The fourth of seven children born September 30, 1935 to Clem and Mildred Mathis, John Royce Mathis. His father (a chauffeur/handyman and former Vaudevillian) and his mother ( a housekeeper) moved to San Francisco when John was young. It was there his love and aptitude for music blossomed. When Johnny was eight years old, his Father Clem brought home and old upright piano that he had purchased for around $25 and began teaching his young son songs and routines. A few years later at 13 yrs. old, 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. Young Mathis also sang in church, at school functions, at community events and amateur shows all over San Francisco. At George Washington H.S., he was very popular, well known for his singing abilities, and also a star athlete on the track and field team, as well as on the basketball team.
Enrolling at San Francisco State College with the intention of being an English and physical education teacher, Johnny set a high jump record of 6' 5-1/2", only 2 inches short of the Olympic record of the time. A feat which is still on the College's Top 15 list. He was often referred to as "the best all-around athlete to come out of the San Francisco Bay Area." A fellow SFSC student and member of a jazz sextet, talked Johnny into coming to a Sunday afternoon jam session at the BlackHawk nightclub and singing with the group. When Helen Noga, who co-owned the club heard Johnny sing, she immediately decided that she wanted to manage his career and push him to the top. In early September of 1955, Johnny landed a job singing weekends at Ann Dee's 440 Club. Helen contacted George Avakian, then head of Jazz A & R at Columbia Records while he was vacationing in San Francisco and got him to agree to come to the 440 Club to hear Johnny sing. When he did, Avakian, he 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."
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, and 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. It was a decision that he would never regret. In 1958, Johnny left San Francisco along with his managers Helen and John Noga, and moved to Beverly Hills where he shared a home with them. Six years later, he and the Nogas ended their business relationship. Johnny purchased a home in the Hollywood Hills, one that was originally built by Howard Hughes, and still resides there today.
Johnny's accomplishments are numerous and varied. As a Pop vocalist; Johnny Mathis has recorded over 75 albums and sold over 100 million recordings worldwide; sang with jazz groups in college, mid-1950s; nightclub performer, San Francisco area, mid-1950s; signed by Columbia Records, 1956. 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 a household name. He followed up by working with Columbia pop producer Mitch Miller, late 1950s; recorded breakthrough hit "Wonderful! Wonderful!," 1957; released Greatest Hits, which remained on charts for 490 weeks, 1958. Subsequently, MGM Studios signed Johnny to sing "It's Not For Me To Say" in the film Lizzie, in which he played a tavern piano-bar singer. In 1958, Johnny made another motion picture appearance, this time for 20th Century-Fox in A Certain Smile, where he sang the title song, playing himself in an elegant nightclub scene. Mathis also made extensive concert and nightclub appearances; established own production company, Rojon Productions, 1964; presented three sellout concerts, Carnegie Hall, New York, 1993; and performed live concert on A&E cable television, 1998. In June of 1972, he was awarded his own star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame.
He has appeared many times at the White House, starting in June of 1973, he sang at the State Dinner held in honor of the President of Liberia, again in April of 1987, he sang for President and Mrs. Reagan at the State Dinner held in honor of the Prime Minister of Japan, and again in April of 1991 for President and Mrs. Bush in honor of the President of Nicaragua. In October of 1987, he was invited to the White House to sing at a Jerome Kern Tribute. Most recently, in May of 1994, Johnny performed for President and Mrs.Clinton at a very special First Ladies Tribute. In 1978, Johnny sang for the British Royal Family at a Command Performance held at the London Palladium. He has participated in the Academy Awards presentations, as well as received two Grammy nominations. Over the years, Johnny has been a frequent guest on all of the well-known talk shows of the day. On the "Tonight Show" alone, he has guested over 50 times since 1962.
When Johnny was celebrating his 25th Anniversary as a Recording Artist in 1981, the City of Hope/Music Industry Chapter paid tribute to him at a gala dinner held at the Century Plaza Hotel, where he was presented with the "Spirit of Life" award. Johnny was among the first major singers to become a member of the Society of Singers (SOS), and gives generous support to this organization. By some estimates Mathis has been, next to Frank Sinatra, the most consistent album seller of the modern era. With his wavy hair and California good looks that suggested no affiliation with a particular ethnic group, Mathis's music cultivated a soft romantic appeal that transcended social and racial barriers.
Numerous concept albums, such as one based entirely on different fairy tales and another that explored the songs of composer Burt Bacharach, appealed primarily to middle-of-the-road white audiences. Throughout the 1960s, Mathis connected less with African American audiences than with other groups. During the 1970s, however, Mathis began to seek out original material from African American composers like Linda Creed and Thom Bell. In 1978, Mathis recorded a duet with rhythm-and-blues singer Deniece Williams, whose vocal virtuosity matched his own. Their duet, "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late," rocketed to number one on both the rhythm-and-blues and pop charts. Mathis and Williams also recorded a successful album, That's What Friends Are For, in 1981.
Mathis went on to record duets with other popular female vocalists, including Gladys Knight, Jane Olivor, Angela Bofill, and Dionne Warwick. He continued to enjoy considerable chart success well into the 1980s. In 1993, Mathis enjoyed immense critical acclaim for the compilation album A Personal Collection, which brought together favorites from the singer's many albums. This album also included a duet with Barbra Streisand, who had often claimed Mathis as an inspiration and influence. He is truly an International Superstar, who has performed in North America, South America, Europe, Australia, Africa and the Far East.
Sports are still a major part of Johnny's life. He continues to be extremely health conscious and remains in excellent physical condition. He especially enjoys golf, plays nearly every day, and participates in golf tournaments throughout the year, and is also often asked to sing at the golf banquets of the major Golf Tournaments, such as the Ryder Cup. In 1985 and 1986, Johnny hosted his own golf tournament, The Johnny Mathis Seniors PGA Classic, held in Los Angeles. Thousands of words have been written about Johnny's superb artistry and musicianship, his stunning song interpretations, his incomparable phrasing and articulation, his remarkable professionalism, impeccable and youthful appearance, his shy and innocent charm. Many have said that Johnny sings right from the heart, from deep within his soul, that he projects a warm, sincere and sensitive personality through his incredibly beautiful sound. Johnny celebrated the year 2000 with the release of a new CD of show tunes, Mathis On Broadway.
The latest CD, released in October of 2002, is a delightful selection of Christmas songs, The Christmas Album. At San Francisco State College, The Johnny Mathis Invitational Track & Field Meet has been held annually since 1982. Besides his interest in sports, and his love for golf, Johnny has developed his talents as a cook and enjoys preparing meals for himself and his friends and family, especially on special occasions and Holidays. Music though, is still one of the most important things in his life and Johnny has enjoyed his career and the accompanying opportunities to do the many things that otherwise might not have been possible.
Although he no longer goes on tour, Mathis maintains a regular schedule of live appearances. Although he has been called by many: "The World's Greatest Romantic Singer." Johnny Mathis is a legendary performer and considered a pop music legend, who has uniquely and endearingly communicated with all audiences through his timeless music, true class and voice of romance. The year 2006 marked Mathis' 50th anniversary as a recording artist.
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