Rise to Success: Career Highlights of John Mayer
Discover the career path of John Mayer, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
John Mayer is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He briefly attended Berklee College of Music before relocating to Atlanta and forming Lo-Fi Masters. Following the duo's split, he continued performing in local clubs and gained recognition. His performance at South by Southwest led to a record deal with Aware Records, releasing his debut EP, Inside Wants Out, in 1999. Mayer achieved critical and commercial success with his first two studio albums, Room for Squares (2001) and Heavier Things (2003). "Your Body Is a Wonderland" from Room for Squares earned him a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, while Heavier Things topped the Billboard 200.
1997: Enrollment and Departure from Berklee College of Music
In 1997, John Mayer enrolled at Berklee College of Music at age 19. Later that year, he left Berklee after two semesters and moved to Atlanta with Clay Cook.
1997: Move to Atlanta and Formation of Lo-Fi Masters
In 1997, John Mayer left Berklee College of Music and moved to Atlanta with Clay Cook. Together they formed a short-lived rock duo called Lo-Fi Masters.
1999: Release of 'Inside Wants Out' EP
In 1999, John Mayer released his debut extended play (EP), Inside Wants Out through Aware Records, an imprint of Columbia Records.
2000: Performance at South by Southwest Festival
In 2000, John Mayer performed at the South by Southwest festival, leading to his signing by Aware Records.
2001: Started solo touring
In 2001, John Mayer began touring as a solo artist, showcasing electric guitar skills during live performances despite his early records being largely acoustic.
2001: Release of 'Room for Squares'
In 2001, John Mayer released his first studio album, Room for Squares, which was met with critical and commercial success.
2001: Aware Records Releases 'Room for Squares' and Signs Deal with Columbia Records
In early 2001, Aware Records released John Mayer's internet-only album, Room for Squares. Later in September 2001, Columbia Records remixed and re-released Room for Squares as part of a major label debut. Aware Records concluded a deal with Columbia Records that gave Columbia first pick in signing Aware artists.
2002: Accolades for 'Room for Squares'
As early as 2002, critics acknowledged that John Mayer was historically savvy, and more ambitious than expected after the release of Room for Squares.
2002: Creation of "Back to You" Fund
In 2002, John Mayer created the "Back to You" Fund, a nonprofit organization focusing on fundraising for health care, education, the arts, and talent development through auctions of exclusive John Mayer items.
February 2003: Release of 'Any Given Thursday'
In February 2003, John Mayer released a live CD and DVD of a concert in Birmingham, Alabama titled Any Given Thursday, which included songs previously not recorded.
December 2003: Collaboration with Buddy Guy
In December 2003, John Mayer accompanied Buddy Guy in a concert at the Irving Plaza.
2003: Release of 'Heavier Things' and Grammy Win
In 2003, John Mayer released his second studio album, Heavier Things, which peaked atop the Billboard 200. His song "Your Body Is a Wonderland" won Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards.
2003: Grammy Win for 'Your Body Is a Wonderland'
In 2003, John Mayer won a Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Your Body Is a Wonderland".
2003: Release of 'Heavier Things'
In 2003, John Mayer's second album, Heavier Things, was released to generally favorable reviews and was commercially successful.
2003: Martin Guitars Signature Acoustic Model
In 2003, Martin Guitars gave John Mayer his own signature model acoustic guitar called the OM-28 John Mayer, which was limited to a run of 404.
January 2004: Performed at Apple's Macworld Conference
In January 2004, John Mayer performed during Apple's annual keynote address at the Macworld Conference & Expo where Steve Jobs introduced the music production software GarageBand.
June 2004: Started "Music Lessons with John Mayer" column
In June 2004, John Mayer began writing a column for Esquire magazine called "Music Lessons with John Mayer", featuring lessons and his views on various topics.
2004: Hosted comedy special on VH1
In 2004, John Mayer hosted a half-hour comedy special on VH1 titled John Mayer Has a TV Show.
