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 harmonica keyboards
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 known for his hit songs and amazing guitar skills. He started his career in Atlanta after briefly attending the Berklee College of Music. He quickly gained a following by playing in local clubs.

Mayer's first two albums, Room for Squares (2001) and Heavier Things (2003), were huge successes. His song "Your Body Is a Wonderland" won a Grammy Award. By 2005, he began to explore the blues and rock music that first inspired him. He formed the John Mayer Trio and released the album Continuum (2006), which won two more Grammy Awards.

Over the years, Mayer has experimented with different music styles, from pop and rock to folk and country. He has released several successful albums, including Battle Studies (2009), Born and Raised (2012), and Sob Rock (2021). He has also worked with many famous artists, such as Alicia Keys, Frank Ocean, and Ed Sheeran.

In 2015, he joined former members of the Grateful Dead to form the band Dead & Company, touring and performing their classic songs. Besides music, Mayer enjoys writing, comedy, and collecting watches. He has sold over 20 million albums worldwide.

Early Life and First Guitar

John Mayer was born on October 16, 1977, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. His father was a high school principal, and his mother was an English teacher. He grew up in the town of Fairfield and was the middle of three brothers.

Mayer became fascinated with the guitar after seeing the movie Back to the Future. For his 13th birthday, his father rented a guitar for him. A neighbor gave him a cassette tape of blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, which sparked his love for blues music. He began taking lessons and practiced constantly.

His parents were sometimes worried by how much he focused on the guitar. But after two years of practice, he was good enough to play in local bars while still in high school. When he was 17, he had a health scare that made him think about life and songwriting. He wrote his first lyrics the night he came home from the hospital.

Career Beginnings

Moving to Atlanta

Mayer attended the Berklee College of Music in 1997. After two semesters, he and his friend Clay Cook moved to Atlanta to start a band called LoFi Masters. They played in coffee shops and clubs, but they had different ideas about music. Mayer wanted to play more pop music, so they eventually went their separate ways.

Mayer continued to perform on his own. He recorded an independent EP called Inside Wants Out. This recording included early versions of songs that would later become hits, like "No Such Thing".

Major Label Success

Mayer's music got the attention of Aware Records, which led to a deal with Columbia Records. In 2001, Columbia re-released his first full album, Room for Squares. The album became a huge hit with songs like "No Such Thing," "Your Body Is a Wonderland", and "Why Georgia". In 2003, he won his first Grammy Award for "Your Body Is a Wonderland."

His second album, Heavier Things (2003), was also a success. It went to number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The song "Daughters" won a Grammy for Song of the Year in 2005.

Exploring New Music Styles

The John Mayer Trio

Mayer performing in San Jose, California, in June 2007

By 2005, Mayer wanted to focus more on the blues and rock music he loved as a kid. He formed the John Mayer Trio with two famous musicians: bassist Pino Palladino and drummer Steve Jordan. They released a live album called Try! and even opened for The Rolling Stones.

This new direction showed fans and critics that Mayer was more than just a pop singer. He was also a highly skilled guitarist who could play with legends like Eric Clapton, B.B. King, and Buddy Guy.

Continuum and Critical Acclaim

In 2006, Mayer released his third studio album, Continuum. The album mixed his pop-rock sound with deep blues influences. It included popular songs like "Waiting on the World to Change" and "Gravity".

Continuum was a massive success. It won a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album, and "Waiting on the World to Change" won for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. The album is often considered one of his best works. He followed this with a re-issue of the album and a live concert film, Where the Light Is.

Later Albums and Tours

Battle Studies and a Break

Mayer's fourth album, Battle Studies (2009), returned to a more pop-focused sound. It was a commercial success and included the hit single "Who Says".

Around 2010, after some controversial interviews, Mayer decided to step away from the public eye. During this time, he began working on his next album. He also had to have surgery on his vocal cords, which forced him to stop singing for a while.

Born and Raised and Paradise Valley

Mayer on stage with the Rolling Stones at the Prudential Center, New Jersey, on December 13, 2012

Despite his health challenges, Mayer released Born and Raised in 2012. The album had a 1970s folk-rock feel and went to number one on the charts. After recovering from a second vocal surgery, he returned to performing in 2013.

His sixth album, Paradise Valley (2013), continued his exploration of folk and country music. It featured collaborations with Katy Perry and Frank Ocean. He then went on his first major tour in three years.

The Search for Everything and Sob Rock

Mayer performing at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on December 17, 2013

Mayer's seventh album, The Search for Everything (2017), was released in two parts, called "waves." It explored themes of love and life, with songs like "Love on the Weekend" and "In the Blood."

In 2021, he released his eighth album, Sob Rock. The album was inspired by the soft rock music of the 1980s. It included the single "Last Train Home" and other songs he had released over the previous few years.

Joining Dead & Company

In 2015, Mayer's career took an exciting turn. He teamed up with three original members of the legendary band the Grateful Dead: Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, and Mickey Hart. Together, they formed a new band called Dead & Company.

Mayer took on the role of lead guitarist and singer, a part once famously held by Jerry Garcia. At first, some fans were unsure, but the band was a huge success. They have toured almost every year since 2015, playing the Grateful Dead's classic songs to new generations of fans.

Other Projects

Besides his music, John Mayer has many other interests.

• Writing: He has written columns for magazines like Esquire.
• Watch Collecting: Mayer is a well-known watch collector and expert. He has a collection worth millions of dollars and has written about watches for the website Hodinkee.
• TV and Media: He has hosted TV shows, appeared in comedy skits, and even had his own Instagram Live show called Current Mood. In 2023, he launched a radio channel on Sirius XM called "Life with John Mayer."

Personal Life

John Mayer is known for being close with his family. In 2016, he decided to stop drinking to focus on his health and well-being. He has been in relationships with several famous people, including Jennifer Aniston and Katy Perry.

Mayer is also known for his charity work. In 2002, he started the "Back to You" Fund, which raises money for healthcare, education, and the arts. He has performed at many benefit concerts, including Live Earth and events to support veterans. In 2019, he founded the Heart and Armor Foundation to help 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

John Mayer has won many awards for his music. He has been nominated for 19 Grammy Awards and has won seven of them.

Grammy Awards

Images for kids

• 

  Concert tour locations of John Mayer as of March 2025, showing countries where he has performed live.

• 

  January 2005, left to right: David Ryan Harris, John Mayer and Steve Jobs at Macworld 11, San Francisco Moscone Center

• 

  Mayer playing his signature Black1 Stratocaster in 2008

See also

In Spanish: John Mayer para niños