24 Facts About Johnny Rivers

Johnny Rivers was born on John Henry Ramistella; November 7,1942 and is an American retired musician.

Johnny Rivers achieved commercial success and popularity throughout the 1960s and 1970s as a singer and guitarist, characterized as a versatile and influential artist.

Johnny Rivers had a total of nine top-ten hits and 17 top-forty hits on the US charts from 1964 to 1977.

Johnny Rivers's family moved from New York to Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

From March 1958 to March 1959, Johnny Rivers released three records, including "Baby Come Back", none of which sold well.

Johnny Rivers returned to Baton Rouge in 1959 and began playing throughout the American South alongside comedian Brother Dave Gardner.

One evening in Birmingham, Alabama, Johnny Rivers met Audrey Williams, Hank Williams' first wife.

Johnny Rivers encouraged Rivers to move to Nashville, Tennessee, where he found work as a songwriter and demo singer.

In 1958, Johnny Rivers met fellow Louisianan James Burton, a guitarist in a band led by Ricky Nelson.

Johnny Rivers's big break came in 1963 when he filled in for a jazz combo at Gazzarri's, a nightclub in Hollywood where his instant popularity drew large crowds.

Johnny Rivers was impressed and much to Presley's chagrin, Johnny Rivers recorded and released it even copying the arrangement.

In 1963, Rivers began working with writers P F Sloan and Steve Barri on a theme song for the American broadcast of a British television series Danger Man, starring Patrick McGoohan.

At first Johnny Rivers balked at the idea but eventually changed his mind.

Johnny Rivers's recording of "Secret Agent Man" reached No 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1966.

In 1966, Johnny Rivers began to record ballads that featured background vocalists.

Johnny Rivers started his own record company, Soul City Records, which included the 5th Dimension.

Johnny Rivers recorded Webb's "By the Time I Get to Phoenix".

Johnny Rivers continued to record more hits covering other artists, including "Baby I Need Your Lovin'", originally recorded by the Four Tops, and "The Tracks of My Tears" by the Miracles, both going Top 10 in 1967.

In 1968, Johnny Rivers put out Realization, a No 5 album that included the No 14 pop chart single "Summer Rain", written by a former member of the Mugwumps, James Hendricks.

In early 2000, Johnny Rivers recorded with Eric Clapton, Tom Petty and Paul McCartney on a tribute album dedicated to Buddy Holly's backup band, the Crickets.

Johnny Rivers is one of a small number of performers whose names are listed as the copyright owner on their recordings.

On June 12,2009, Johnny Rivers was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.

Johnny Rivers's name has been suggested many times for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but he has never been selected.

Johnny Rivers was a nominee for 2015 induction into America's Pop Music Hall of Fame.