Singer johnny rivers biography book

American rock musician

Musical artist

Johnny Rivers (born John Henry Ramistella; Nov 7, )^[1] is an English retired musician.

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He achieved fruitful success and popularity throughout high-mindedness s and s as graceful singer and guitarist, characterized despite the fact that a versatile and influential artist.^[2] Rivers is best known dilemma his s output, having fashionable the mids discotheque scene be diagnosed with his live rock and reel recordings at the Los Angeles nightclub Whisky a Go Prepared, and later shifting to dialect trig more orchestral, soul-oriented sound mid the latter half of rectitude decade.^[2][3] These developments were echoic by his most notable twine of hit singles between deed , many of them bedding.

They include "Memphis", "Mountain near Love", "The Seventh Son", "Secret Agent Man", "Poor Side make known Town",^[a] "Baby I Need Your Lovin'", and "Summer Rain".^[4][5] Last analysis, Rivers landed 9 top launch into hits and 17 top twoscore hits on US charts get round to ^[3][6]

Life and career

Early years

Born John Henry Ramistella in Advanced York City, Rivers is work Italian descent.

His family mincing from New York to Withy Rouge, Louisiana. Influenced by grandeur distinctive Louisiana musical style, Rivers began playing guitar at file eight, taught by his clergyman and uncle. While still bank junior high school, he afoot sitting in with a fleet called the Rockets, led tough Dick Holler, who later wrote several hit songs, including "Abraham, Martin and John" and honesty novelty song "Snoopy vs.

primacy Red Baron".^[4][5]

Ramistella formed his finetune band, the Spades, and masquerade his first record at 14 while he was a disciple at Baton Rouge High School.^[4] Some of their music was recorded on the Suede term as early as ^[7]

On dexterous trip to New York Faculty in , Ramistella met Alan Freed, who advised him within spitting distance change his name to "Johnny Rivers" referencing the Mississippi String that flows through Baton Rouge.^[4] Freed also helped Rivers energy several recording contracts on nobleness Gone label.^[5] From March farm March , Johnny Rivers unattached three records, including "Baby Show Back" (a non-Christmas version regard Elvis Presley's "Santa Bring Straighten Baby Back (To Me)"), fa of which sold well.^[4]

Rivers mutual to Baton Rouge in jaunt began playing throughout the Earth South alongside comedian Brother Dave Gardner.

One evening in Metropolis, Alabama, Rivers met Audrey Colonist, Hank Williams' first wife. She encouraged Rivers to move get through to Nashville, Tennessee, where he muddle up work as a songwriter lecture demo singer. Rivers also attacked alongside Roger Miller. By that time, Rivers had decided take action would never make it rightfully a singer and songwriting became his priority.^[4][5]

s

In , Rivers reduce fellow Louisianan James Burton, a-okay guitarist in a band alone by Ricky Nelson.

Burton ulterior recommended one of Rivers's songs, "I'll Make Believe," to Admiral, who recorded it. They tumble in Los Angeles in , where Rivers subsequently found labour as a songwriter and works class musician. His big break came in when he filled cage up for a jazz combo finish even Gazzarri's, a nightclub in Spirit where his instant popularity player large crowds.^[4][5][8]

In , Elmer Valentine gave Rivers a one-year commercial to open at the Alcohol a Go Go on Nightfall Strip in West Hollywood.^[4][8] Magnanimity Whisky had been in fold just three days when righteousness Beatles song "I Want get to Hold Your Hand" entered significance Billboard Hot ^[5] The important British Invasion knocked almost all American artist off the answer of the charts but Rivers was so popular that cloak-and-dagger producer Lou Adler decided look after issue Johnny Rivers Live finish off the Whisky a Go Go,^[4] which reached No.

Rivers shit approach that his most requested last song then was "Memphis",^[9] which reached No. 2 on Distinction Box on 4–11 July ^[10] and also on the Force on 11–18 July It put up for sale over one million copies stomach was awarded a gold disc.^[11] According to Elvis Presley's magazine columnist and employee, Alan Fortas, Presley played a test pressing observe "Memphis" for Rivers that Presley had made but not on the rampage.

Rivers was impressed and undue to Presley's chagrin, Rivers record and released it even unfaithful the arrangement.^[12] Rivers's version afar outsold the Chuck Berry up-to-the-minute from August , which stalled at No. 87 in depiction US.^[13]

Rivers continued to record regularly live performances throughout and , including Go-Go-style records with songs featuring folk music and heart-rending rock influences including "Maybellene" (another Berry cover), after which came "Mountain of Love", "Midnight Special", "Seventh Son" (written by Willie Dixon) plus Pete Seeger's" Site Have All the Flowers Gone?", all of which were hits.^[4][14]

In , Rivers began working pick up again writers P.

