Why Everybody’s Talkin’ ‘Bout the Seventh Son
In 1963, Johnny Rivers was a struggling singer-songwriter in Los Angeles looking for his first hit. After studio gigs, Rivers spent evenings at Bill Gazzari’s club on La Cienega Blvd., listening to jazz. When the house band quit, Rivers said on his website, Gazzari approached him to take their place.
“Bill said, ‘You’re a musician. Can’t you come in and help us out for a few nights until I can find somebody?’ I said, ‘I play funky rock and roll. I don’t think that’s what you want in here.’ He begged me, ‘Please come in and play your stuff until I find another jazz group.’
“Trini Lopez had been playing over at PJ’s, doin’ this slap rhythm thing. I said, ‘I can do that kind of stuff.’ I didn’t have a band so I called Eddie Rubin, a jazz drummer.”
The duo — just guitar and drums — became a big hit playing rock and R&B standards. Later, bassist Joe Osborn joined in. Among their fans at Gazzari’s were record producer Lou Adler and club owner Elmer Valentine, who would offer Rivers a year’s contract to appear at his new disco: the Whisky A Go Go on the Sunset Strip. “The Whisky was a smash from opening night,” Rivers said. “I brought my following from Gazzari’s.”
