I remember going to hear Johnny play at the Whisky, where he became a headliner after playing in other clubs in the area. To this day his name is associated with the club.
Johnny Rivers covered so many songs successfully (including songs recorded at Motown) that other people recorded, he became so known for his versions that many people didn't realize that they weren't written by him or that he wasn't the first to record them. He attracted a new generation. (Johnny had moved to New York City at the age of 16 and was a little younger than me, Buddy Knox, and some of the other guys we hung out with.) Here's a YouTube fan video - very well put together - where Johnny covers two 1950's classics written and recorded first by Chuck Berry, with that mid 1960's rock and roll style of his on Liberty Records.
JOHNNY RIVERS OFFICIAL - UPDATED - NEW CD Called Live at Cache Creek it's blues, bluegrass, and JR.
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