2004: Release of As/Is Live Concert Recordings
In 2004, John Mayer recorded live concerts across seven nights of his U.S. tour and released these recordings to the iTunes Store under the title As/Is.
August 2005: Reader's Music Creation Invitation
In the August 2005 issue of Esquire, John Mayer invited readers to create music for his orphaned lyrics.
October 2005: John Mayer Trio Opens for the Rolling Stones
In October 2005, the John Mayer Trio opened for the Rolling Stones, showcasing their blues and rock music combination.
2005: Fender Signature Stratocaster Electric Guitars
In 2005, Fender released two signature Stratocaster electric guitars for John Mayer.
2005: Formation of the John Mayer Trio and Release of 'Try!'
In 2005, John Mayer moved away from acoustic music and formed the John Mayer Trio. The trio released the live album Try! in 2005, marking a shift towards blues and rock music.
2005: Grammy Win for 'Daughters'
In 2005, John Mayer's song "Daughters" won the Grammy for Song of the Year.
January 2006: Martin OMJM John Mayer acoustic guitar Release
In January 2006, Martin Guitars released the Martin OMJM John Mayer acoustic guitar, which had similar attributes to the OM-28 but at a more affordable price.
May 2006: Contribution to 'Cars' Soundtrack
In May 2006, John Mayer contributed a cover of the song "Route 66" for the Pixar animated film Cars.
July 11, 2006: Release of 'Waiting on the World to Change'
On July 11, 2006, the first single from Continuum, "Waiting on the World to Change", was released and became the third-most downloaded song of the week on the iTunes Store.
August 2006: Fender SERIES II John Mayer Stratocasters
In August 2006, Fender began manufacturing SERIES II John Mayer Stratocasters.
August 23, 2006: Debut of 'Continuum' on Radio Station Star 98.7
On August 23, 2006, John Mayer debuted the entire album Continuum on the Los Angeles radio station Star 98.7.
September 12, 2006: Release of 'Continuum'
On September 12, 2006, John Mayer's third studio album, titled Continuum, was released, produced by Mayer and Steve Jordan. The album was intended to combine blues and pop.
September 21, 2006: Appearance on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
On September 21, 2006, John Mayer appeared on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation in the episode "Built to Kill, Part 1", playing "Waiting on the World to Change" and "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room".
October 22, 2006: Recording Session for 'Live from Abbey Road'
On October 22, 2006, John Mayer recorded a session for the British program Live from Abbey Road at Abbey Road Studios.
December 7, 2006: Grammy Nominations
On December 7, 2006, John Mayer received five Grammy Award nominations, including Album of the Year for Continuum. The Trio was also nominated for Try!. He won two Grammy Awards: Best Pop Song with Vocal for "Waiting on the World to Change" and Best Pop Album for Continuum.
2006: Release of 'Continuum' and Grammy Awards
In 2006, John Mayer released his third studio album, Continuum. The album was nominated for Album of the Year and won both Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for its single "Waiting on the World to Change" at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards.
2006: Hal David Starlight Award
In 2006, at the 37th Annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, John Mayer received the Hal David Starlight Award.
2006: John Mayer Trio Breaks Up
In mid-2006, the John Mayer Trio took a break from performing together.
January 2007: Custom-designed amps and Signature Stratocaster Release
In January 2007, Two Rock collaborated with John Mayer on custom-designed amps, with only 25 available to the public. Fender also released a 500-run John Mayer signature Fender Stratocaster in Cypress-Mica, which included the INCSvsJM gig bag.
February 2007: Mayer Featured on Rolling Stone Cover
In February 2007, John Mayer was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine alongside John Frusciante and Derek Trucks, being lauded as one of the "New Guitar Gods" and nicknamed "Slowhand Jr.", a reference to Eric Clapton.
February 28, 2007: End of North American Continuum Tour
On February 28, 2007, John Mayer concluded the initial North American leg of his Continuum tour with a performance at Madison Square Garden.
July 7, 2007: Participation in Live Earth Project
On July 7, 2007, John Mayer participated in the East Rutherford, New Jersey location of the Live Earth project, a musical rally to support awareness for climate change.
