Johnny Rivers (born John Henry Ramistella, 7 November 1942 in New York) is an American rock and roll singer, songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. He was versatile enough to do folk songs, blues, and revivals of old-time rock 'n' roll music songs and some original material. Rivers's greatest success came in the mid and late 1960s with a series of successful songs (including "Seventh Son", "Poor Side of Town", "Summer Rain", and "Secret Agen...
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Johnny Rivers (born John Henry Ramistella, 7 November 1942 in New York) is an American rock and roll singer, songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. He was versatile enough to do folk songs, blues, and revivals of old-time rock 'n' roll music songs and some original material. Rivers's greatest success came in the mid and late 1960s with a series of successful 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.
The Ramistella family moved from New York to Baton Rouge, Louisiana when John was five years old. Without any formal music lessons, he began playing guitar—- learned from his father—- at the age of eight, and was influenced by the distinctive music of Louisiana.
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 for the Suede company as early...
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