Johnny Rivers
Johnny Rivers
Johnny Riversis an Italian-American rock 'n' roll singer, songwriter, legendary guitarist, and record producer. His repertoire includes pop, folk, blues, and old-time rock 'n' roll. Rivers charted during the 1960s and 1970s but remains best known for a string of hit singles between 1964 and 1968, among them "Memphis", "Mountain of Love", "The Seventh Son", "Secret Agent Man", "Poor Side of Town", "Baby I Need Your Lovin'", and "Summer Rain"...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionMusician
Date of Birth7 November 1942
CountryUnited States of America
Jack and I usually get together and sit around in the afternoons and start throwing ideas around.
What I really remember is that people camped out everywhere, and the fact everybody expected it might turn into a big nightmare with all sorts of hassles because back in those days everybody was smoking pot and taking acid.
I play my old songs but I have to keep playing new ones. That's what keeps you going.
I learned some chords and I started watching anybody I could, once I really got into it.
I loved playing and I was actually working two jobs.
In 1965, Gibson made the red one I use now, and a black one, which was the first black 335 they ever made.
In early '57, I bought a Fender Telecaster.
After that initial success, every chance we got we'd hire that remote recording truck and just record stuff at the Whisky because it was so inexpensive.
But I always loved songs with great lyrics.
Alan's publishing company was in the Brill Building, and of course, the Brill Building was where all the songwriters hung out because that's where all the publishers were.
It was a trio - Eddie Rubin was playing drums, Joe Osborn on bass. And that's when we got approached on the idea of the Whisky A Go-Go.
Even Woodstock turned out to be a disaster. Everybody was stuck in the mud and people got sick.
About two months into the Whisky, I borrowed some money and rented a remote recording truck.
The web site and the Internet are a whole new ball game.