Trivia

The movie Back to the Future (1985) inspired him to play guitar.

When he was seventeen, he was suddenly stricken with a cardiac arrhythmia that sent him to the hospital for a weekend. The trauma of the incident sparked his songwriting, and he penned his first lyrics the night he got home. Shortly thereafter, he began suffering from crippling panic attacks that only subsided when he was twenty-six, and even now, he keeps a Xanax (an anti-anxiety drug) with him, just in case.

His favorite song of his own is "3x5", from the album, "Room for Squares".

Wrote his Grammy award winning song "Daughters" in the shower

His parent's ages are 19 years apart

Used to play violin

His favorite movie is Good Will Hunting (1997).

Started playing guitar at 13

Good friends with singer Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake Ye, and Jessica Simpson.

Attended Berklee School of Music in Boston

Has an older brother named Carl and a younger brother named Ben. Ben is 18 months younger than John.

Was in an on-off relationship, with singer Katy Perry, from 2012-2014. The two released a duet, called "Who You Love", together in 2013.

Played flute in elementary school

Frequents Los Angeles bar The Roger Room along with Jason Sarayba, Chris Pine, and Samantha Ronson.

John's parents are Margaret (Hoffman) and Richard Mayer. John's father's family is Jewish (of half German Jewish and half Russian Jewish descent). John's maternal grandfather was of German, Luxembourgian, and Swedish descent, and John's maternal grandmother was English, born in Lancashire.

Divides his time between New York City and Los Angeles.

Used to play clarinet.

His first job was in a supermarket in Fairfield, Connecticut. Later he worked in a gas station.

Tried out for acting in 6th grade, but never got a manager.

He decided to call the album, "Room for Squares", a characteristically wry take on jazz sax player Hank Mobley's 1963 LP, "No Room for Squares".

Grew up in Fairfield, Connecticut with James Blake.

Was lead guitarist of a band called Villanova Junction when he was in high-school.

Was mentioned in the song "We Made You" by Eminem.

Is a big fan of Opie & Anthony and also Ron & Fez on XM Satellite Radio. He debuted the single "Waiting On the World to Change" when he dropped by unannounced at their New York studio on June 14, 2006. Since then, he has regularly checked in with both shows, either calling in to contribute to the topic or just stopping by to hang out.

He is the second of three children

Drives a silver Porsche Cayenne.

Friends with Andy Cohn.

Drives a steel-blue BMW