John Mayer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Mayer
Mayer performing in 2019
Background information
Birth name	John Clayton Mayer
Born	(1977-10-16) October 16, 1977 (age 47) Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S.
Education	Fairfield Warde High School
Genres	Rock pop blues
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter guitarist record producer
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Works	Discography production
Years active	1998–present
Labels	Aware Columbia The Orchard

John Clayton Mayer (born October 16, 1977) is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is known for his mix of rock, pop, and blues music. John Mayer started his career playing in small clubs. He later became famous with hit songs like "Your Body Is a Wonderland" and "Daughters." He has won several Grammy Awards for his music.

Over the years, John Mayer's music has changed. He started with acoustic pop songs and then explored blues and rock. He formed the John Mayer Trio and later joined the band Dead & Company. Besides music, he also writes and hosts a show online.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Growing Up in Connecticut

John Mayer was born on October 16, 1977, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He grew up in Fairfield. His father was a high school principal, and his mother was an English teacher. John was the middle child in his family. He has an older half-sister, an older brother, and a younger brother.

Discovering the Guitar

When John was 13, he became very interested in the guitar. This happened after he saw Michael J. Fox play the guitar in the movie Back to the Future. His father rented a guitar for him. A neighbor gave John a cassette tape by Stevie Ray Vaughan. This made John fall in love with blues music. He started taking guitar lessons and practiced a lot. He even played at local bars while still in high school. He was also part of a band called Villanova Junction.

Early Challenges

When John was 17, he had a health scare that led him to write his first song lyrics. After this, he sometimes felt very anxious. He learned to manage these feelings with medication.

Music Career Highlights

Starting Out (1996–1999)

John Mayer went to Berklee College of Music in 1997. After two semesters, he moved to Atlanta with his friend Clay Cook. They formed a band called LoFi Masters and played in coffee houses. They later went their separate ways. John then started his solo career. He recorded an album called Inside Wants Out.

Becoming Famous (2000–2004)

John Mayer's music gained attention online. He signed with Aware Records, which worked with Columbia Records. In 2001, he released his first major album, Room for Squares. This album had popular songs like "No Such Thing" and "Your Body Is a Wonderland". In 2003, he won a Grammy Award for "Your Body Is a Wonderland."

In 2003, John released his second album, Heavier Things. It reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The song "Daughters" won a Grammy for Song of the Year in 2005. John also released live albums like Any Given Thursday and As/Is.

Exploring Blues and Rock (2005–2008)

John Mayer started to focus more on blues and rock music. He played with famous artists like Buddy Guy and B.B. King. In 2005, he formed the John Mayer Trio with bassist Pino Palladino and drummer Steve Jordan. They released a live album called Try!.

Mayer performing in San Jose, California, June 2007

In 2006, John released his third studio album, Continuum. This album mixed blues and pop music. It included songs like "Waiting on the World to Change" and "Gravity." Continuum won a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album. John also won Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Waiting on the World to Change." He released an EP called The Village Sessions in 2006.

Battle Studies and a Break (2009–2013)

John Mayer's fourth album, Battle Studies, came out in 2009. It went to number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Songs from this album included "Who Says" and "Half of My Heart".

After this, John took a break from public life. He had some vocal cord problems that needed surgery. This delayed his next album, Born and Raised, which was released in 2012. The album was inspired by 1970s pop music. Even though he couldn't sing for a while, the album still reached number one. He later recovered and released Paradise Valley in 2013. This album had country and folk influences.

Mayer on stage with The Rolling Stones in December 2012

Dead & Company and Recent Albums (2013–Present)

Mayer performing in Brooklyn, New York, in December 2013

In 2015, John Mayer joined some former members of the Grateful Dead to form the band Dead & Company. They have toured together since then, playing Grateful Dead songs.

John also continued to release his own music. His seventh album, The Search for Everything, came out in 2017. It was about themes of a romantic break-up. His eighth album, Sob Rock, was released in 2021. It was inspired by 1980s soft rock music.

Touring and Performances

John Mayer has toured all over North America, Europe, and Australia. He has played with many artists like Maroon 5, Counting Crows, and Sheryl Crow. He often allows fans to record his live shows for non-commercial use. Sometimes, he even performs surprise concerts in small venues.

Headlining Tours

• Room for Squares Tour (2002)
• Heavier Things Tour (2003–2004)
• Continuum Tour (2006–2007)
• John Mayer 2008 Summer Tour (2008)
• Battle Studies World Tour (2009–2010)
• Born and Raised World Tour (2013–2014)
• The Search for Everything World Tour (2017)
• John Mayer 2019 World Tour (2019)
• Sob Rock Tour (2022)
• Solo Tour (2023)

Co-headlining

• John Mayer/Guster Summer Tour (2002)
• John Mayer/Counting Crows Summer Tour (2003)
• John Mayer/Sheryl Crow Tour (2006)

Opening act

• Sting European Tour (2004)

Touring with Dead & Company

John Mayer has toured with Dead & Company every year since 2015.

Other Activities

Dead & Company Band

Since 2015, John Mayer has been touring with Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, and Mickey Hart from the Grateful Dead. They formed Dead & Company. John became interested in the Grateful Dead's music after hearing one of their songs on the radio. He performed with Bob Weir on a TV show, and Weir was impressed. Even though some fans were unsure about a pop singer joining the band, Dead & Company's shows have been very popular.

Writing and Shows

John Mayer has written columns for Esquire magazine. He also used to be very active on social media, especially Twitter. He has hosted his own Instagram Live show called Current Mood, where he talks to other musicians and celebrities. In 2023, he started a new radio channel on Sirius XM called "Life with John Mayer." It plays music he chooses and includes interviews with other musicians.

Watch Collecting

John Mayer loves collecting watches. He has a very valuable collection. He even writes about watches for a website called Hodinkee. In 2024, he became a "Creative Conduit" for the watch brand Audemars Piguet. He helps connect the brand with watch collectors and even designed a special watch with them.

TV Appearances

John Mayer with Steve Jobs at Macworld in 2005

John Mayer has appeared on many TV shows. He performed at Apple events with Steve Jobs. He also guest-hosted The Late Late Show in 2015. He has made cameo appearances in movies like Zombeavers and Get Hard.

Guitars and Equipment

John Mayer is a big guitar collector and owns over 200 guitars. He has worked with famous guitar companies like Martin Guitars and Fender to create his own signature guitars.

One of his most famous guitars is the "Black1." He designed it with Fender Custom Shop. It's an all-black version of Stevie Ray Vaughan's famous Stratocaster. The Black1 was used a lot on his Continuum album.

In 2014, John Mayer started working with PRS Guitars. They created special guitars together, like the Super Eagle and the Silver Sky. The Silver Sky is a popular model that looks similar to a Stratocaster but has its own unique design.

Giving Back

Charity Work

In 2002, John Mayer started the "Back to You" Fund. This organization raises money for health care, education, and the arts. He often auctions off special items to help raise funds.

He has performed at many charity events, including Live Earth concerts to support awareness for climate change. He has also helped raise money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation and Toys for Tots. In 2019, he started the Heart and Armor Foundation to support military veterans.

Discography

• Room for Squares (2001)
• Heavier Things (2003)
• Continuum (2006)
• Battle Studies (2009)
• Born and Raised (2012)
• Paradise Valley (2013)
• The Search for Everything (2017)
• Sob Rock (2021)

Awards and Nominations

Grammy Awards

John Mayer has won seven Grammy Awards from nineteen nominations.

Other Awards

Images for kids

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  John Mayer with Steve Jobs at Macworld in 2005

In Spanish: John Mayer para niños