Johnny Rivers
Encyclopedia
Johnny Rivers is an American
rock and roll
singer, songwriter
, guitarist
, and record producer
. His styles include folk songs, blues, and revivals of old-time rock 'n' roll songs and some original material. Rivers's greatest success came in the mid and late 1960s with a string of hit songs (including "Seventh Son", "Poor Side of Town
", "Summer Rain", and "Secret Agent Man
"), but he has continued to record and perform to the present.
when Johnny's father lost his job while Johnny was still young. Without any formal music lessons, he began playing guitar, which he learned from his father and uncle, at the age of eight, and was influenced by the distinctive music of Louisiana
. While in junior high school he started sitting in with a band called The Rockets led by Dick Holler
who later wrote a number of songs including "Abraham, Martin and John
" and "Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron
".
Ramistella formed his own band, The Spades, in junior high school and made his first record at age 14, while still a student at Baton Rouge High School. Some of their music was recorded on the Suede label as early as 1956.
On a trip back to New York in 1958, he met Alan Freed
who advised him to change his name, so Johnny Ramistella had the Baton Rouge attorney Arthur J. Cobb change his name to Johnny Rivers after the Mississippi River
that flows near Baton Rouge. Freed also helped Rivers score some recording contracts on the Gone label. From March 1958 to March 1959, Rivers released three records which did not sell well.
In 1959, Rivers returned to Baton Rouge. While playing throughout the American South along side Southern comedian Brother Dave Gardner
, one evening in Birmingham
, Rivers met Audrey Williams, the first wife of Hank Williams and she took Rivers to Nashville, where he recorded two more records. They were not successful either, but Johnny stayed in Nashville
as a songwriter and demo
singer for $25 a demo. While in Nashville, Rivers worked alongside Roger Miller
. By this time, Rivers' self-esteem about his singing diminished, and he thought he would never make it as a singer, therefore writing, and not singing, moved to the forefront.
, the guitar player for Ricky Nelson
. Burton later recommended one of Rivers' songs to Nelson, who went on to record it. In 1961, Rivers went to Los Angeles
to meet Nelson, and then relocated there, working as a songwriter and studio musician. In 1963, Rivers's big break came when he temporarily filled in for a jazz combo at Bill Gazzarri's nightclub
; the temporary gig became long-term due to positive customer response.
In 1963, Rivers recorded the theme song for the American broadcast of a British television series, "Danger Man
," which starred Patrick McGoohan
. At first, Rivers balked at the idea, feeling that he did not have the talent to make a record on an international label, but he eventually relented. The American version of the show was titled "Secret Agent", and the song "Secret Agent Man
" reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100
charts in 1966. It sold one million copies, achieving gold disc status.
In 1964, Elmer Valentine
gave Rivers a one-year contract to open in his new nightclub, Whisky a Go Go
, on Sunset Strip
in West Hollywood
. The Whisky a Go Go opened three days before The Beatles
released "I Want to Hold Your Hand
" and the British Invasion
knocked almost every American artist off the top of the charts. But Rivers was so popular that producer Lou Adler
decided to issue Johnny Rivers Live At The Whisky A Go Go. The live album
reached #12 on the charts and the single "Memphis
" reached the US Hit Parade #2 spot in July 1964. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
. According to Elvis Presley
's friend and employee Alan Fortas, Presley played his friend (Rivers) a test pressing of "Memphis" that Elvis had made but not released. Rivers was impressed and, much to Presley's chagrin, Rivers recorded and released it, even copying the arrangement (Fortas writes: "After that, Johnny was on Elvis's shit list" and was persona non grata from then on). Rivers' version far outsold the Chuck Berry
original from August 1959 which stalled at #87 in the US. (Lonnie Mack
's 1963 instrumental version of "Memphis" reached the US Hit Parade top five in July; the Chuck Berry original and its British rival cover version
fought it out in the UK Hit parade in November 1963).
Rivers made a successful transition from nightclub entertainer to chart-busting pop singer and had created the "Go Go sound", part of a scene which included Go-Go dancers. In 1964 and 1965, Rivers continued to record mostly live, Go-Go style records including "Maybellene
" (another Berry cover), after which came "Mountain of Love
", "Midnight Special
", "Seventh Son
" (written by Willie Dixon
) and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?
" (written by Pete Seeger
), all of which were hits.
