My first really good guitar was a Gibson J-45.

In 1959 Rivers returned to Baton Rouge. In 1998 Rivers reactivated his Soul City imprint and released Last Train to Memphis. (Lonnie Mack's 1963 instrumental version of "Memphis" reached the US Hit Parade top five in July; the Chuck Berry original and its British rival cover version fought it out in the UK Hit parade in November 1963).

Rivers's greatest success came in the mid- to late-1960s with a string of hit songs (including the #1 hit "Poor Side of Town" "Summer Rain" and "Secret Agent Man") but he has continued to record and perform to the present. Johnny Rivers (born John Henry Ramistella November 7 1942 New York City) is an American rock and roll singer songwriter guitarist and record producer. His styles include folk songs blues and revivals of old-time rock 'n' roll songs and some original material.