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Johnny Mathis Biography
Review The Artist (8)
Source: http://www.johnnymathis.com/bio.htm
The fourth of seven children, John Royce Mathis was born on September 30, 1935 in Gilmer, TX to Clem and Mildred Mathis. As a small boy, the family moved to Post Street in San Francisco. It was there that he learned an appreciation of music from his father who taught him his first song, “My Blue Heaven”. At age eight, his father purchased an old upright piano for $25. When he brought it home, it wouldn’t fit through the front door. So that evening, Johnny stayed up all night to watch his father dismantle the piano, get it into the small living room of their basement apartment and then reassemble it. Clem Mathis, who worked briefly as a musician back in Texas playing the piano and singing on stage, would continue to teach his son many songs and routines. Johnny had proven to be the most eager of the children to learn all about music. He sang in the church choir, school functions, community events, for visitors in their home as well as amateur shows in the San Francisco area.
Johnny was 13 years old when Clem took him to see Connie Cox, a Bay Area voice teacher, who agreed to take on the youngster in exchange for his doing odd jobs around her house. Johnny studied with Connie for six years learning vocal scales and exercises, voice production, classical and operatic skills.
At George Washington High School, Johnny was known not only for his singing ability but his athleticism as well. He became a star athlete on the track and field team as a high jumper and hurdler and played on the basketball team.
In 1954, Johnny enrolled at San Francisco State College with the intention of being an English and Physical Education teacher. While there, Johnny set a high jump record of 6’-5 1/2”. This is still on the College’s Top 15 list and was only two inches short of the Olympic record of the time. Just as when he was in high school, Johnny’s name was frequently mentioned in the sports sections of the Northern California newspapers. He was often referred to as “the best all-around athlete to come out of the San Francisco Bay Area”.
A fellow student whose sextet was working at the Black Hawk nightclub brought Johnny in for a Sunday afternoon jam session. It was at the Black Hawk that Helen Noga, co-owner of the club, first heard him sing. She decided that she wanted to manage his career.
In early September of 1955, Johnny landed a job singing weekends at Ann Dee’s 440 Club. After repeated attempts, Helen convinced George Avakian, then head of Jazz A&R at Columbia, to see him. Avakian came to the club, heard Johnny sing and sent the now famous telegram to his record company: “Have found phenomenal 19 year old boy who could go all the way. Send blank contracts.”
Avakian left for New York after telling Johnny that he would eventually send for him. Johnny continued his studies at San Francisco State and gained additional fame as a high jumper. In early 1956, Johnny was asked to attend the trials for the 1956 Olympic teams that would travel to Melbourne, Australia that summer. At the same time, Columbia Records requested that Johnny come to New York to start arrangements for his first recording session. Clem helped his son decide that his future and best interests were with the recording company. So, Johnny gave up his chance to become a member of the USA Olympic Team. He went to New York to record his first album in March of 1956.
The first album was a collection of jazz oriented renditions of popular standards entitled: Johnny Mathis: A New Sound In Popular Song. It included jazz musicians Gil Evans, John Lewis and Teo Macero and songs like “Angel Eyes”, “Easy to Love” and “Babalu”. The album enjoyed only moderate success because jazz vocal albums were not good sellers. Nevertheless, Johnny remained in New York and landed bookings at some of the leading nightclubs such as the Village Vanguard, The Blue Angel and Basin Street East.
Soon, Columbia placed Johnny under the supervision of producer Mitch Miller. Mitch favored using Johnny’s voice to sing soft, romantic ballads. At his second recording session, in the fall of 1956, Johnny recorded two singles. These songs were to become among his most popular all-time greatest hits: “Wonderful, Wonderful” and “It’s Not For Me To Say.” Subsequently, MGM Studios signed Johnny to sing “It’s Not For Me To Say” in the film Lizzie . He played a tavern piano bar singer. In 1958, Johnny made another motion picture appearance. This time it was for 20th Century Fox in A Certain Smile. In this movie, he sang the title song playing himself in an elegant nightclub scene. Since then, Johnny’s voice has been used in countless Hollywood movies for theme songs, background music and to enhance a particular setting or segment.
“Wonderful, Wonderful” and “It’s Not For Me To Say” reached their peaks on the BILLBOARD pop chart in July of 1957. These successes were followed by the monumental single “Chances Are” which became Johnny’s first #1 hit.
In June of 1957, Johnny appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show where he was introduced to the record buying public and became a national celebrity and household name. Columbia Records continued to release albums of Johnny singing beautiful and romantic ballads, classic standards and the best songs from Broadway musicals. These albums, like the singles, became immediate successes with sales in the millions. It was not uncommon for Johnny to have as many as four albums on the BILLBOARD Top Albums chart at the same time. In late 1959, Johnny recorded another song that became synonymous with the name of Johnny Mathis, the Erroll Garner composition, “Misty”.
Johnny’s accomplishments are numerous and varied. He holds many records and has set many precedents in the music industry. In 1958, two years after being signed by Columbia Records, Johnny’s Greatest Hits was released. It began a “Greatest Hits” tradition copied by every record company since then. Johnny’s Greatest Hits went on to become one of the most popular albums of all time and spent an unprecedented 490 continuous weeks (almost ten years) on the BILLBOARD Top Albums Chart. This record has been noted in the GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS.