Rivers wanted to try something different; he switched gears in 1966, and began to record ballads characterized by his smooth, soulful voice, and background vocalists (mostly women), producing such successful hits as "Poor Side Of Town
", which would be his biggest hit and his only number one record. Another hit was "Secret Agent Man
", the theme from the Secret Agent
television series (written by P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri
). He also started his own record company, Soul City Records
, where he won a Grammy Award
as the producer of The 5th Dimension, which eventually recorded "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In
" and "Wedding Bell Blues
", two number-one hits with Rivers's label. Johnny is also credited with giving songwriter Jimmy Webb
a major break, when the 5th Dimension recorded Webb's song "Up, Up, and Away
".
Rivers continued to record more hits, including "Baby I Need Your Lovin'" (cover of the Four Tops
) and "The Tracks of My Tears
" (cover of the Miracles
), both went Top 10 in 1967. In 1968, Rivers released Realization, a number-five album on the LP charts that included the #14 pop chart single "Summer Rain", written by a former member of The Mugwumps
, James Hendricks (not to be confused with Jimi Hendrix
). The album included some of the psychedelic influences of the time and marked a subtle change in his musical direction, with more thoughtful types of songs, included such ballads as "Look To Your Soul" and "Going Back to Big Sur".
(R.I.A.A.) on January 29, 1973. Other hits at that time were "Blue Suede Shoes
" (cover of Carl Perkins
), in 1973, which would reach the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Help Me Rhonda" in 1975 (cover of The Beach Boys
) on which Brian Wilson
helped with backup vocals. His last Top 10 entry was "Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancing)" (cover of the Funky Kings), which reached #10, followed by his last Hot 100 entry, "Curious Mind (Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um
)" (cover of Major Lance
), both from 1977. He also sang the title song
to the late night concert influenced TV show The Midnight Special
.
In 1998, Rivers reactivated his Soul City imprint and released Last Train to Memphis.
In early 2000, Rivers recorded with Eric Clapton
, Tom Petty
, and Paul McCartney
on a tribute album dedicated to Buddy Holly
's backup band, "The Crickets
".
In all, Rivers had nine Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100
and 17 in the Top 40 from 1964 to 1977. In total, he has sold well over 30 million records.
Rivers is one of a small number of performers such as Paul Simon
, Billy Joel
, Pink Floyd
(from 1975's Wish You Were Here onward), Queen
, Genesis
(though under the members' individual names and/or the pseudonym Gelring Limited) and Neil Diamond
who have their name as the copyright
owner on their recordings. (Most records have the recording company as the named owner of the recording.) This noteworthy development was spearheaded by supergroup The Bee Gees
after their successful $200,000,000 lawsuit against RSO, which remains to this day the largest successful lawsuit against a record company by an artist/group.
On June 12, 2009, Johnny Rivers was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame
.
Chart positions are from the Billboard Hot 100
:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
singer, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. His styles include folk songs, blues, and revivals of old-time rock 'n' roll songs and some original material. Rivers's greatest success came in the mid and late 1960s with a string of hit songs (including "Seventh Son", "Poor Side of Town
Poor Side of Town (Johnny Rivers song)
"Poor Side of Town" is a song by Johnny Rivers that reached number one on the Hot 100 and on the RPM Canadian Chart in November 1966.-Song:...
", "Summer Rain", and "Secret Agent Man
Secret Agent Man (song)
"Secret Agent Man" is a song written by Steve Barri and P. F. Sloan. The most famous recording of the song was made by Johnny Rivers for the opening titles of the American broadcast of the British spy series Danger Man, which aired in the U.S. as "Secret Agent" from 1964 to 1966...
"), but he has continued to record and perform to the present.
1950s
The Ramistella family moved from New York to Baton Rouge, LouisianaLouisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
when Johnny's father lost his job while Johnny was still young. Without any formal music lessons, he began playing guitar, which he learned from his father and uncle, at the age of eight, and was influenced by the distinctive music of Louisiana
Music of Louisiana
The music of Louisiana can be divided into four general regions. Southwest Louisiana, , Southern Louisiana, west of New Orleans the southeast, the region in and around Greater New Orleans has a unique musical heritage tied to Dixieland jazz, blues and Afro-Caribbean rhythms...
