Johnny Rivers is a retired American musician. He achieved commercial success and popularity throughout the 1960s and 1970s as a singer and guitarist, characterized as a versatile and influential artist. Rivers is best known for his 1960s output, having popularized the mid-60s discotheque scene through his live rock and roll recordings at Los Angeles' Whiskey a Go Go nightclub, and later shifting to a more orchestral, soul-oriented sound during the latter half of the decade. These developments were reflected by his most notable string of hit singles between 1964 and 1968, many of them covers. They include "Memphis", "Mountain of Love", "The Seventh Son", "Secret Agent Man", "Poor Side of Town", "Baby I Need Your Lovin'", and "Summer Rain". Ultimately, Rivers landed 9 top ten hits and 17 top forty hits on US charts from 1964 to 1977.
Rivers performing in 2007
Rivers performing at a USO show in An Khê, Vietnam, 1966.
Rivers on October 11, 1975
Rivers (left) playing with Argentine guitarist Pappo, 1986
The Whisky a Go Go is a historic nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States. It is located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard on the Sunset Strip, corner North Clark Street, opposite North San Vicente Boulevard, northwest corner. The club has been the host for musicians and bands including Taj Mahal, Otis Redding, Hugh Masekela, Alice Cooper, The Doors,The Ramones, The Byrds, Three Dog Night, The Mothers of Invention, Buffalo Springfield, Led Zeppelin, The Kinks, Love, The Stooges, Parliament-Funkadelic, Metallica, Cheap Trick, Guns N' Roses, System of a Down, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Chicago, Germs, Elton John, Mötley Crüe, Steppenwolf, Van Halen, Rush, Johnny Rivers, X, Iron Butterfly, Shark Island, Fleetwood Mac, KISS, No Doubt, Death, AC/DC, Golden Earring, Linkin Park, Nirvana, The Beach Boys, Stryper, Norma Jean, Oasis, Everclear and Phil Seymour.
The Whisky a Go Go on the Sunset Strip
Early Whisky matchbox. Note the alphanumeric phone number and French style.
The Whisky a Go Go in 2007
Apollo 03 performing on the current stage in 2022