Early Life and Education of John Mayer: A Complete Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of John Mayer, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

John Mayer is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He briefly attended Berklee College of Music before forming Lo-Fi Masters. After the duo split, Mayer performed in local clubs, gaining recognition and performing at South by Southwest. He signed with Aware Records/Columbia Records, releasing his debut EP, Inside Wants Out (1999). His studio albums, Room for Squares (2001) and Heavier Things (2003), achieved critical and commercial success. "Your Body Is a Wonderland" from Room for Squares won him a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles

1927: Birth of Richard Mayer

In 1927, Richard Mayer, John Mayer's father, was born. He later became a principal at Central High School in Bridgeport.

1947: Birth of Margaret Hoffman

In 1947, Margaret (née Hoffman), John Mayer's mother, was born. She later became a middle-school English teacher.

October 16, 1977: John Mayer's Birth

On October 16, 1977, John Clayton Mayer was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist.

1995: Death of Jerry Garcia

In 1995, Jerry Garcia's death led to several reunions of the Grateful Dead's surviving members, later including John Mayer.

1997: Enrollment at Berklee and Formation of LoFi Masters

In 1997, John Mayer enrolled at Berklee College of Music at age 19. He later left Berklee with Clay Cook to form a two-man band called LoFi Masters, performing in local venues.

1997: Formation of Lo-Fi Masters and Enrollment at Berklee

In 1997, John Mayer enrolled at Berklee College of Music. He left for Atlanta with Clay Cook to form the short-lived rock duo Lo-Fi Masters.

2002: "Back to You" Fund Creation

In 2002, John Mayer established the "Back to You" Fund, a nonprofit organization focusing on fundraising for health care, education, the arts, and talent development.

May 2004: Death of Annie Hoffman

In May 2004, John Mayer's grandmother, Annie Hoffman, passed away. He dedicated his Grammy award to her.

2005: Shift to Blues and Rock Music and Formation of John Mayer Trio

By 2005, John Mayer had moved away from acoustic music and delved into blues and rock, forming the John Mayer Trio. He released the live album Try! in 2005.

2005: Formation of the John Mayer Trio

In the spring of 2005, John Mayer formed the John Mayer Trio with bassist Pino Palladino and drummer Steve Jordan, combining blues and rock music. In October 2005, they opened for the Rolling Stones.

2006: Marijuana Use

In 2006, John Mayer mentioned that he had begun using marijuana.

2006: Estimated number of guitars in personal collection

In 2006, John Mayer was estimated to have more than 200 guitars in his personal collection.

2006: Stevie Ray Vaughan Album

In a 2006 interview on the New Zealand show Close Up, John Mayer clarified the story of how he received a Stevie Ray Vaughan album.

2006: Hiatus of the John Mayer Trio

In mid-2006, the John Mayer Trio took a break.

February 9, 2009: Mayer Discusses Grammy Award

On February 9, 2009, John Mayer told Ellen DeGeneres that he thought Alicia Keys' "If I Ain't Got You" was a better song, and he gave her half of his Grammy.

2010: Withdrawal from Public Life

In 2010, John Mayer withdrew from public life after several controversial incidents with the media.

October 20, 2011: Vocal Cord Surgery

On October 20, 2011, John Mayer posted that he had surgery to remove a granuloma on his vocal cords and was on complete vocal rest for a month or more.

2011: Development of interest in The Grateful Dead's music

In 2011, John Mayer began to develop a strong interest in the music of the Grateful Dead after hearing their song Althea by chance on Pandora radio.

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2011: Discovery of Grateful Dead

In 2011, John Mayer happened upon a song by the Grateful Dead while listening to Pandora, which sparked his interest in the band's music.

September 2012: Botox Injections

In September 2012, Dr. Gerald Berke paralyzed John Mayer's vocal cords with a series of high-dose Botox injections, hoping that they would allow the granuloma to heal.

2012: Paradise Valley Wildfire

In the summer of 2012, a wildfire in Paradise Valley destroyed 12,000 acres.

January 2013: Recovery from Vocal Cord Issues

In January 2013, John Mayer recovered from the granuloma on his vocal cords.

March 2014: Lawsuit Against Watch Dealer

In March 2014, John Mayer sued watch dealer Robert Maron for $656,000 after discovering that seven of the watches he purchased contained counterfeit parts.

May 2015: Lawsuit Dropped

In May 2015, John Mayer dropped his lawsuit against Robert Maron, releasing a statement asserting that his research restored his belief that Maron was an expert on Rolex watches and never sold him a counterfeit watch.

2015: Formation of Dead & Company

In 2015, John Mayer joined three former members of the Grateful Dead to form the band Dead & Company.

2016: Sobriety

In 2016, John Mayer decided to become sober after experiencing a six-day hangover following Drake's 30th birthday party.

March 1, 2019: Heart and Armor Foundation Established

On March 1, 2019, John Mayer established the Heart and Armor Foundation to support veterans of war.

January 2022: Bob Saget's Death and Aftermath

In January 2022, after the unexpected death of comedian Bob Saget, John Mayer arranged for Saget's body to be flown back to Los Angeles on a private jet. He also helped retrieve Saget's car from Los Angeles International Airport.