Riffs: Libby Davis, Singer/songwriter and promotions manager for Clear Channel Radio

“Before he was too cool to give interviews, way before he was hanging out with A-list celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, John Mayer was just a guy from Atlanta making the rounds playing college towns trying to get his name on the music map. I knew about him, of course, because I worked at KLSU, and we played everything no one had heard of—not yet, anyway. I couldn’t get enough of his mellow, bluesy sound. And he was so extremely talented on the guitar, he demanded respect.

I couldn’t wait to meet him, actually pick him up from the Varsity for his interview before the show that wouldn’t even sell out. In person, he was funny and charming and played every song we requested in the studio. The show that night didn’t disappoint, either. There were only about 400 people at the Varsity, but it was one of the most soulful, entertaining and amazing concerts I’ve ever seen. Since then, I’ve seen him play at the River Center or at the New Orleans Arena to crowds of thousands, but it’s never been the same as that first intimate show. ”