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**Bio: John Fred Gourrier** John Fred Gourrier, known professionally as John Fred, was an American singer and songwriter born on May 8, 1941, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He passed away on April 15, 2005, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Gourrier rose to prominence during the psychedelic era with his band, John Fred and the Playboy Band, achieving significant success with the hit single "Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)," which reached No. 3 on the UK and Canadian charts. The song was inspired by his admiration for the Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" and featured a playful take on psychedelic themes. Growing up in a Cajun family, Gourrier was influenced by sports and music from an early age. He excelled in basketball, earning an athletic scholarship to a Louisiana university, but his passion for music took precedence after he formed a band with school friends in 1956, initially named the Redcaps, later becoming the Playboys. His early work included the regional hit "Shirley," although distribution issues hindered its success. In 1964, he formed John Fred and the Playboy Band, finding regional success with songs like "Boogie Children" and "Up and Down." The band's breakthrough came with "Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)," which topped the US charts, even replacing the Beatles' "Hello Goodbye." Gourrier met Elvis Presley in 1969

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