. While in junior high school he started sitting in with a band called The Rockets led by Dick Holler
Dick Holler
Dick Holler is a songwriter, pianist and performer. He is best known as the writer of the folk-pop standard "Abraham, Martin and John" which has been recorded by numerous artists including Dion, Ray Charles, Kenny Rogers, Emmylou Harris, Andy Williams, Marvin Gaye.-Early life :He moved with his...
who later wrote a number of songs including "Abraham, Martin and John
Abraham, Martin and John
"Abraham, Martin and John" is a 1968 song written by Dick Holler and first recorded by Dion. It is a tribute to the memories of icons of social change, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy...
" and "Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron
Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron
"Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron" is a novelty song written by Phil Gernhard and Dick Holler and recorded in 1966 by the Florida based rock band, The Royal Guardsmen. The song was recorded at the Charles Fuller Productions studio in Tampa, Florida, and was released as a single on Laurie Records...
".
Ramistella formed his own band, The Spades, in junior high school and made his first record at age 14, while still a student at Baton Rouge High School. Some of their music was recorded on the Suede label as early as 1956.
On a trip back to New York in 1958, he met Alan Freed
Alan Freed
Albert James "Alan" Freed , also known as Moondog, was an American disc-jockey. He became internationally known for promoting the mix of blues, country and rhythm and blues music on the radio in the United States and Europe under the name of rock and roll...
who advised him to change his name, so Johnny Ramistella had the Baton Rouge attorney Arthur J. Cobb change his name to Johnny Rivers after the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
that flows near Baton Rouge. Freed also helped Rivers score some recording contracts on the Gone label. From March 1958 to March 1959, Rivers released three records which did not sell well.
In 1959, Rivers returned to Baton Rouge. While playing throughout the American South along side Southern comedian Brother Dave Gardner
Brother Dave Gardner
David Gardner , known as Brother Dave Gardner, was a U.S. comedian and singer.A Tennessee native, Gardner studied drumming, beginning at age 13. After a one-semester term as a Southern Baptist ministerial student at Union University in his hometown of Jackson, Tennessee, he began a musical career...
, one evening in Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, Rivers met Audrey Williams, the first wife of Hank Williams and she took Rivers to Nashville, where he recorded two more records. They were not successful either, but Johnny stayed in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
as a songwriter and demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
singer for $25 a demo. While in Nashville, Rivers worked alongside Roger Miller
Roger Miller
Roger Dean Miller was an American singer, songwriter, musician and actor, best known for his honky tonk-influenced novelty songs...
. By this time, Rivers' self-esteem about his singing diminished, and he thought he would never make it as a singer, therefore writing, and not singing, moved to the forefront.
1960s
In 1960, Rivers met fellow Louisianan James BurtonJames Burton
James Burton is an American guitarist. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 2001 , Burton has also been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame...
, the guitar player for Ricky Nelson
Ricky Nelson
Eric Hilliard Nelson , better known as Ricky Nelson or Rick Nelson, was an American singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and actor...
. Burton later recommended one of Rivers' songs to Nelson, who went on to record it. In 1961, Rivers went to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to meet Nelson, and then relocated there, working as a songwriter and studio musician. In 1963, Rivers's big break came when he temporarily filled in for a jazz combo at Bill Gazzarri's nightclub
Gazzarri's
Gazzarri's was a nightclub on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California, United States. It is most notable as the location where The Doors, and Van Halen were featured house bands for long stretches before being discovered...
; the temporary gig became long-term due to positive customer response.
In 1963, Rivers recorded the theme song for the American broadcast of a British television series, "Danger Man
Danger Man
Danger Man is a British television series that was broadcast between 1960 and 1962, and again between 1964 and 1968. The series featured Patrick McGoohan as secret agent John Drake. Ralph Smart created the program and wrote many of the scripts...
," which starred Patrick McGoohan
Patrick McGoohan
Patrick Joseph McGoohan was an American-born actor, raised in Ireland and England, with an extensive stage and film career, most notably in the 1960s television series Danger Man , and The Prisoner, which he co-created...
. At first, Rivers balked at the idea, feeling that he did not have the talent to make a record on an international label, but he eventually relented. The American version of the show was titled "Secret Agent", and the song "Secret Agent Man
Secret Agent Man (song)
"Secret Agent Man" is a song written by Steve Barri and P. F. Sloan. The most famous recording of the song was made by Johnny Rivers for the opening titles of the American broadcast of the British spy series Danger Man, which aired in the U.S. as "Secret Agent" from 1964 to 1966...
" reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
charts in 1966. It sold one million copies, achieving gold disc status.
In 1964, Elmer Valentine
Elmer Valentine
Elmer Valentine was the co-founder of two famous nightclubs on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California: the Whisky a Go Go and The Roxy Theatre.-Early life:Elmer Valentine was born in Chicago on June 16, 1923...
gave Rivers a one-year contract to open in his new nightclub, Whisky a Go Go
Whisky a Go Go
The Whisky a Go Go is a nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States. It is located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard, on the Sunset Strip.-History:...
, on Sunset Strip
Sunset Strip
The Sunset Strip is the name given to the mile-and-a-half stretch of Sunset Boulevard that passes through West Hollywood, California. It extends from West Hollywood's eastern border with Hollywood at Harper Avenue, to its western border with Beverly Hills at Sierra Drive...
in West Hollywood
West Hollywood, California
West Hollywood, a city of Los Angeles County, California, was incorporated on November 29, 1984, with a population of 34,399 at the 2010 census. 41% of the city's population is made up of gay men according to a 2002 demographic analysis by Sara Kocher Consulting for the City of West Hollywood...
. The Whisky a Go Go opened three days before The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
released "I Want to Hold Your Hand
I Want to Hold Your Hand
"I Want to Hold Your Hand" is a song by the English rock band The Beatles. Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and recorded in October 1963, it was the first Beatles record to be made using four-track equipment....
" and the British Invasion
British Invasion
The British Invasion is a term used to describe the large number of rock and roll, beat, rock, and pop performers from the United Kingdom who became popular in the United States during the time period from 1964 through 1966.- Background :...
knocked almost every American artist off the top of the charts. But Rivers was so popular that producer Lou Adler
Lou Adler
Lou Adler is an American record producer, manager, and director.-Life and career:Adler was born in Chicago, Illinois in December 1933, and raised in East Los Angeles. In 1964, Adler founded and co-owned Dunhill Records. He was President of the label as well as the chief record producer from 1964...
decided to issue Johnny Rivers Live At The Whisky A Go Go. The live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
reached #12 on the charts and the single "Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee (song)
"Memphis, Tennessee" is a song by rock & roll singer-songwriter Chuck Berry. It is sometimes shortened to "Memphis". In the UK, the song charted at #6 in 1963, at the same time Decca Records issued a cover version in the UK by Dave Berry and the Cruisers, who came from Sheffield, Yorkshire...
" reached the US Hit Parade #2 spot in July 1964. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
. According to Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
's friend and employee Alan Fortas, Presley played his friend (Rivers) a test pressing of "Memphis" that Elvis had made but not released. Rivers was impressed and, much to Presley's chagrin, Rivers recorded and released it, even copying the arrangement (Fortas writes: "After that, Johnny was on Elvis's shit list" and was persona non grata from then on). Rivers' version far outsold the Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
original from August 1959 which stalled at #87 in the US. (Lonnie Mack
Lonnie Mack
Lonnie Mack is an American rock, blues and country guitarist and vocalist....
's 1963 instrumental version of "Memphis" reached the US Hit Parade top five in July; the Chuck Berry original and its British rival cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
fought it out in the UK Hit parade in November 1963).
Rivers made a successful transition from nightclub entertainer to chart-busting pop singer and had created the "Go Go sound", part of a scene which included Go-Go dancers. In 1964 and 1965, Rivers continued to record mostly live, Go-Go style records including "Maybellene
Maybellene
"Maybellene" is a song recorded by Chuck Berry, adapted from the traditional fiddle tune "Ida Red" that tells the story of a hot rod race and a broken romance. It was released in July 1955 as a single on Chess Records of Chicago, Illinois. It was Berry's first single release and his first hit...
" (another Berry cover), after which came "Mountain of Love
Mountain of Love
"Mountain of Love" is a song written by Harold Dorman . Dorman released his version as a single in 1960. It performed well, becoming his only top forty hit on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the highest charting single of his career.In 1964, Johnny Rivers released his remake as a single...
", "Midnight Special
Midnight Special (song)
"Midnight Special" is a traditional folk song thought to have originated among prisoners in the American South. The title comes from the refrain which refers to the Midnight Special and its "ever-loving light" ....
