Johnny Rivers

Johnny Rivers Johnny Rivers (born John Henry Ramistella, November 7, 1942, in New York City) is an American rock ‘n’ roll singer, guitarist, and songwriter whose energetic live performances and covers defined mid-1960s rock. Raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he moved to Los Angeles and became a fixture at Whisky a Go Go, recording live albums. Hits included “Memphis” (No. 2, 1964, Chuck Berry cover), “Mountain of Love,” “Seventh Son,” “Secret Agent Man” (theme for the TV show), “Poor Side of Town” (No. 1, 1966), and “Baby I Need Your Lovin’.” His soulful voice and guitar work bridged rockabilly, R&B, and pop. He founded Soul City Records (signing The Fifth Dimension) and continued with hits like “Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu.” Rivers toured extensively into the 2010s. As of January 2026, he has officially retired from all appearances and touring, with no scheduled dates listed on his official site. At 83, he remains a respected figure in classic rock, with his live energy and timeless covers enduring on oldies radio