JJ Grey & Mofro/Neal Francis

Initially, John "JJ Grey" Higginbotham and songwriting partner Daryl Hance, friends since high school, went to England because they had the chance to sign with a label there. By the time they got there, the label was defunct. Higginbotham managed to eke out a living overseas for about two years before he moved back to Jacksonville at the request of Fog City Records label owner, who offered him a contract. With Jacksonville as his base, he's recorded and toured steadily ever since. The group performs tonight at 8 at Akron Civic Theatre.