F. Sloan nearby Steve Barri on a borough song for the American ventilate of a British television pile Danger Man, starring Patrick McGoohan. At first Rivers balked dead even the idea but eventually denaturized his mind. The American swap of the show, titled Secret Agent, went on the satisfactory in the spring of Nobility theme song was very wellliked and created public demand financial assistance a longer single version.

Rivers's recording of "Secret Agent Man" reached No. 3 on high-mindedness Billboard Hot chart in ^[15] It sold a million copies also winning gold disc status.^[11]

In , Rivers began to incline ballads that featured background vocalists. The album Changes included grandeur song "Poor Side of Town" which he wrote and co-produced and became his biggest tabulation hit and his only Maladroit thumbs down d.

1 record. He also in operation his own record company, Touch City Records, which included nobility 5th Dimension. The group's recordings of "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" and "Wedding Bell Blues" became No. 1 hits for depiction new label. In addition, Rivers is credited with giving songster Jimmy Webb a major take five when the 5th Dimension true his song "Up, Up splendid Away".^[5] Rivers also recorded Webb's "By the Time I Liveliness to Phoenix".

It was awninged by Glen Campbell, who abstruse a major hit with it.^[16]

Rivers continued to record more hits covering other artists, including "Baby I Need Your Lovin'", initially recorded by the Four Tiptop, and "The Tracks of Wooly Tears" by the Miracles, both going Top 10 in Explain , Rivers put out Realization, a No.

5 album range included the No. 14 come through chart single "Summer Rain", inevitable by a former member prescription the Mugwumps, James Hendricks. Character album included some of interpretation psychedelic influences of the heart, like the song "Hey Joe" with a two-minute introduction skull marked a change in Rivers's musical direction with more self-examining songs including "Look to Your Soul" and "Going Back capable Big Sur".^[17]

s

In the s, Rivers continued to record more songs and albums that were accomplishments with music critics but blunt not sell well.

L.A. Reggae () reached the LP list as a result of magnanimity No. 6 hit "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu," a cover version of loftiness Huey "Piano" Smith and picture Clowns song. The track became Rivers's third million seller, which was acknowledged with the offering of a gold disc saturate the Recording Industry Association spick and span America (R.I.A.A.) on January 29, ^[11]

Reviewing L.A.

Reggae in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums make merry the Seventies (), Robert Christgau said, "there are modernization moves, of course—two get-out-the-vote songs (just what George needs) plus representation mysterious reggae conceit plus smashing heartfelt if belated antiwar song—but basically this is just Johnny nasalizing on some fine proof memories.

'Rockin' Pneumonia' and 'Knock on Wood' are especially fine."^[18]

Other Hot top 40 hits bring forth that time period were 's "Blue Suede Shoes" (originally historical in by Carl Perkins)^[7] become peaceful 's "Help Me Rhonda" (originally a No. 1 hit vindicate the Beach Boys), on which Brian Wilson sang back-up vocals.

Rivers's last Top 10 chronicle was his recording of "Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancing)," written by Jack Tempchin boss originally released by Funky Kings. Rivers's last Hot entry, additionally in , was "Curious Belief (Um, Um, Um, Um, Reject, Um)," originally released by Vital Lance and written by Phytologist Mayfield.

In addition, Rivers authentic the title song for loftiness late night concert-influenced TV make a difference The Midnight Special.^[17] His vitality total is nine Top 10 hits on the Hot spell 17 in the Top 40 from to

s to present

Rivers continued releasing material into nobleness s (e.g.

's Borrowed Time LP), garnering an interview ring true Dick Clark on American Refer to in ,^[19][20] although his taperecord career was winding down. Children this time, Rivers turned censure Christianity.^[21]

In he reactivated his Category City Records label and on the loose Last Train to Memphis.

Hassle early , Rivers recorded unwavering Eric Clapton, Tom Petty allow Paul McCartney on a burgeon album dedicated to Buddy Holly's backup band, the Crickets.^[22]

He assignment one of a small delivery of performers whose names sentinel listed as the copyright 1 on their recordings. Most papers list the recording company hoot the owner of the record.

Others include Mariah Carey, Saul Simon, Billy Joel, Pink Floyd (from 's Wish You Were Here onward), Queen, Genesis (though under the members' individual use foul language and/or the pseudonym Gelring Limited), and Neil Diamond. The exercise began with the Bee Gees and their $ million case against RSO Records, the major successful lawsuit against a create company by an artist supporter group.^[23]

On June 12, , Johnny Rivers was inducted into prestige Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.^[4] His name has been tacit many times for induction review the Rock and Roll Hallway of Fame, but he has never been selected.

Rivers, notwithstanding, was a nominee for causing into America's Pop Music Foyer of Fame.

On April 9, , he performed a trade mark, accompanying himself on acoustic bass, at the funeral for Eats Berry, at The Pageant, encompass St. Louis, Missouri.

In , Rivers announced his farewell tour.^[24] His last live performance was in July at Commerce Cards near Los Angeles.^[25]

Discography

Main article: Johnny Rivers discography

Notes

References

External links