December 6, 2007: "Belief" Grammy Nomination
On December 6, 2007, John Mayer's "Belief" was nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal for the 50th Annual Grammy Awards. He also accompanied Alicia Keys on guitar during her performance of "No One" at the ceremony.
December 8, 2007: Nokia Theatre Performance
On December 8, 2007, John Mayer performed at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live which was recorded and filmed by Danny Clinch for a later release as the live concert film "Where the Light Is".
2007: Endorsed GarageMaster guitar and BlackBerry Curve
In 2007, John Mayer endorsed the GarageMaster electric guitar for a Volkswagen campaign and used and endorsed the BlackBerry Curve.
February 2008: "The Mayercraft Carrier" Caribbean Cruise Event
In February 2008, John Mayer hosted a three-day Caribbean cruise event called "The Mayercraft Carrier" aboard the Carnival Victory cruise ship, featuring performances with musicians like David Ryan Harris, Brett Dennen, and Colbie Caillat.
July 2008: Release of Where the Light Is
In July 2008, CDs and DVDs of the first annual Charity Revue concert were released as Where the Light Is.
July 7, 2009: Michael Jackson Memorial Performance
On July 7, 2009, John Mayer performed an instrumental guitar version of Michael Jackson's "Human Nature" at Jackson's televised memorial service.
November 2009: Release of Battle Studies Album
In November 2009, John Mayer released his album Battle Studies, which featured Taylor Swift on the song "Half of My Heart".
November 17, 2009: Battle Studies Album Debut
On November 17, 2009, John Mayer's fourth studio album, Battle Studies, debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart. Critical reception was mixed, despite the album's commercial success.
2009: Collaboration on Guy Sebastian's Album
In 2009, John Mayer collaborated with Australian artist Guy Sebastian on three songs from Sebastian's album Like It Like That. Mayer also played guitar on Crosby Loggins' debut LP, Time to Move.
2009: Release of 'Battle Studies'
In 2009, John Mayer released Battle Studies, marking his return to pop music.
2010: Black1 Stratocaster Production and Signature Guitars
In 2010, Fender announced a production model of John Mayer's Black1 guitar. Limited un-relic'd versions and full production signature Stratocasters were also produced.
2010: CMT Crossroads Concert and Music Awards Performance
In 2010, John Mayer and Keith Urban performed a medley of their songs and a rendition of George Michael's single "Faith" at a CMT Crossroads concert, leading to further collaborations at the 2010 CMT Music Awards.
September 16, 2011: Born and Raised Album Delay Announcement
On September 16, 2011, John Mayer announced on his blog that his next record, Born and Raised, would be delayed due to treatment for a granuloma discovered on his vocal cords. He described it as a "temporary setback".
2011: Headlined Tiger Jam 2011
In 2011, John Mayer headlined Tiger Jam 2011 in Las Vegas along with Keith Urban to help raise around $750,000 for the Tiger Woods Foundation.
March 9, 2012: Tour Cancellation Announcement
On March 9, 2012, John Mayer announced that he had been forced to cancel his tour and refrain from all singing indefinitely due to the return of the granuloma on his vocal cords.
May 2012: Release of 'Born and Raised' and Tour Cancellation
In May 2012, John Mayer released his fifth studio album, Born and Raised, after a delay due to the discovery of a granuloma on his vocal cords. He was forced to cancel the album's accompanying tour.
June 2012: Mayer Criticizes Swift's Song "Dear John"
In June 2012, John Mayer publicly criticized Taylor Swift's song "Dear John," believed to be about their relationship, stating that she never contacted him about it.
December 2012: Performance with The Rolling Stones
In December 2012, John Mayer performed with the Rolling Stones in New Jersey while still on vocal rest.
January 2013: Benefit Concert Performance
In January 2013, John Mayer performed at a benefit concert in Bozeman, Montana, marking his return to public singing after almost two years.