", "Seventh Son
Seventh Son
Seventh Son is an alternate history/fantasy novel by Orson Scott Card. It is the first book in Card's The Tales of Alvin Maker series and is about Alvin Miller, the Seventh son of a seventh son. Seventh Son won a Locus Award and was nominated for both the Hugo and World Fantasy Awards in 1988...
" (written by Willie Dixon
Willie Dixon
William James "Willie" Dixon was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. A Grammy Award winner who was proficient on both the Upright bass and the guitar, as well as his own singing voice, Dixon is arguably best known as one of the most prolific songwriters...
) and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?
Where Have All the Flowers Gone?
"Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" is a folk song. The first three verses were written by Pete Seeger in 1955, and published in Sing Out! magazine...
" (written by Pete Seeger
Pete Seeger
Peter "Pete" Seeger is an American folk singer and was an iconic figure in the mid-twentieth century American folk music revival. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, he also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of The Weavers, most notably their recording of Lead...
), all of which were hits.
Rivers wanted to try something different; he switched gears in 1966, and began to record ballads characterized by his smooth, soulful voice, and background vocalists (mostly women), producing such successful hits as "Poor Side Of Town
Poor Side of Town (Johnny Rivers song)
"Poor Side of Town" is a song by Johnny Rivers that reached number one on the Hot 100 and on the RPM Canadian Chart in November 1966.-Song:...
", which would be his biggest hit and his only number one record. Another hit was "Secret Agent Man
Secret Agent Man (song)
"Secret Agent Man" is a song written by Steve Barri and P. F. Sloan. The most famous recording of the song was made by Johnny Rivers for the opening titles of the American broadcast of the British spy series Danger Man, which aired in the U.S. as "Secret Agent" from 1964 to 1966...
", the theme from the Secret Agent
Danger Man
Danger Man is a British television series that was broadcast between 1960 and 1962, and again between 1964 and 1968. The series featured Patrick McGoohan as secret agent John Drake. Ralph Smart created the program and wrote many of the scripts...
television series (written by P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri
Steve Barri
Steve Barri is an American songwriter and record producer.Early in his career Barri was a staff writer with Dunhill Records. He frequently collaborated with P.F. Sloan, and the partners were responsible for the success of The Grass Roots and contributed largely to the band's first album...
). He also started his own record company, Soul City Records
Soul City Records
Soul City was a British soul label run by Dave Godin, David Nathan and Robert Blackmore from a record shop of the same name in London . Its first release was Don Gardener & Dee Dee Ford's Don't You Worry in March 1969...
, where he won a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
as the producer of The 5th Dimension, which eventually recorded "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In
Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In
"Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" is a medley of two songs written for the 1967 musical Hair by James Rado & Gerome Ragni , and Galt MacDermot , released as a single by The 5th Dimension. The song peaked at number one for six weeks on the U.S...
" and "Wedding Bell Blues
Wedding Bell Blues
"Wedding Bell Blues" is a song written and recorded by Laura Nyro in 1966 that became a number one hit for The 5th Dimension in 1969 and subsequently a popular phrase in American culture...
", two number-one hits with Rivers's label. Johnny is also credited with giving songwriter Jimmy Webb
Jimmy Webb
Jimmy Webb is an American songwriter, composer, and singer. He wrote numerous platinum selling classics, including "Up, Up and Away", "By the Time I Get to Phoenix", "Wichita Lineman", "Galveston", "The Worst That Could Happen", "All I Know", and "MacArthur Park"...
a major break, when the 5th Dimension recorded Webb's song "Up, Up, and Away
Up, Up and Away (song)
"Up, Up and Away" is a 1967 song written by Jimmy Webb and recorded by The 5th Dimension, that became a major pop hit, reaching #7 on the U.S. Pop Singles chart and #18 in Canada...
".
Rivers continued to record more hits, including "Baby I Need Your Lovin'" (cover of the Four Tops
Four Tops
The Four Tops are an American vocal quartet, whose repertoire has included doo-wop, jazz, soul music, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, hard rock, and showtunes...
) and "The Tracks of My Tears
The Tracks of My Tears
"The Tracks of My Tears" is a much recorded love ballad introduced in 1965 by The Miracles on Motown's' Tamla label. This song is considered to be among the finest recordings of The Miracles, and it sold over one million records within two years, making it The Miracles' fourth million-selling...
