John Paiva
Quick Facts
Biography
John Paiva (born 1943 in Bristol, Rhode Island) is an American guitarist. Paiva has worked with well-known international musicians throughout his career.
Career
John Paiva was the band leader and guitarist for Herb Reed and the Platters. He was the guitarist and singer of the group The Happenings, which had two number one hits: "I Got Rhythm" and "Mamie". As a permanent member of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, he toured the United States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. This group achieved two gold singles and a platinum LP for their songs "Who Loves You" and "December 63" with Paiva on guitar. He then became a permanent orchestra member in a renowned leisure hotel in New York State with artists such as Dick Haymes, Mickey McLaine and Buddy Greco.
In Germany, Paiva worked with Harald Rüschenbaum and was a guest soloist with the Munich Philharmonic. He was also a guitarist for Ron Williams. He played guitar, mandolin and banjo in Munich's "Deutsches Theater" in the musicals "Evita", "A Cage Full of Fools" and "Chicago". He was also musical director of the political satirical show "Ron Williams TV Special", in Munich's Residenz Theater for "Rendezvous of the Clown" and at the Munich laughing and shooting company; he also worked for Bill Ramsey's "Songs and People", among others.
Paiva has lived in Munich since 1980 and works there as a musician and private music teacher. In addition to his own groups "Dirty Hands" and the country duo "Blue Country", he also appears as a solo artist and sporadically plays in the band of Steve Hooks.
Paiva with Dirty Hands