Johnny Mathis
Johnny Mathis, 1959
Background information
Birth name	John Royce Mathis
Born	September 30, 1935 (1935-09-30) (age 72)
Origin	Gilmer, Texas United States
Genre(s)	Pop, Jazz, Latin
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Years active	1956–present
Label(s)	Columbia, Mercury
Website	www.JohnnyMathis.com

John Royce Mathis (b. September 30, 1935), known popularly as Johnny Mathis, is an American Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter of popular music. Image File history File links Johnny_mathis. ... is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar). ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Gilmer is a city located in Upshur County, Texas. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Pop music (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Jazz (disambiguation). ... Latin American music, sometimes simply called Latin music, includes the music of all countries in Latin America and comes in many varieties, from the simple, rural conjunto music of northern Mexico to the sophisticated habanera of Cuba, from the symphonies of Heitor Villa-Lobos to the simple and moving Andean... For other uses, see Singer (disambiguation). ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Mercury Records was a record label founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1945 by Irving Green, Berle Adams and Arthur Talmadge. ... is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Singer (disambiguation). ...

The last in a long line of traditional male vocalists who emerged before the rock-dominated 1960s, Mathis concentrated on romantic jazz and pop standards for the adult contemporary audience through to the 1980s. Starting his career with a standard flurry of singles, Mathis was far more popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums receiving gold and platinum status and seventy three making the Billboard charts to date. The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969. ... The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ... On January 4, 1936, Billboard magazine published its first music hit parade and on July 20, 1940 the first Music Popularity Chart was calculated. ...

Early life

Johnny Mathis in concert at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California, on May 25, 2006.

Mathis was born fourth of seven children in Gilmer, Texas to Clem and Mildred Mathis. The family moved when he was young to San Francisco, California on Post Street, in the famous Fillmore district where he was raised. His father worked for a time in vaudeville, and when he saw the budding talent in his son, the elder Mathis bought an old upright piano for US$25 to encourage his efforts. Mathis began learning from his father songs and routines–his first song being, "My Blue Heaven."^[1] Mathis started out singing and dancing for visitors at home, and later publicly, at school and church events.^[2] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (786x1000, 272 KB)Dwight McCann,http://dwightmccann. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (786x1000, 272 KB)Dwight McCann,http://dwightmccann. ... Santa Ynez is a census-designated place located in Santa Barbara County, California. ... is the 145th day of the year (146th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Gilmer is a city located in Upshur County, Texas. ... For other uses, see Texas (disambiguation). ... San Francisco redirects here. ... The Fillmore District, also called The Fillmore, is a neighborhood in San Francisco, California known for its rich African-American history, and its (mostly successful) housing rights struggle against using the law of eminent domain to unilaterally enforce an urban development project and the eviction of residents. ... This article is about the musical variety theatre. ... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ...

At thirteen, Mathis was taken to Connie Cox, a San Francisco Bay Area voice teacher, who accepted him as a student in exchange for work he would do around her house. He studied with Cox for six years, learning vocal scales and exercises, voice production, classical and operatic skills.^[3] He remains one of the few popular singers who has received years of professional voice training that included opera. Bay Area redirects here. ...

At George Washington High School, Mathis was well known, not only for his singing abilities, but also as a star athlete. On the track and field team, he was a high jumper and hurdler, and on the basketball team, he earned four athletic letters. In 1954, Mathis enrolled at San Francisco State University on a scholarship with the intention of becoming an English and physical education teacher. Mathis remains an important part of San Francisco State University's sports history—in 1954 he broke future basketball great Bill Russell's high jump record by jumping 6 ft 5 in (1.96 meters). George Washington High School is a public high school in San Francisco, California. ... A varsity letter (or monogram) is an award earned in the United States by regular participation or excellence in a school sport. ... San Francisco State University (commonly referred to as San Francisco State, SF State, State and SFSU) is a public university located in the southwestern San Francisco, California, bordering Lake Merced and Lowell High School, near Fort Funston and Daly City, near the San Mateo County line. ... William Fenton Russell (born February 12, 1934) is a former American basketball player remembered for his central role in the Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 championships in the 13 seasons that he played. ...

Music career

He was spotted by Helen Noga, owner of The Black Hawk club, at a jam session and she became his manager. In September 1955, after Noga landed Mathis a job singing weekends at Ann Dee’s 440 Club, she ruthlessly pursued jazz producer George Avakian, who she found out was on vacation in the Bay Area. Avakian came to see him sing, and sent the now famous telegram to Columbia Records: Have found phenomenal 19-year old boy who could go all the way. Send blank contracts.^[2] George Avakian (born Armavir, Russia, March 15, 1919) is an Armenian-American record producer and executive known particularly for his work with Columbia Records, and his production of albums by Miles Davis and other notable jazz musicians. ... Columbia Records is the oldest brand name in recorded sound, dating back to 1888, and was the first record company to produce pre-recorded records as opposed to blank cylinders. ...

