Johnson recruited Tripp Cox, and later added Johnson's sister Kathryn Johnson on keyboards and vocals and Billy Alphin (The Ashley Stove, The Rosebuds) on drums in time for the band's first recordings, made in April 2004. These resulted in Schooner's first album, You Forget About Your Heart, released by the Pox World Empire label, which the group promoted by touring the East Coast, playing Pop Montreal, North by Northeast, and more. In 2006, they released the EPs 3x4 and Rocky P, and in early 2007, they signed to 54º 40' or Fight! Records, which released their second full-length, Hold on Too Tight.

After the release of Hold on Too Tight, the band nearly broke up, with Cox moving to Baton Rouge and playing with Generationals for a bit. In 2008, Maria Albani (Organos, Pleasant, Un Deux Trois) came on board to play bass, and encouraged the remaining members to get back together. The band began recording again in 2009, and in 2010 released Duck Kee Sessions, recorded by NC institution Jerry Kee. The band began touring again, this time playing festivals from South by Southwest to Northside Festival in Brooklyn, NY.

In 2011 Kathryn Johnson and Alphin left the band, and Chris Badger joined in on keys while Joshua Carpenter (Floating Action) added drums to new recordings. These sessions featured a collaboration with many members of the NC music community, and resulted in "Neighborhood Veins," which the band will release on September 24, 2013 on PotLuck Records.