A Country Weekly article said of Berry, "John's greatest strength is his pure, soulful tenor.

"[3][4] Berry began learning the guitar in 1972 (at the age of 12); he has named influences such as James Taylor, Harry Chapin, and, his favorite, John Denver.

In a 2006 interview he said: "Prior to playing guitar, I really loved the “Philly Soul Sound” like The Chi-Lites and The Stylistics.

[5] In 1981, at age 21, while riding his motorcycle, Berry was hit by a car, breaking both legs and his left hip.

"[3] Two years later, Berry started performing solo acoustic shows in northeast Georgia (Athens), then expanded around the Southeast, building a strong name and following.

[5] Berry received high praise from former President George H. W. Bush and wife Barbara when she invited him to sing for Pres.

[6][7][8][9][10] Early in 1994, Berry began to have terrible headaches, lost his appetite, and finally blacked out during a concert.

[4] He uses humor when he occasionally forgets the words to a song and his wife, Robin, uses sign language to assist him.

In 1997, a year before recording his Wildest Dreams album (released in 1999), Berry again had surgery, for nodes on his vocal cords.

[3][11] John Berry started playing after Bulldog home football games, at college clubs and bars in Athens, in 1985.

Berry worked on his music for almost ten years, and built a substantial following among students at the University of Georgia.

The other two singles — "If I Had Any Pride Left at All" and "Every Time My Heart Calls Your Name" — did not reach Top 20 in the US, but did in Canada.

In a memorable performance at the 1995 Country Music Awards, John sang "If I Had Any Pride Left At All", with nothing but his acoustic guitar.

An additional album for Capitol, Crazy for the Girl, was slated for release in 1997 but delayed due to his vocal cord surgery.

His debut album is worth thousands In 2012, Berry released his twentieth recording, and his first Christian project "RealMan RealLife RealGod".

The lead single, Real Man, was penned by Berry, Mac McAnally and Lenny LaBlanc.

The hour and a half show was filled with traditional Christmas songs (including an a cappella version of "O Holy Night") and his childhood stories.

[21] Berry is involved in charitable causes including children's diseases, The American Red Cross,[22] and cystic fibrosis,[23] as well as lending his name to adult literacy causes and Haven Hospice.

He performs yearly, in Florida at the annual Newberry Watermelon Festival which benefits the American Legion.

A show benefitting "Challenged Child and Friends" is scheduled for November 26 at the Pearce Auditorium in Gainesville, Georgia.

"I'm not in so much of a hurry anymore," Berry told Billboard's Peter Cronin, explaining how undergoing brain surgery had changed his life.