April 2013: Crossroads Guitar Festival and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction
In April 2013, John Mayer appeared at the Crossroads Guitar Festival and inducted Albert King into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
April 25, 2013: First Full Length Concert Since Health Issues
On April 25, 2013, John Mayer performed at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater in Alabama, his first full-length concert since his health troubles, followed by a set at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival the next day.
June 2013: Paradise Valley Album Announcement
In June 2013, John Mayer announced that he was finishing work on his sixth album, Paradise Valley, produced by Don Was. The album features collaborations with Frank Ocean on "Wildfire Pt. 2" and Katy Perry on "Who You Love".
August 12, 2013: Release of "Who You Love"
On August 12, 2013, John Mayer released the song "Who You Love", a duet with Katy Perry, from his album Paradise Valley.
August 20, 2013: Paradise Valley Album Release
On August 20, 2013, John Mayer released Paradise Valley, which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart with first-week sales of 145,560 copies in the United States.
December 17, 2013: Performance at Barclays Center
On December 17, 2013, John Mayer and Katy Perry performed "Who You Love" together at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, marking the last night of Mayer's Born and Raised World Tour.
April 2014: Paradise Valley Tour in Australia
In April 2014, John Mayer took the Paradise Valley Tour to Australia.
June 1, 2014: "XO" Chart Debut
For the week ending June 1, 2014, John Mayer's version of "XO" debuted at number 90 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 13 on the US Hot Rock Songs chart.
September 2014: Collaboration with Barbra Streisand
In September 2014, John Mayer recorded the song "Come Rain or Come Shine" as a duet with Barbra Streisand for her album Partners.
2014: Album Sales Milestone
By 2014, John Mayer had sold a total of over 20 million albums worldwide.
2014: Truck Driver Cameo in Zombeavers
In 2014, John Mayer made a cameo as a truck driver in the comedy horror film Zombeavers.
January 16, 2015: Wrote open letter to IWC
On January 16, 2015, John Mayer wrote an open letter in his Hodinkee column to the watch brand IWC, encouraging them to simplify their design language. IWC replied, defending the changes they had made.
February 2015: Grammy Awards Performance with Ed Sheeran
In February 2015, John Mayer performed alongside Ed Sheeran at the Grammy Awards.
June 2015: Guest appearance with Phil Lesh and Friends
In June 2015, John Mayer appeared as a guest for two nights with Phil Lesh and Friends at Terrapin Crossroads, recreating the Grateful Dead's concerts from May 8 and June 9, 1977.
2015: Formation of Dead & Company
In 2015, John Mayer and three former members of the Grateful Dead joined with two other musicians to form the band Dead & Company.
2015: Get Hard Film Appearance
In 2015, John Mayer played a version of himself in the film Get Hard, who is disgusted with the "monetization of the creative process".
2015: Guest Host on The Late Late Show
In early 2015, John Mayer guest hosted The Late Late Show on CBS for three dates, February 4-6, following Craig Ferguson's retirement.
2015: Joined Annual Tour
John Mayer joined each annual Tour in the years starting 2015 to the present.
2015: Touring with Grateful Dead members
Since 2015, John Mayer has been touring with Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, and Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead in Dead & Company. Oteil Burbridge plays bass, and Jeff Chimenti is the keyboardist.
March 2016: John Mayer and PRS reveal Super Eagle
In March 2016, John Mayer and PRS revealed their collaborative project, the Super Eagle, a limited release featuring ultra-grade woods, abalone inlay, JCF Audio preamps, and a hand-signed sticker. Only 100 guitars were produced, retailing for over $10,000 each.
2016: Weir discussed working with Mayer
In 2016, Bob Weir discussed the genesis of Dead & Company and his thoughts about working with John Mayer in an interview with Rolling Stone.
January 2017: PRS and Mayer Announce J-MOD 100 signature amp
In January 2017, at the NAMM Show, PRS and John Mayer announced the J-MOD 100 signature amplifier, marking another collaboration between the guitarist and the instrument manufacturer.
June 2017: Super Eagle II Revealed
In June 2017, the Super Eagle II, another collaboration between John Mayer and PRS, was revealed. This was a limited release of 120 instruments.
