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John Mayer

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For other people named John Mayer, see John Mayer (disambiguation).

John Clayton Mayer (b. October 16, 1977) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. Originally from Connecticut, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1998 to pursue his career full-time. He soon made a name for himself, and has had success both commercially and critically, winning Grammy awards along the way. In 2005, he made a transition towards the blues genre, forming The John Mayer Trio. He also is known for collaborating with many artists from a variety of musical genres.

Mayer's other interests include stand-up comedy and writing, and he has written articles for several magazines, most notably Esquire.

Early life

Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Mayer grew up in Fairfield, Connecticut, the middle of three sons.[1] There, he became friends with future tennis star James Blake.[2] Mayer attended Fairfield Warde High School for his freshman, sophomore, and senior years, but attended Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk, Connecticut for his junior year, where he was enrolled in the Center for Global Studies at Brien McMahon High School. Then known as the Center for Japanese Studies Abroad, it is a magnet program for students in Fairfield County wanting to learn Japanese.

Mayer listened to pop music, but it was not until the age of thirteen that his inspiration for playing the guitar began.[3] When his father, a high school principal, gave him a Stevie Ray Vaughan tape taken from a confiscated tape player,(or a neighbor) Mayer discovered the blues and learned how to play the guitar. After two years of practice, he started playing at blues bars and other venues in the area.[3] While in high school, he was in a band called Villanova Junction with Joe Beleznay, Tim Procaccini, and Rich Wolf.

Career

After playing the guitar for several years, Mayer enrolled in the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts at the age of 19.[4] He chose to cut his studies short in favor of a move to Atlanta, Georgia. He began his career in earnest there, quickly making a name for himself in the local coffeehouse and club circuit, in venues like Eddie's Attic.[3]

Mainstream success

In 2003, he won the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for the 2002 release of the single "Your Body is a Wonderland" from the album Room for Squares.

In February 2005, Mayer was awarded the Song of the Year Grammy for his song "Daughters" from the album Heavier Things. For this award, he beat contenders Alicia Keys, and Kanye West. He dedicated this award to his grandmother, Annie Hoffman, who died in May 2004. He also won Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, beating Elvis Costello, Prince and Seal to the Award.

John allows audio taping at most live performances, and he also allows for the non-commercial trading of those recordings. [5] He does this to give fans the opportunity to recreate the live experience, and to encourage fan interaction.[6] Trading recordings helped John become better known in the early stages of his career.

To date Mayer has toured with many groups, including Maroon 5,[7] Guster, Counting Crows,[8] The Wallflowers, Teitur, and Sheryl Crow.

Change in musical direction

In 2004, Mayer worked with hip hop artist and producer Kanye West, appearing both on rapper Common's Go and Kanye West's Bittersweet (for release in 2006) and received praise from rap heavyweights like Jay-Z and Nelly. When asked about his ubiquitous presence in the hip hop community he said:

It's not music out there right now. That's why, to me, hip-hop is where rock used to be.[9]

It was around this time that he began hinting a change in his musical interests, announcing that he was "closing up shop on acoustic sensitivity." In 2005, he began a string of collaborations with various blues artists, including Buddy Guy, BB King, Eric Clapton and jazz artist John Scofield. He also toured with the legendary jazz pianist Herbie Hancock, which included a show at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee.

Although Mayer has maintained a reputation for being a sensitive, meticulous juggernaut singer-songwriter, he is also an accomplished guitarist influenced by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Freddie King and B.B. King. Mayer has worked with many important and provocative blues musicians including Eric Clapton (Back Home, Crossroads Guitar Festival), Buddy Guy (Bring 'Em In), John Scofield (That's What I Say) and B.B.King (80).

John Mayer Trio

See main article John Mayer Trio.

In the spring of that same year, Mayer formed the John Mayer Trio with bassist Pino Palladino and drummer Steve Jordan, both of whom he had met through previous studio sessions. The trio plays a combination of blues and rock music. In November of 2005, they released a live album called Try! The first single "Who Did You Think I Was?" references Mayer's decision to move away from acoustic pop music. In October 2005, the John Mayer Trio opened for The Rolling Stones during a sold out club tour of their own.