According to record historian Joel Whitburn, Johnny is one of only five recording artists to have Top 40 Hits spanning each of the four decades since 1955. Amazingly, his second #1 Hit Single, “Too Much, Too Little, Too Late” (recorded with Deniece Williams), came almost 21 years after his very first #1 Hit Single, “Chances Are”.
Johnny has been honored to make several appearances before various heads of state. Starting in June of 1973, he sang at a State Dinner held in honor of the President of Liberia. In 1978, Johnny sang for the British Royal Family at A Command Performance held at The London Palladium. He performed for President and Mrs. Reagan at the State Dinner held in honor of the Prime Minister of Japan in April of 1987. Four years later in April of 1991, he sang for President and Mrs. Bush in honor of the President of Nicaragua. Most recently, in May of 1994, Johnny sang for President and Mrs. Clinton (along with the other five living First Ladies) at a very special First Ladies Tribute.
Johnny has also been honored by entertainment heads of state. In June of 1972, he was awarded his own star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has participated in the Academy Awards presentation many times to sing the song nominated in the “Best Song” category. He has received two Grammy nominations. The first was for “Misty” in 1960 in the category of Best Vocal Performance Single Record or Track Male. The second came in 1992 for In a Sentimental Mood/Mathis Sings Ellington in the category of Best Traditional Pop Performance.
1996 marked Johnny’s 40th Anniversary as a recording artist. He celebrated by releasing All About Love. He then released The Global Masters (songs from his three year contract at Mercury Records) in 1997, and 1998 saw the release of The Ultimate Hits and Because You Loved Me.
In his free time, Johnny loves to golf. He plays golf almost every day when he’s not traveling and has sung at many golf banquets such as the Ryder Cup. In 1985 and 1986, Johnny hosted his own golf tournament, The Johnny Mathis Seniors PGA Classic which was held in Los Angeles.
Johnny’s other favorite avocation is cooking. He is a gourmet cook who cooks for himself and often others when he’s home or traveling. His mother taught him at an early age how to cook up a storm and do it well. He’s enjoyed doing so all his life. |
Would you please submit the latest Johnny Mathis biography to me? Thank You.
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Review about Johnny Mathis
Heavenly | Reviewer: Amy | 11/18/09
I live in Argentina, and since an early age I enjoy Johnny´s extraordinary skills as a performer. He has accompanied me along my whole life and I hope some day I will be blessed to see him live in concert. Thank you Johnny for having made my life and so many others´ better.
first record I ever bought | Reviewer: carole | 10/30/09
The year was 1957. I was 12........Listening to the radio one day, I heard Wonderful, Wonderful...I had never heard a voice like that before. I was hooked on Johnny Mathis immediately. I went out that day and bought that record. I've never stopped. "Mathis Magic" is real. His voice still thrills me and whenever I've gone to his concerts and spoken to other fans they all agree with me when I say there is NO ONE who can sing a song the way he does. His phrasing, his microphone skills - he's is a master.... a rare talent and a man who is very humble.
Happy B-Day Johnny Mathis 9-30-09 | Reviewer: Rose Badame | 9/27/09
I was fortunate to have seen Johnny Mathis years ago in concert. I still listen to his music and know what a great singer he still is. He has the fine dignified appearance that I admire in him as a performer. True Class. He will always be #1 in my eyes.
Happy Birthday Johnny.
Second Generation Fan | Reviewer: Kathie Brechbuhler | 9/25/09
Hi. It's Kathie. My Father was an avid fan and listener to Johnny's music. An accomplished pianist, my Dad played certain records including Johnny's every evening at home when he wasn't playing the piano for my Mom and my sister and I. He had a very descriminating selection, including Nat King Cole. He played many of the numbers we listened to for me to sing. I know them still by heart. I have Johnny's Greatest hits now and am listening to him tonight as I do my needle work. My dogs are lulled to sleep by his beautiful voice. We thank Mr. Mathis for his wonderful music. We have often wondered if he ever married or had children. Such beautiful love songs shouldn't have gone without a special girl. My birthday is Sept.19,46 so I've been a long time fan. God Bless him and many more years of good health and happiness to him. Best Wishes
Kathie
Still the greatest | Reviewer: Pat Bosco | 9/25/09
OMG, Johnny is still the greatest after all these years. I was fortunate to be in the audiance at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, CT on Thursday evening Sept. 24th to see and hear my favorite singer. Happy Birthday Johnny.
still Johnny after all these years. | Reviewer: Ruth Donaldson | 9/30/08
Johnny Mathis will always be the greatest!!!
We share the same birthday September 30 and I have 4 minutes left to wish him Happy Birthday!!
I have every recording he ever made and cherish each one of them. I miss the fan clubs but still stay in touch with my "Mathis friends"
Keep spoiling us, John. Thank you
All about Johnny Mathis | Reviewer: Sharon Revan | 8/3/07
Hello, my name is sharon revan i live in Vallejo calif.25 minutes from SanFransico calif Yes i would likemore on Johnnys biography.I am his true number 1 Fan i am going to turn my reviw around a bit What im trying to say is could someone please help me to meet my fan Johnny Mathis. in person I love all of his music I have so many tapes Johnnys music has helped me out alot sometimes i stay on my computer until 4.0clock in the mornings,just listing to johnnys songs my Birthday is in october im libra so is johnnys.johnny mathis preformed in SanFransico calif 94590 707-980-6475. my number.Luv Ya Johnny Mathis.
how did he start | Reviewer: john palmieri | 5/2/07
Did John every sing on a talent scout show before he was known
Review the Artist Johnny Mathis
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