Date/Time
Date(s) - 11/13/2015
7:30 pm
Location
State Theatre Center for the Arts
Category(ies)
Website
http://www.statetheatre.org
In 1964, when the British Invasion was in progress and American rockers were tough to find on the U.S. pop charts, Johnny Rivers was one of the first to regain a foothold; his first Top 10 record came right in the midst of Beatlemania. His formula was much the same as the British style vintage American rock n’ roll and R&B played with a verve and simplicity that gave his music a contemporary edge. Over the next four years his funky, go-go rock gave him a steady stream of Top 10 records.
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” (a Chuck Berry cover), “Mountain of Love”, “The Seventh Son”, “Secret Agent Man”, “Poor Side of Town” (a US #1), “Baby I Need Your Lovin’” (a Motown cover), and “Summer Rain”. Johnny Rivers’ career totaled nine Top 10 hits on the Billboard Top 100 and 17 in the Top 40 from 1964 to 1977; he has sold well over 30 million records
Johnny Rivers continued releasing material into the 1980s although his recording career was winding down. He is still touring, however, performing 50 to 60 shows a year. Increasingly he has returned to the blues that inspired him initially.
In early 2000, Rivers recorded with Eric Clapton, Tom Petty and Paul McCartney on a tribute album dedicated to Buddy Holly’s backup band, the Crickets. On June 12, 2009, Johnny Rivers was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. His name has been suggested many times for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but he has never been selected. Rivers was a nominee for 2015 induction into America’s Pop Music Hall of Fame, but was not chosen.
Tickets are $50/ $45 and can be purchased by visiting the State Theatre Box Office, 453 Northampton Street, Easton, by calling 1-800-999-STATE, 610-252-3132 or online at www.statetheatre.org. Sponsored by News Radio WAEB AM 790 and N. Pugliese, Inc.