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albums
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- Continuum
- Released 2006
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- Room For Squares
- Released 2001
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- Heavier Things
- Released 2003
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- Where The Light Is: John Mayer Live In Los Angeles
- Released 2008
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biography
After making his introduction as a sensitive, acoustic-styled songwriter on 2001's Room for Squares, John Mayer steadily widened his approach over the subsequent years, encompassing everything from blues-rock to adult contemporary in the process. Arriving during the tail end of teen pop's heyday, he crafted pop music for a more discerning audience, spiking his songcraft with jazz chords and literate turns of phrase. The combination proved to be quite popular, as Room for Squares went triple platinum before its follow-up release, Heavier Things, arrived in September 2003. Mayer continued to retool his sound with each album, however, moving beyond the material that had launched his career and adopting elements of rock, blues, and soul. Moreover, he partnered with legends of several genres, making guest appearances on albums by Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, and B.B. King, while touring alongside jazz icon Herbie Hancock. Mayer also retained enough pop/rock foundation to continue his reign of the charts, making him one of the decade's most popular songwriters.
Born in Bridgeport, CT, and raised in the nearby town of Fairfield, Mayer began playing blues as a teenager. By 1997, his skill on the electric guitar was enough to warrant admission into the Berklee College of Music, although Mayer dropped out after two semesters to pursue a songwriting career in Atlanta. Working alongside former classmate Clay Cook, he frequented the local coffeehouse circuit and began co-writing material that melded palatable pop/rock with unexpected flourishes. Cook and Mayer parted ways shortly thereafter, however, with Cook joining the Marshall Tucker Band's touring lineup for several years. Now a solo artist by default, Mayer recorded several of the duo's songs, packaged them alongside a handful of his own compositions, and self-released the EP in 1999 under the title Inside Wants Out.
Mayer secured a deal with Aware Records in early 2000, and recording sessions for his debut album commenced later that year with producer John Alagia, renowned for his work with Dave Matthews and Ben Folds Five. Although Inside Wants Out had been a decidedly acoustic effort, Room for Squares proved to be a more expansive affair, with several of Mayer's old songs receiving new, radio-ready arrangements. Released in 2001 by both Aware and Columbia Records, the album quickly launched Mayer's career, with "No Such Thing" and "Your Body Is a Wonderland" both becoming Top 20 hits.
As Mayer hit the road in support of the album, his considerable talent as a lead guitarist (a skill that had been downplayed during Room for Squares) flourished, leading him to showcase several blues-influenced solos on his 2003 live album, Any Given Thursday. That same year, Mayer won his first Grammy Award for "Your Body Is a Wonderland." He returned to the Grammy ceremony two years later, this time to accept a pair of awards for "Daughters," a soulful ballad from his lucrative sophomore release, Heavier Things. Commercial and critical success notwithstanding, Mayer's interest in other genres convinced him to take a brief break from pop music, and he tested his instrumental chops by collaborating with blues artists (Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Eric Clapton) and jazz legends (John Scofield, Herbie Hancock). He also assembled the John Mayer Trio, whose bluesy rock & roll was displayed on the band's first and only release, Try!
Mayer returned to his solo career with 2006's Continuum, a warmly received album that saw him focusing on blues, pop, and contemporary soul. "Gravity" found modest success as a single, but "Waiting on the World to Change" proved to be the album's commercial highlight, cracking the Top 20 in February 2007 and winning a Grammy that same month. Later that year, Mayer achieved his highest-charting single to date with "Say," a song from the Rob Reiner film The Bucket List. After "Say" peaked at number 12, the song was included in a reissued version of Continuum, and it took home yet another Grammy Award (along with "Gravity") in early 2009. Following the release of a live album, Where the Light Is, Mayer once again returned to the studio in 2009, this time to record Battle Studies. ~ Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide
Born in Bridgeport, CT, and raised in the nearby town of Fairfield, Mayer began playing blues as a teenager. By 1997, his skill on the electric guitar was enough to warrant admission into the Berklee College of Music, although Mayer dropped out after two semesters to pursue a songwriting career in Atlanta. Working alongside former classmate Clay Cook, he frequented the local coffeehouse circuit and began co-writing material that melded palatable pop/rock with unexpected flourishes. Cook and Mayer parted ways shortly thereafter, however, with Cook joining the Marshall Tucker Band's touring lineup for several years. Now a solo artist by default, Mayer recorded several of the duo's songs, packaged them alongside a handful of his own compositions, and self-released the EP in 1999 under the title Inside Wants Out.
Mayer secured a deal with Aware Records in early 2000, and recording sessions for his debut album commenced later that year with producer John Alagia, renowned for his work with Dave Matthews and Ben Folds Five. Although Inside Wants Out had been a decidedly acoustic effort, Room for Squares proved to be a more expansive affair, with several of Mayer's old songs receiving new, radio-ready arrangements. Released in 2001 by both Aware and Columbia Records, the album quickly launched Mayer's career, with "No Such Thing" and "Your Body Is a Wonderland" both becoming Top 20 hits.
