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 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.

Sections (4)

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

1927: Richard Mayer's Birth

In 1927, Richard Mayer, John Mayer's father, was born.

1947: Margaret Hoffman's Birth

In 1947, Margaret Hoffman, John Mayer's mother, was born.

October 16, 1977: John Mayer's Birth

On October 16, 1977, John Clayton Mayer was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

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.

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.

May 2004: Death of Annie Hoffman

In May 2004, John Mayer's grandmother, Annie Hoffman, passed away.

2004: Surprise High School Prom Performance

In 2004, after a campaign by the senior class president, John Mayer performed a surprise three-song set at Pennsbury High School's senior prom.

2006: Mayer Begins Using Marijuana

In 2006, John Mayer mentioned that he had begun using marijuana, a shift from his earlier resolve to avoid drugs and alcohol, coinciding with increased tabloid exposure due to his relationship with Jessica Simpson.

2006: Extensive Guitar Collection

In 2006, it was estimated that John Mayer had more than 200 guitars in his personal collection.

2006: John Mayer Trio Breaks Up

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

September 6, 2007: Free Concert at Virginia Tech

On September 6, 2007, John Mayer, along with Dave Matthews Band, Phil Vassar, and Nas, performed a free concert at Virginia Tech's Lane Stadium in response to the Virginia Tech shooting.

2007: Mayer's Personal Life Becomes Gossip Fodder

By 2007, John Mayer's personal life, including relationships with celebrities like Jessica Simpson, had become regular fodder for gossip media, leading him to make efforts to control his public image.

January 23, 2008: Deleted Blog Entries

On January 23, 2008, John Mayer posted a quote and then deleted all his previous blog entries.

February 9, 2009: Mayer Discusses Grammy Win

On February 9, 2009, John Mayer told Ellen DeGeneres that he thought he should not have won the Grammy for Song of the year for "Daughters" and gave the top half of the Grammy to Alicia Keys.

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February 2010: Controversial Magazine Interviews

In February 2010, John Mayer gave two revealing and highly controversial magazine interviews with Rolling Stone and Playboy, which led to his withdrawal from public life and cessation of interviews.

September 14, 2010: Deleted Twitter Account

On September 14, 2010, John Mayer deleted his personal Twitter account.

2010: Withdrawal from Public Life

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

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".

October 20, 2011: Vocal Cord Surgery Announcement

On October 20, 2011, John Mayer announced that he had undergone surgery to remove a granuloma from his vocal cords and would be on complete vocal rest for a month or more, during which he planned to travel the country.

2011: Developed interest in the Grateful Dead

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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May 2012: Mayer Reflects on Controversial Period

In May 2012, John Mayer reflected on the controversial period following his 2010 Playboy interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

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September 2012: Botox Treatment and Saturday Night Live Appearance

In September 2012, John Mayer received Botox injections to paralyze his vocal cords in an attempt to heal the granuloma. During his vocal rest, he appeared on Saturday Night Live, accompanying musical guest Frank Ocean on guitar.

January 2013: Recovery and Preparation for 'Paradise Valley'

In January 2013, John Mayer recovered from his vocal cord issues and began working towards releasing his sixth studio album.

March 2014: Mayer Sues 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: Mayer Drops Lawsuit Against Watch Dealer

In May 2015, John Mayer dropped the lawsuit against Robert Maron, a watch dealer, after 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 and three former members of the Grateful Dead joined with two other musicians to form the band Dead & Company.

2016: Mayer Reveals Sobriety

In 2016, John Mayer revealed that he had been sober since that year. He decided to stop drinking alcohol after experiencing a six-day hangover following Drake's 30th birthday party.

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 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.

January 2022: Mayer Aids in Bob Saget's Affairs After Death

In January 2022, after the unexpected death of comedian and actor Bob Saget, a friend of John Mayer, Mayer arranged for Saget's body to be flown back to Los Angeles on a private jet and, along with Jeff Ross, retrieved Saget's car from the airport.