" (cover of the Miracles
The Miracles
The Miracles are an American rhythm and blues group from Detroit, Michigan, notable as the first successful group act for Berry Gordy's Motown Record Corporation . Their single "Shop Around" was Motown's first million-selling hit record, and the group went on to become one of Motown's signature...
), both went Top 10 in 1967. In 1968, Rivers released Realization, a number-five album on the LP charts that included the #14 pop chart single "Summer Rain", written by a former member of The Mugwumps
The Mugwumps
The Mugwumps were a 1960s rock band. The Mugwumps made some recordings in the mid-60s, but the short-lived New York group, formed in 1964, is principally remembered for what its members did after they split up....
, James Hendricks (not to be confused with Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
). The album included some of the psychedelic influences of the time and marked a subtle change in his musical direction, with more thoughtful types of songs, included such ballads as "Look To Your Soul" and "Going Back to Big Sur".
1970s
In the 1970s, Rivers continued to record more songs and albums that were a success with music critics, but did not sell as well as some of his earlier hits. One of these albums, L.A. Reggae in 1972, reached the LP charts as a result of the #6 hit "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu", a cover version of the Huey "Piano" Smith And The Clowns song. The track became Rivers' third million seller, which was acknowledged with the presentation of a gold disc by the Recording Industry Association of AmericaRecording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
(R.I.A.A.) on January 29, 1973. Other hits at that time were "Blue Suede Shoes
Blue Suede Shoes
"Blue Suede Shoes" is a rock and roll standard written and first recorded by Carl Perkins in 1955 and is considered one of the first rockabilly records and incorporated elements of blues, country and pop music of the time...
" (cover of Carl Perkins
Carl Perkins
Carl Lee Perkins was an American rockabilly musician who recorded most notably at Sun Records Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, beginning during 1954...
), in 1973, which would reach the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Help Me Rhonda" in 1975 (cover of The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
) on which Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
helped with backup vocals. His last Top 10 entry was "Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancing)" (cover of the Funky Kings), which reached #10, followed by his last Hot 100 entry, "Curious Mind (Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um
Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um
"Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um" is a 1964 single by Major Lance. The single was written by Curtis Mayfield and produced by Okeh label president, Carl Davis. The song was Major Lance's third release to make the Billboard Hot 100 and his most successful hit. "Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um" went to number five on...
)" (cover of Major Lance
Major Lance
Major Lance was an American R&B singer. After a number of US hits in the 1960s, including "The Monkey Time" and "Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um", he became an iconic figure in Britain in the 1970s among followers of Northern soul.-Life:Major Lance was born in Winterville, Mississippi...
), both from 1977. He also sang the title song
Midnight Special (song)
"Midnight Special" is a traditional folk song thought to have originated among prisoners in the American South. The title comes from the refrain which refers to the Midnight Special and its "ever-loving light" ....
to the late night concert influenced TV show The Midnight Special
The Midnight Special (TV series)
The Midnight Special is an American musical variety series that aired on NBC during the 1970s and early 1980s, created and produced by Burt Sugarman. It premiered as a special on August 19, 1972, then began its run as a regular series on February 2, 1973; its last episode was on May 1, 1981...
.
1980s to current
Rivers continued recording into the 1980s (e.g., 1980s Borrowed Time LP), although his recording career decreased. Despite his music not having reached the best seller charts for quite a while, Rivers is still touring, doing 50 to 60 shows a year. Increasingly he has returned to the blues that inspired him initially.In 1998, Rivers reactivated his Soul City imprint and released Last Train to Memphis.
In early 2000, Rivers recorded with Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
, Tom Petty
Tom Petty
Thomas Earl "Tom" Petty is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch. He has also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T...
, and Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
on a tribute album dedicated to Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
's backup band, "The Crickets
The Crickets
The Crickets are a rock & roll band from Lubbock, Texas, formed by singer/songwriter Buddy Holly in the 1950s. Their first hit record was "That'll Be the Day", released in 1957....
".
In all, Rivers had nine Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and 17 in the Top 40 from 1964 to 1977. In total, he has sold well over 30 million records.
Rivers is one of a small number of performers such as Paul Simon
Paul Simon
Paul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.Simon is best known for his success, beginning in 1965, as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached number one on the US singles...
