John Mayer, born in Calcutta, was a world class musician and composer. His works are covered by many musicians across the globe. John Mayer, to this generation of Anglo Indians is unfortunately not well known. I was lucky enough to have a chat with his son Jonathan Mayer and asked him to share with us the story of John Mayer, his dad and the musician. This is the story of John Mayer, a Calcutta boy.

PepperWater: Tell us a little about John Mayer the person.
Jonathan Mayer: My Father was a happy man, by the time I was born he had achieved a tremendous amount of respect, accolade and stability. John Mayer was born in Calcutta in either 1929 or 1930 (birth certificate is missing), he studied at the Calcutta School Of Music under Phillipé Sandré and played regularly at The LightHouse Cinema as a Violinist.

In 1950 my Father won a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London from The Bombay Madrigal Singers. On arriving at the RAM he discovered that his fees had been paid for but not his accommodation, he also realised that only one of his fours years of study had been paid. After the year had passed he was kicked out of the Royal Academy and instantly landed a job in The London Philharmonic Orchestra. Read more about John's carreer here.

Beverley David Pearson was an up-country born lad who grew up in Calcutta. Schooled as a boarder in Bangalore (Bishop Cotton) and graduated with a BA Hons degree from St. Xavier’s College in Calcutta. Started life as a school teacher in St James School and moved to The Statesman as a management trainee in ‘61. Married Verna Robinson the same year and in ‘65 migrated to London. Pursued a successful career in publishing but found England cold, crowded, cramped and expensive. Migrated again… to Sydney in '82 where he and his family have settled very happily.

Bev has now retired having after 42 years of working but continues to work part time as a Workplace Trainer and Assessor specialising in Communications and Work Safety. He’s currently an executive member ( and Vice-President) of the Anglo-Indian Association of NSW.

Bev wrote and presented the now famous speech - History of Anglo-Indians at the Anglo-Indian Association of NSW Anniversary Dance in October of 2005 in Sydney, Australia. He was delighted by the standing ovation received but more satisfied to find the Anglo Indians audience all agreed on one thing: "you made us proud to be an Anglo Indian."

He can be contacted at:
73 Mackenzie Bvd., Seven Hills NSW 2147.
T: 02 9631 973