Johnny Rivers
USABiography of Johnny Rivers
Johnny Rivers is an American rock musician, songwriter, singer, and producer. He is known for his performances of folk songs, blues, and revived old rock and roll compositions. His greatest success came in the mid-1960s when he performed his famous songs 'Poor Side of Town,' 'Summer Rain,' and 'Secret Agent Man.'
Johnny Rivers was born John Henry Ramistella in 1942 in New York City. However, his family had to move to Baton Rouge, Louisiana when his father lost his job. It was there that Johnny developed a love for music and began playing the guitar. He was heavily influenced by southern music, listening to Memphis radio stations and country music from Nashville. By the age of 10, he dreamt of forming his own band.
As a high school student, Johnny formed a group called 'The Spades,' and they made their first studio recordings in the mid-1950s. They performed at dances and parties, and by the late 1950s, Johnny went to New York. It was then that he changed his name to 'Johnny Rivers,' in honor of the Mississippi River. His early recordings did not sell particularly well, and in 1959, he returned to Baton Rouge. At that time, Johnny's self-confidence was shaken, and he was no longer as certain of his talent and successful future.
In 1960, Johnny Rivers met James Burton, a renowned musician from his hometown who helped promote one of Johnny's songs. Later that year, Johnny went to Los Angeles where he met the legendary musician Ricky Nelson, and his composition ended up in Nelson's repertoire. Johnny stayed in Los Angeles, working in a recording studio. He soon became a producer while continuing to record his own songs. However, success continued to elude him.
In the early 1960s, Johnny Rivers wrote one of his most famous songs for the British TV series 'Danger Man.' The American version of the show was called 'Secret Agent,' and the song 'Secret Agent Man' became a hit, selling over a million copies. By that time, Johnny Rivers had become a highly sought-after live musician, performing at top clubs and concert venues in Los Angeles.
Johnny Rivers gained a reputation as one of the most stylish and fashionable concert performers. In the same decade, he released albums such as 'In Action' in 1964, 'Johnny Rivers Rocks the Folk' in 1965, 'Changes' in 1966, 'Rewind' in 1967, 'Realization' in 1968, and 'A Touch of Gold' in 1969.
His fame continued into the 1970s, during which he recorded nine studio albums, including 'L.A. Reggae' in 1972, 'The Road' in 1974, 'New Lovers and Old Friends' in 1975, and 'Outside Help' in 1978. However, by the end of the decade, his popularity began to decline. Nevertheless, he remained a highly sought-after live performer, especially in Europe.
In the early 1980s, Johnny focused primarily on live performances and gradually stopped making studio recordings. It was only in the 1990s that he resumed his activities with his label, 'Soul City Records,' which he founded in the 1960s.
As of today, Johnny Rivers continues to perform and record music, remaining highly popular in South America. In 2009, he released his album 'Shadows on the Moon,' followed by the single 'New Home' in 2010. In the same year, he was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