As Mayer hit the road in support of the album, his considerable talent as a lead guitarist (a skill that had been downplayed during Room for Squares) flourished, leading him to showcase several blues-influenced solos on his 2003 live album, Any Given Thursday. That same year, Mayer won his first Grammy Award for "Your Body Is a Wonderland." He returned to the Grammy ceremony two years later, this time to accept a pair of awards for "Daughters," a soulful ballad from his lucrative sophomore release, Heavier Things. Commercial and critical success notwithstanding, Mayer's interest in other genres convinced him to take a brief break from pop music, and he tested his instrumental chops by collaborating with blues artists (Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Eric Clapton) and jazz legends (John Scofield, Herbie Hancock). He also assembled the John Mayer Trio, whose bluesy rock & roll was displayed on the band's first and only release, Try!
Mayer returned to his solo career with 2006's Continuum, a warmly received album that saw him focusing on blues, pop, and contemporary soul. "Gravity" found modest success as a single, but "Waiting on the World to Change" proved to be the album's commercial highlight, cracking the Top 20 in February 2007 and winning a Grammy that same month. Later that year, Mayer achieved his highest-charting single to date with "Say," a song from the Rob Reiner film The Bucket List. After "Say" peaked at number 12, the song was included in a reissued version of Continuum, and it took home yet another Grammy Award (along with "Gravity") in early 2009. Following the release of a live album, Where the Light Is, Mayer once again returned to the studio in 2009, this time to record Battle Studies. ~ Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide
news
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johncmayer: No more complaining... I remember how to do this. Guerrilla tour mode ENGAGE.
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- 11/6/2009
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- 1:04 PM
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- Twitter / johncmayer
- johncmayer: No more complaining... I remember how to do this. Guerrilla tour mode ENGAGE.
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johncmayer: This hotel smells like the carbon paper in a coroner's report. (I'm tired, go with it.)
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- 11/6/2009
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- 12:48 PM
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- Twitter / johncmayer
- johncmayer: This hotel smells like the carbon paper in a coroner's report. (I'm tired, go with it.)
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johncmayer: Booked the 930am flight home. http://twitpic.com/ogyf4
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- 11/6/2009
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- 12:39 PM
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- Twitter / johncmayer
- johncmayer: Booked the 930am flight home. http://twitpic.com/ogyf4
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johncmayer: Sydney to Los Angeles. I mean, turn around, back to Sydney. I mean, over to Melbourne... Thanks Airbus A380!! http://twitpic.com/oguul
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- 11/6/2009
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- 11:48 AM
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- Twitter / johncmayer
- johncmayer: Sydney to Los Angeles. I mean, turn around, back to Sydney. I mean, over to Melbourne... Thanks Airbus A380!! http://twitpic.com/oguul
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johncmayer: There's a difference between something good and something enjoyable.
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- 11/6/2009
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- 3:01 AM
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- Twitter / johncmayer
- johncmayer: There's a difference between something good and something enjoyable.
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comments
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Nice
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- By jasper1801
- 7/6/2009 22:07:23
- Pure Genius
- 2 out of 2 people
- think this is useful
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saying.
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- By CassondraRad
- 4/10/2009 16:55:54
- what i think should be said,
John Mayer your frikin amazing.
i swear i'm in love. :D
-Cassondra - 1 out of 1 people
- think this is useful
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I might be gay for JM
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- By gnomelord06
- 3/1/2009 19:58:32
- He is a talented man. He makes me laugh with his banter and wails on his guitar. Plus he's one of the like nine guys in the world that actually knows super models
- 3 out of 3 people
- think this is useful
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Smart and Soulful
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- By Rikuza
- 12/7/2008 10:22:33
- The way he carries his music is the way I want to see other artists. Although his non-musical exploits may drive us in different directions, it only helps as a backbone to interpret his style. JM FTW
- 3 out of 3 people
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John :)
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- By drakebellfan
- 11/29/2008 23:33:50
- Your Body is a Wonderland is my fav song from him!
- 2 out of 3 people
- think this is useful
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- 1 - 5 / 13
most played
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tour dates
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17
- Nov
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- New York, New York, US
- November 17, 2009
- Beacon Theatre
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24
- Nov
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- Toronto, Ontario, CA
- November 24, 2009
- Sound Academy
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29
- Dec
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- San Diego, California, US
- December 29, 2009
- Copley Symphony Hall
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31
- Dec
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- Las Vegas, Nevada, US
- December 31, 2009
- The Joint
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15
- Jan
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- Manchester, GB
- January 15, 2010
- Manchester Apollo
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