Johnny Rivers (born John Henry Ramistella, November 7, 1942, New York City) is an American rock 'n' roll singer, songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. 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".
The Ramistella family moved from New York to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Johnny, influenced by the distinctive Louisiana musical style, began playing guitar at the age of eight, taught by his father and uncle. While still in junior high school he started sitting in with a band called the Rockets, led by Dick Holler, who later wrote a number of songs including "Abraham, Martin and John" and the novelty song, "Snoopy vs. the Red Baron".
Ramistella formed his own band, the Spades, and made his first record at 14, while still a student at Baton Rouge High School. Some of their music was recorded on the Suede label as early as 1956.
Lookin' back I'd say we broke a few rules
Left one or two hearts in a ruin
Spent all that precious time doin'
Things we figured that Presley might have done
Stole a few cars, never got caught
Started some fights in the scrimmage
We got caught up in the image
Of playing young rebels by the handbook
Looking back I guess we had some attitude
We were gonna be hard and tough
Me & Johnny
We're gonna play tonight
It's gonna be alright
We're gonna shine
Look in the mirror watch our faces change
We were gonna be McCartney clones
We skipped school to see the Rolling Stones
And sang their songs on the train on our way home
We were gonna be like all of them
Uncompromising to the very end
Live for girls, guitars and glory
And someday they'd write our storySometimes I think that they clapped in sympathy
But we were gonna be hard and tough
Me & Johnny
We're gonna play tonight
It's gonna be alright
We're gonna have some fun tonight
Me & Johnny
We may get blood on our face
We're gonna have our place
In the sun
Johnny's still living, back in Australia
I hear he's got himself a wife and kids
And I'm still chasing whatever it is
That put me out here on the road in the first place
I think of times, that I cursed out loud
Wishin' I was still runnin' with the same old crowd
Sometimes it can make you cry
Just watching the years roll by
Me & Johnny
We're gonna play tonight
It's gonna be alright
We're gonna have fun tonight
Me & Johnny
We may get blood on our face
We're gonna have our place
In the sun