The John Mayer Trio is now defunct. [1] John declared at the end of their performance at the Tempe Music Festival in March of 2006, "This is Steve Jordan, That's Pino Palladino, and I'm John Mayer. And for a few more minutes, we are the John Mayer Trio." His management has recently stated that his 2006 tour will be on a smaller scale, possibly parks and local blues festivals.

Continuum

Main article: Continuum (album)
Cover art for the single, Waiting On The World To Change, the first off the Continuum album.

Mayer's forthcoming album, entitled Continuum, is due out on September 12, 2006. It is being produced by Mayer himself, and John Mayer Trio drummer and session veteran Steve Jordan. Mayer has made it clear that this album will stay within the same vein as his release with the trio, combining his signature pop music with the feel, sound, groove and sensibilities of the blues. A few tracks from his trio release TRY! will be released on Continuum including the funky "Vultures" and the sparse ballad "Gravity". Mayer also played a secret one-off show at the Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles on April 10th, 2006 with John Mayer Trio bassist Pino Palladino where they played the majority of the new songs from Continuum.

The first single from Continuum is "Waiting On The World To Change," which debuted on the "Ron and Fez Show" and is currently availible on his website and MySpace site to listen to for free. (see links below) The song was the third most downloaded song of the week on the iTunes Music Store following its release on July 11th of 2006 and debuted at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. On August 24, 2006 the album was released for listen on the Clear Channel Music website as a streaming sneak preview.

Other endeavors

File:John Mayer Fender Ad.jpg
Mayer for Fender guitars, of which he has several unique models.

In 2003, Martin Guitars gave John Mayer his own signature model acoustic guitar called the OM-28 John Mayer.[10] The guitar was limited to a run of only 404. This acoustic was followed by the release of a signature Stratocaster electric guitar by Fender guitars in 2005 — three different models in total. Unlike the Martin, two of Mayer's Signature Fender Stratocasters are not limited edition models, and can be found at many Fender dealers. The third Stratocaster, finished in Charcoal Frost metallic paint with racing stripe, was limited to only 100 guitars. Fender has recently started manufacturing SERIES II John Mayer strats. The new colorway white with mint green pickguard and cream plastics is replacing the shoreline gold model.

Mayer appeared in a one-shot half-hour comedy special on VH1, "John Mayer Has a TV Show" (2004). He spent most of the program poking fun at his own image, suggesting that Richard Marx had written many of his songs and anonymously visiting the parking lot outside one of his concerts (Mayer wore a bear suit and mispronounced his last name.) Among his remarks: "True or False: 'Your Body is a Wonderland' was written for a guy."

In the June 1 2004 issue of Esquire, Mayer began a column called "Music Lessons with John Mayer." Each article features a lesson (some more scholarly than others) and his take on various topics, both personal and of popular interest. In the August 2005 issue he invited readers to create music for orphaned lyrics he had written.[11] The winner was Tim Fagan of L.A., as announced in the January issue.[12]

Selected events

The TV comedy Family Guy referenced John Mayer in an episode in the fourth season (#407). The character Chris Griffin spray-paints the phrase "That's enough, John Mayer" on a wall at the bequest of his sentient pimple. (Mayer allegedly contacted the producers of the show after the episode had aired to tell them he loved the joke).

Mayer also appeared on the Chappelle's Show in an episode from the second season (#203).

Mayer appeared at the Pennsbury High School prom on May 14, 2004 in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania outside of Philadelphia. He played a three-song set including "Clarity," "No Such Thing," and "Your Body Is a Wonderland." It was his only prom appearance ever, since he did not go to his own. A book called "Wonderland" by writer Michael Bamberger chronicles the high school's president, a huge Mayer fan, and his school's quest for the ultimate prom. Mayer has discussed the event on numerous radio shows, including Opie & Anthony. Rolling Stone magazine covered Mayer's prom performance as did many national media outlets.

