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An American Standard
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American-made products are slowly becoming a thing of the past. At one time Ford, Chevy and Dodge were kings of the road. Major League baseball was our pastime. Mickey Mantle carried the Yankees to the World Series for the last time in his storied career only to lose to the Cardinals in seven. General Electric appliances were found in most households coast to coast. FM radio was still underground and rock and roll reigned on the radio dial. The British were on the brink of Invasion. A small club on the sunset strip in Hollywood, The Whiskey A Go Go was rocking and rolling. The year was 1964 and Johnny Rivers was the hottest act on the west coast headlining "The Whiskey."
Johnny Rivers was born John Henry Ramistella. The name Rivers was added years later from growing up along the Mississippi River. Johnny was inspired at a young age to play music. "My dad and uncle used to get together and play these old Italian folk songs on Mandolin and Guitar." By the time of junior high, Johnny was playing and jamming everywhere he got the chance. "R and B" music (rhythm and blues) was a way of life in the Baton Rouge area where he grew up. In fact, legends like Jimmy Reed and Fats Domino played the school dances that Johnny attended. Musically, he was heavily influenced by the likes of Elvis, Jerry Lee and Bobby Bland. Johnny began performing and recording in 1956; by 1961 he headed west for Los Angeles. Johnny opened at The Whiskey January 15, 1964. "The Whiskey was a smash from opening night," Rivers said. Using the same formula for Rock and Roll that the Beatles and the Stones recycled brought instant success for Johnny Rivers.
Johnny's shows brought fame in the form of a live record release. His first hit single came off that album - a cover of Chuck Berry's "Memphis" reaching as high as #2 on the charts. Johnny's version of Memphis was more driving and bluesy than Berry's original.
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Johnny's career spans more than 40 years with over a dozen top 20 hits. Mountain of Love, Maybelline, Secret Agent Man, Muddy Water, Rockin' Pneumonia and many more are rock and roll standards today.
Johnny Rivers still stands strong touring and performing with the same guitar from the '60's, a Gibson ES-335. In 2001 Rivers went back to the Whiskey to record a live album simply titled "Back at the Whiskey." The Johnny Rivers Secret Agent Man Anthology was released in 2006 spanning his entire career. It includes two previously unreleased tracks. He also has paid tribute to his influences, the legends of Sun Records, recording an entire album of material by Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee, Carl Perkins and Elvis.
Mark your calendars for February 22, 2008. Johnny Rivers will bring his hits, his Gibson ES-335 and American Made Rock and Roll to the desert with a tour stop in Phoenix at the Celebrity Theater. Tickets for the 8 p.m. show run from $27.50-42.50. Get your tickets by calling the Box Office at 602-267-1600 ext.1, or go to www.celebritytheater.com.
Travis Kelly is a freelance writer and the Men’s Ministry Director at Pathway of Hope Foursquare Church in Oro Valley.
© 2008 Good News Tucson™
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