, Billy Joel
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
, Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
(from 1975's Wish You Were Here onward), Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
, Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
(though under the members' individual names and/or the pseudonym Gelring Limited) and Neil Diamond
Neil Diamond
Neil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present....
who have their name as the copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
owner on their recordings. (Most records have the recording company as the named owner of the recording.) This noteworthy development was spearheaded by supergroup The Bee Gees
Bee Gees
The Bee Gees are a musical group that originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as a...
after their successful $200,000,000 lawsuit against RSO, which remains to this day the largest successful lawsuit against a record company by an artist/group.
On June 12, 2009, Johnny Rivers was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame
Louisiana Music Hall of Fame
The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame is an IRS certified 501 non-profit organization based in the state capitol of Baton Rouge, La., that seeks to preserve Louisiana's rich music culture and heritage and to further educate its citizens and people worldwide about the state’s unique role contributing...
.
Albums
- At the Whisky à Go Go (live albumLive albumA live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
) (1964) - Here We à Go Go Again!Here We à Go Go Again!Here We à Go Go Again! was Johnny Rivers's second official album, and like his first album, At the Whisky à Go Go, it was recorded live at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, California...
(live) (1964) - In Action!In Action (album)In Action! was Johnny Rivers's third official album, and like his first two albums, At the Whisky à Go Go and Here We à Go Go Again!, it was recorded live at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, California...
(live) (1964) - The Sensational Johnny Rivers (1964)
- Meanwhile Back at the Whisky à Go GoMeanwhile Back at the Whisky à Go GoMeanwhile Back at the Whisky à Go Go was Johnny Rivers's fourth official album, and like all his prior albums it was recorded live at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles...
(live) (1965) - Johnny Rivers Rocks the Folk (1965)
- ...and I know you wanna dance...and i know you wanna dance...And I Know You Wanna Dance was Johnny Rivers's fifth official album, and like all his prior albums it was recorded live at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, California...
(live) (1966) - Changes (1966)
- Rewind (1967)
- Whisky A Go-Go Revisited (live) (1967)
- Realization (1968)
- Slim Slo Slider (1970)
- Homegrown (1971)
- A Portrait Of Johnny Rivers (1971)
- L.A. Reggae (1972)
- Blue Suede Shoes (1973)
- Rockin Pneumonia (1973)
- Last Boogie in Paris (live) (1974) (not released in the U.S.)
- Rockin' Rivers (1974) (not released in the U.S.)
- Road (1974)
- New Lovers and Old Friends (1975)
- Wild Night (1976)
- Outside Help (1977)
- The Rock And Roll Years (1981)
- Borrowed Time (1980)
- Not a Through Street (1983)
- Greatest Hits (1985)
- The Memphis Sun Recordings (1991)
- Last Train to Memphis (1998)
- Back at the Whisky (live) (2000)
- Reinvention Highway (2004)
- Last Boogie in Paris: The Complete Concert (live) (2007)
- Shadows on the Moon (2009)
Compilations
- Johnny Rivers' Golden Hits (1966)
- Touch of Gold (1969)
- Johnny Rivers (1972)
- The Very Best of Johnny Rivers (1975)
- The Best of Johnny Rivers (1987)
- Anthology, 1964–1977 (1991)
- Summer Rain: The Essential Rivers, 1964–1975 (2006)
- Secret Agent Man: The Ultimate Johnny Rivers Anthology 1964–2006 (2006)
Notable singles
Although Johnny was an accomplished songwriter, nearly all of his hit singles were written by others. Many times his variation on the songs charted even higher than the originals.Chart positions are from the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
:
- "MemphisMemphis, Tennessee (song)"Memphis, Tennessee" is a song by rock & roll singer-songwriter Chuck Berry. It is sometimes shortened to "Memphis". In the UK, the song charted at #6 in 1963, at the same time Decca Records issued a cover version in the UK by Dave Berry and the Cruisers, who came from Sheffield, Yorkshire...
" #2 (1964) - "MaybelleneMaybellene"Maybellene" is a song recorded by Chuck Berry, adapted from the traditional fiddle tune "Ida Red" that tells the story of a hot rod race and a broken romance. It was released in July 1955 as a single on Chess Records of Chicago, Illinois. It was Berry's first single release and his first hit...
" #12 (1964) - "Mountain of LoveMountain of Love"Mountain of Love" is a song written by Harold Dorman . Dorman released his version as a single in 1960. It performed well, becoming his only top forty hit on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the highest charting single of his career.In 1964, Johnny Rivers released his remake as a single...
