minds tick. The couple has two grown children, though Jack likes to keep their names off social media. Lisa now helps run their company, Hop 2 It Music, which frees Jack to write the catchy tunes kids love.
Education Path
Jack studied psychology at the University of Florida, earning a B.A. After that he grabbed a master’s in child psychology from Assumption University. Those degrees are not just paper on a wall. They guide every lyric he writes. When he later worked with autistic children at Shands Teaching Hospital, he saw that music could turn tough lessons into playtime. That moment set his career in motion.
Music Start
In 1981 Jack and Lisa launched Hop 2 It Music in Largo, Florida. Their first project helped teachers teach counting through song. Forty-plus albums later, his library holds more than 1,500 tracks. Titles like “Stop Bullying Now,” “Count to 100 by 1’s,” and the timeless “If You’re Happy and You Know It” travel from classrooms to living rooms around the world.