Brad Paisley has covered John Mayer's song "Why Georgia", which he also performed with Mayer on a episode of CMT Crossroads that first aired May 14, 2004.[13]

Mayer is apparently a fan of XM Satellite Radio's Ron and Fez and Opie and Anthony shows. He has appeared on both shows multiple times over the Summer of 2006. Mayer stopped in unannounced to the Ron and Fez Show on June 14 to premier his latest single, then appeared on Opie and Anthony on July 26 to promote his album and comment about his experiences in standup comedy. On August 18th, Mayer sat in as a third mic with Ron and Fez again, this time with Anthony Cumia also sitting in for a short period. He has also called in to the shows several times to discuss music, sometimes anonymously, especially after an incident where he unintentionally (and hilariously) played the "Do you know who I am?" card on Ron and Fez.[14]

Sheryl Crow and John Mayer, who both had recently appeared on the Cars Soundtrack together, are set to co-headline a tour in late 2006.[2]

Personal life

He has a number of tattoos, including."Home Life" on the back of his arms, after the song off of his 2003 release, Heavier Things. In 2003, he got a tattoo of three squares on his right forearm, which sparked a lot of questions.[10] Mayer explains that he likes getting tattoos, but not having too many, so he will fill the three squares in gradually.[9] As of 2006, two are filled. Mayer dated Jennifer Love Hewitt briefly in 2002.[citation needed] In a comedy routine in May 2006, he joked they never consummated their relationship; he later apologized to her for the raunchy routine.

Jessica Simpson

According to this article released by People on August 29th, 2006, John Mayer is currently in a relationship with singer Jessica Simpson. The 26 year old singer attended his concert in Jones Beach, NY Wednesday, August 30th, 2006.

Solo discography

Note: See John Mayer Trio for his discography with that group.

Albums

Album Information
Color Key: Pink: EP Yellow: Studio Album Green: Live Album
Inside Wants Out
  • Indie EP.
  • Released: 1999
  • Label Release: 2002
  • US chart peak position: #22
File:John Mayer Room for Squares.jpg
Room for Squares
Any Given Thursday
Heavier Things
  • Studio album.
  • Released: September 9, 2003
  • US chart peak position: #1
  • USA: 2x Platinum
File:JohnMayerAsIsalbumcover.jpg
As/Is
  • Double disc live album.
  • Released: October 19, 2004
  • Compiled as the best fifteen songs of four live concerts.
  • The four concerts are available (ten songs from each) from iTunes (USA Only).
File:Continuum-jmcover.jpg
Continuum

Singles

Year Song US Hot 100 Adult Top 40 Album
2002 "No Such Thing" 13 5 Room For Squares
2002 "Your Body Is a Wonderland" 18 3 Room For Squares
2003 "Why Georgia" - 8 Room For Squares
2003 "Bigger Than My Body" 33 4 Heavier Things
2004 "Clarity" - 13 Heavier Things
2004 "Daughters" 19 1 Heavier Things
2006 "Waiting On the World to Change" 21 5 Continuum

Guest contributions

Notes

  1. ^ ELLE staff writer (2006).
  2. ^ Patrick, Dan (2003). "Outtakes with James Blake" ESPN.com (accessed May 2, 2006)
  3. ^ a b c (2005). "Men Of The Week: Entertainment - John Mayer" AskMen.com (accessed April 12, 2006)
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference ELLE was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Mayer, John (2005). "John's Live Recording Policy" www.thejmtp.com (accessed April 12, 2006)
  6. ^ (2005).PoliciesLocal 83: Listener's Union (accessed April 13, 2006)
  7. ^ Dansby, Andrew (2004). "Mayer, Maroon 5 Hit the Road" Rolling Stone (accessed April 12, 2006)
  8. ^ Dansby, Andrew (2003). "Mayer, Crows to Tour " Rolling Stone (accessed April 12, 2006)
  9. ^ Moss, Corey (2005) "John Mayer Plans To 'Close Up Shop On Acoustic Sensitive'" MTV.com (accessed April 12, 2006)
  10. ^ (2003). [http://namm.harmony-central.com/SNAMM03/Content/Martin/PR/OM-28-John-Mayer.html " 13, 2006)
  11. ^ Mayer, John (2005). "The Giveaway: John Mayer's Songwriting Contest" Esquire magazine (accessed April 12, 2006)
  12. ^ Mayer, John (2006). "Tim Fagan Is A Winner" Esquire magazine (accessed April 12, 2006)
  13. ^ "Brad Paisley and John Mayer Hit a Crossroads" RCALabelGroup.com (accessed August 8, 2006)
  14. ^ (2006)"Whip 'Em Out Wednesday" foundrymusic.com (accessed August 8, 2006)
Wikiquote has quotations related to John Mayer.

Official

Written by Mayer

General

Interviews

See also

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