" #9 (1964) - "Lawdy Miss ClawdyLawdy Miss Clawdy"Lawdy Miss Clawdy" is a song by Lloyd Price. It was first recorded by Price at the New Orleans recording studio of Specialty Records in March 1952. It was released under the Specialty label in April and was number one on the Billboard rhythm and blues chart for seven weeks and stayed on the chart...
" (1964) - "Midnight SpecialMidnight Special (song)"Midnight Special" is a traditional folk song thought to have originated among prisoners in the American South. The title comes from the refrain which refers to the Midnight Special and its "ever-loving light" ....
" #20 (1965) - "Cupid" #76 (1965)
- "Seventh SonThe Seventh Son (song)"The Seventh Son", also recorded as "Seventh Son", is a song written by Willie Dixon. It was released as a single by Willie Mabon on Chess Records in 1955...
" #7 (1965) - "Where Have All The Flowers Gone" #26 (1965)
- "Under Your Spell Again" #35 (1965)
- "Secret Agent ManSecret Agent Man (song)"Secret Agent Man" is a song written by Steve Barri and P. F. Sloan. The most famous recording of the song was made by Johnny Rivers for the opening titles of the American broadcast of the British spy series Danger Man, which aired in the U.S. as "Secret Agent" from 1964 to 1966...
" #3 (1966) - "(I Washed My Hands In) Muddy WaterI Washed My Hands In Muddy Water"I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water" is a song by Elvis Presley. It is a cover of the 1965 original by Stonewall Jackson. It was also a hit by Johnny Rivers in 1966, reaching #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart....
" #19 (1966) - "Poor Side Of TownPoor Side of Town (Johnny Rivers song)"Poor Side of Town" is a song by Johnny Rivers that reached number one on the Hot 100 and on the RPM Canadian Chart in November 1966.-Song:...
" #1 (1966) - "Baby I Need Your Lovin'Baby I Need Your Loving"Baby I Need Your Loving" is a 1964 hit single recorded by the Four Tops for the Motown label. Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, the song was the group's first Motown single and their first pop Top 20 hit, making it to number eleven on the Billboard Hot...
" #3 (1967) - "The Tracks Of My TearsThe Tracks of My Tears"The Tracks of My Tears" is a much recorded love ballad introduced in 1965 by The Miracles on Motown's' Tamla label. This song is considered to be among the finest recordings of The Miracles, and it sold over one million records within two years, making it The Miracles' fourth million-selling...
" #10 (1967) - "Summer Rain" #14 (1967)
- "Look To Your Soul" #49 (1968)
- "Right Relations" #61 (1968)
- "These Are Not My People" #55 (1969)
- "Muddy River" #41 (1969)
- "One Woman" #89 (1969)
- "Into the MysticInto the Mystic"Into the Mystic" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and featured on his 1970 album Moondance. It was also included on Morrison's 1974 live album, It's Too Late To Stop Now....
" #51 (1970) - "Fire and RainFire and Rain"Fire and Rain" is a folk/rock song written and performed by James Taylor. As a song on his second album, Sweet Baby James, the song engendered widespread attention for him. The album was released in February 1970, with the song being released as a single that month. "Fire and Rain" quickly rose to...
" #94 (1970) - "Sea CruiseSea Cruise-Covers:The song was initially covered by Frankie Ford in 1959, with a top-20 hit, using Smith's original backing track.It was later also covered by:* Herman Hermits covered the song in 1965 on the album Introducing Herman's Hermits....
" #84 (1971) - "Think His Name" #65 (1971)
- "Rockin' Pneumonia – Boogie Woogie Flu" #6 (1972)
- "Blue Suede ShoesBlue Suede Shoes"Blue Suede Shoes" is a rock and roll standard written and first recorded by Carl Perkins in 1955 and is considered one of the first rockabilly records and incorporated elements of blues, country and pop music of the time...
" #38 (1973) - "Six Days on the RoadSix Days on the Road"Six Days on the Road" is an American song written by Muscle Shoals Sound Studio songwriter Carl Montgomery and Earl Green, made originally famous by country music singer Dave Dudley...
" #105 (1974) - "Help Me Rhonda" #22 (1975)
- "Ashes and Sand" #96 (1977)
- "Swayin' To The Music (Slow Dancin')" #10 (1977)
- "Curious Mind (Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um)" #41 (1977)