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Success
happens for John Mayer
By Whitney Matheson, USA TODAY
Who's hot? Singer/songwriter John
Mayer.
Why now? His first album on a
major label, Room for Squares, is climbing the Billboard
charts, and many of the shows on his current tour have been
sellouts. His single, No Such Thing, is gaining airplay.
The buzz: Rolling Stone
named him one of 10 Artists to Watch in 2002. The Los Angeles
Times says "he has the goods as a singer, songwriter,
guitarist and presence." Mayer also is interviewed in the
April issue of Interview magazine by perhaps his most
famous fan, Elton John.
"Every day someone says to me, 'I just
want you to know this never happens.' And I go, 'Well, what
do you mean? It's happening to me.' "
John Mayer is coming to terms with success.
The first sign of prosperity arrived in February when he swapped
his 15-passenger van for a plush, roomy tour bus. On March
13, he performed on The Tonight Show. This week, he's
listed as Billboard's "Greatest Gainer," as his album
climbed from No. 82 to No. 56.
It's difficult to understand Mayer's
good fortune, especially considering radio has been slow to
embrace Room for Squares, which arrived in stores last
September.
While some critics have compared Mayer's
vivid lyrics and jazz-flavored pop songs to Dave Matthews,
David Gray and Steely Dan, the 24-year-old musician insists
he's just being himself.
"I remember every Tuesday walking down
the aisles of the record store and finding nothing —
coming back with a record that had like a couple good songs
and the rest were anemic, in terms of melodies or hooks,"
he says. "And I remember saying to myself, 'I'm just going
to have to make that record (I've been searching for).' "
Born and raised in Connecticut, Mayer
picked up his first guitar at 13. After briefly attending
Boston's Berklee College of Music, he moved to Atlanta in
1999 and quickly gained a following on the coffeehouse circuit.
Although he admits owning a couple of
Dave Matthews albums, Mayer cites blues master Stevie Ray
Vaughan as his biggest influence. Also ranking high on his
list: Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton and John, who, during a recent
Rosie O'Donnell Show appearance, called Room for
Squares a brilliant album.
Despite his sensitive lyrics and boyish
good looks, Mayer remains single, although, considering his
chaotic life, he says "it really couldn't be any other way
than that right now."
When asked to reveal the best moment
of his career so far, Mayer hesitates. "I think it's this
week, actually," he says, referring to his recent performances
on The Tonight Show, VH1's Late World With Zach
and sold-out shows at the House of Blues in Chicago. "I think
I'm in the week right now."
At the rate he's going, next week probably
won't be too shabby, either.
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