Johnny Rivers to play benefit concert for kids

A “Secret Agent Man” will help the not-secret Royal Family Kids’ Camp raise funds for area foster children.

Rock ’n’ roll veteran Johnny Rivers will perform a benefit show for the Stanislaus County organization at the Gallo Center for the Arts on Jan. 16.

Rivers rose up the rock charts starting in the 1960s with a string of radio hits, including his cover of Chuck Berry’s “Memphis,” “Mountain of Love,” “The Seventh Son,” “Midnight Special,” “Poor Side of Town” and “Summer Rain.” He is perhaps best known for his rock staple “Secret Agent Man.” Released in 1966, the song was used as the opening theme for the series “Secret Agent” which ran from 1964 to 1966.

Born in New York as John Henry Ramistella, Rivers moved to Baton Rouge with his family when he was young, and many of his musical influences come from his Louisiana upbringing. He put down his first record at age 14 and at age 16 took a trip back to New York that persuaded him to change his name to Johnny Rivers, after this home state’s Mississippi River.

In the late 1960s, he also worked as a record producer. His collaboration with the R&B pop group The 5th Dimension won him two Grammy awards.

Over the course of his career, Rivers’ music has spanned rock, pop, folk, blues and ballads. He has earned 17 gold records, 29 chart hits and sold more than 30 million records. At age 72, he continues to tour and perform regularly.

Since 2007, the local chapter of the national Royal Family Kids organization has been holding fundraiser concerts to benefit the area camp. Past performers have included Kris Kristofferson, a Beatles tribute act and Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers.

Joe Swain, Modesto Royal Family Kids fundraising chairman, said Rivers was chosen because of the popularity of his music and his status as “rock and roll royalty.”

“Johnny Rivers is the biggest name we’ve had as yet and we really are trusting that the community will come out and support us. We decided that we wanted to put on a really special show this year for our supporters,” he said.

The camp has operated in Modesto, with campgrounds in the Sierra, since 2006. The group gives area foster children a free weeklong summer camp experience. The organization and camp are staffed entirely by about 40 volunteers. The camp includes swimming, arts and crafts, theater, music and other activities.

Each summer, the Modesto chapter takes about 30 children to the camp.

“Our goal at camp is that each child has a fun-filled, safe, stress-free week to experience God’s creation and feel what it’s like to be loved on by 40 amazing people that have no agenda except to share their lives with these kids,” Swain said. “A couple of years ago, one little girl told a staff member on the last day, ‘For a week, I forgot to be sad.’”

This story was originally published January 7, 2015 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Johnny Rivers to play benefit concert for kids."