2017: Touring with Dead & Company
During the summer and fall of 2017, John Mayer continued touring with Dead & Company.
2017: Release of 'The Search for Everything'
In 2017, John Mayer released his seventh album, The Search for Everything, a loose concept album based around themes of a romantic break-up.
2017: Lesh praised Dead & Company's Performances
In a 2017 interview with Rolling Stone, Phil Lesh praised Dead & Company's performances and explained his decision not to take part in the band.
January 2018: Dead & Company Summer Tour Announcement
In January 2018, Dead & Company announced their Dead & Company Summer Tour 2018.
January 2018: Martin Guitar Announces Limited-Release John Mayer Signature D-45
In January 2018, Martin Guitar announced the limited-release (45 instruments) John Mayer Signature D-45, with a list price of $14,999.
February 2018: Rescheduled Dead & Company Tour Dates
Due to John Mayer's appendectomy in December, Dead & Company rescheduled the remaining tour dates to February 2018.
March 2018: Release of Silver Sky Model by PRS
In March 2018, PRS released John Mayer's signature Silver Sky model in four colors, receiving mixed reviews, with some noting its similarities to a Stratocaster but also praising its attention to detail and overall quality.
September 2018: New Instagram Live show trailer
In September 2018, John Mayer showed a trailer for his new Instagram Live show, Current Mood, on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
September 30, 2018: Current Mood Show Debut
On September 30, 2018, John Mayer's Instagram Live show, "Current Mood," debuted on his IGTV account.
December 12, 2018: World Tour Announcement for 2019
On December 12, 2018, John Mayer announced a world tour for 2019.
March 1, 2019: Establishment of the Heart and Armor Foundation
On March 1, 2019, John Mayer established the Heart and Armor Foundation to support veterans of war, reflecting his 12 years of involvement in initiatives to help returning veterans.
March 21, 2019: Mayer's Comments on Current Mood
On March 21, 2019, during an episode of Current Mood, John Mayer made comments.
November 18, 2019: Current Mood Season Premiere
On November 18, 2019, John Mayer's latest season of Current Mood began, featuring Shawn Mendes and a surprise appearance by Camila Cabello.
March 15, 2020: Writing and recording new album
On March 15, 2020, during an episode of his show "Current Mood", John Mayer revealed that he was in the process of writing and recording songs for a new album.
June 1, 2021: Eighth album announcement
On June 1, 2021, John Mayer officially announced his eighth album, Sob Rock.
July 16, 2021: Sob Rock Release and New Music Video
On July 16, 2021, John Mayer released his album Sob Rock, as well as a music video for the song, "Shot in the Dark".
2021: Release of 'Sob Rock'
In 2021, John Mayer released his eighth album, Sob Rock, inspired by 1980s soft rock music.
2022: Dead & Company Continue to Tour
In 2022, Dead & Company continued to tour and considered recording a studio album.
2022: Vengeance Film Role
In 2022, John Mayer had a small role in the film Vengeance, playing a friend of the lead character.
October 2023: Announced 'Life with John Mayer' Sirius XM Channel
In October 2023, John Mayer announced a new real-time satellite radio channel on Sirius XM, titled "Life with John Mayer," featuring music curated by Mayer.
2023: Guest Star on Impractical Jokers
In 2023, John Mayer appeared as a guest star on the fourth episode of the tenth season of the TruTV show Impractical Jokers.
March 2024: Appointed Creative Conduit at Audemars Piguet
In March 2024, John Mayer was appointed "Creative Conduit" at Audemars Piguet and announced a limited-edition collaborative Perpetual Calendar Royal Oak model.
November 2024: Began Interview Series 'How's Life'
In November 2024, John Mayer began an interview series called "How's Life" on his Sirius XM channel, featuring conversations with fellow musicians. Billy Joel was the first guest.
2024: Appointment as Creative Conduit of Audemars Piguet
In 2024, John Mayer was appointed as the Creative Conduit of Audemars Piguet.
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