Mathis now had to decide whether to go to the Olympic tryouts, to which he had been invited, or to keep an appointment in New York to make his first recordings, which were subsequently released in 1956. With his father's advice, Mathis opted for a recording career and the rest is history. He has never completely abandoned his enthusiasm for sports and today is an avid golfer who has achieved five holes-in-one, and has hosted several Johnny Mathis Golf Tournaments in the USA and the United Kingdom. Since 1985 he has been hosting a charity golf tournament in Belfast sponsored by Shell corporation, and the annual Johnny Mathis Invitational Track & Field Meet has continued at San Francisco State College since it started in 1982. This article is about the state. ... This article is about the sport. ... A hole in one or hole-in-one (also known as an ace) is a phrase used for when a golf player hits the ball from the tee into the cup on any hole with one shot. ...

His first album Johnny Mathis: A New Sound In Popular Song was a slow selling jazz album, but Mathis stayed in New York to play the clubs. His second album was produced by Columbia records vice-president and producer Mitch Miller, who defined the Mathis sound - he preferred him to sing soft, romantic ballads. In late 1956, Mathis recorded two of his most popular songs - "Wonderful! Wonderful!" and "It's Not For Me To Say." That year MGM signed Mathis to sing the latter song in the 1957 film Lizzie, and shortly afterward he made his second film appearance for 20th Century Fox singing the title song in A Certain Smile -he had small acting roles in both movies as a bar singer. This early cinematic visibility in two successful movies gave him mass exposure. Next was his appearance on the very popular Ed Sullivan Show in 1957 and this helped to seal his stardom. Critics called him the velvet voice.^[1] Mitch Miller (born Mitchell William Miller, July 4, 1911) is an American musician, singer, conductor, record producer, A&R man and record company executive. ... Wonderful! Wonderful! is a popular song. ... Its Not for Me to Say is a popular song. ... MGM logo Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer or MGM, is a large media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of cinema and television programs. ... Year 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar). ... Twentieth (20th) Century Fox Film Corporation (known from 1935 to 1985 as Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation) is one of the six major American film studios. ... A Certain Smile (Un certain sourire), written in 1958, is Francoise Sagans second book. ... The Ed Sullivan Show was an American television variety show that ran from June 20, 1948, to June 6, 1971, and was hosted by Ed Sullivan. ...

Johnny Mathis: Casual in White, 1964.

In 1958, Mathis left San Francisco with the Nogas, and moved to Beverly Hills where he shared a home with them. In 1964, there was a severe downturn in sales for many artists due to The Beatles and the British invasion of the early 1960s, around the time Mathis and the Nogas ended their business relationship. Mathis purchased a mansion in the Hollywood Hills, that was originally built by billionaire Howard Hughes, and where he still maintains a residence. Image File history File links Johnny_1964_-_In_White. ... Image File history File links Johnny_1964_-_In_White. ... For other uses, see: Beverly Hills (disambiguation). ... The White Album, see The Beatles (album). ... For other uses, see British Invasion (disambiguation). ... The Hollywood Hills, an unofficial designation of part of the City of Los Angeles, California, are part of the eastern section of the low transverse range of the Santa Monica Mountains, which extends from the Los Feliz District and Hollywood, on the south side of the Valley, to Pacific Coast... For the Welsh murderer, see Howard Hughes (murderer). ...

Mathis established Jon Mat Records, Inc. to produce his recordings, and Rojon Productions, Inc. to handle all of his concert, theater, showroom and television appearances, and all promotional and charitable activities. His new manager and business partner was Ray Haughn, who helped guide his career until his death in September 1984. Since that time, Mathis has taken sole responsibility for his career, operating from office suites in Burbank. With the exception of a three-year break with Mercury Records in the mid-1960s, he has been with Columbia Records throughout his recording career. Founded May 1, 1887 Incorporated July 8, 1911 General Information County Los Angeles County, California Latitude Longitude 34°1049 N 118°1942 W Area  - Total  - Water 45 km² (17. ... Mercury Records was a record label founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1945 by Irving Green, Berle Adams and Arthur Talmadge. ... Columbia Records is the oldest brand name in recorded sound, dating back to 1888, and was the first record company to produce pre-recorded records as opposed to blank cylinders. ...

Although he is frequently described as a romantic singer, his vast discography includes jazz, traditional pop, Brazilian and Spanish music, Soul, R&B, soft rock, Broadway, Tin Pan Alley standards, some blues and country songs, and even a few disco tunes for his album Mathis Magic (1979). In 1980/81 Mathis recorded an album with Chic's Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers, I Love My Lady, which remains unreleased. Mathis also remains highly associated with holiday music, having recorded nine Christmas albums. According to British recordings chart historian and Guinness Book of Records Music writer Paul Gambaccini, Mathis has recorded over 110 albums and sold more than 350 million records worldwide. His Merry Christmas album of 1958 has made the USA charts almost every year since its release and is now approaching 6 Million unit sales.^[4] this makes Mathis the third most successful male recording artist ever.^[5] He was given the title The Voice Of Romance. Mathis has the distinction of having the longest stay of any recording artist on the Columbia Record label, having been with the label from 1956 to 1963 and from 1968 to the present. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Jazz (disambiguation). ... Traditional pop or Classic pop music denotes, in general, Western (and particularly American) popular music that either wholly predates the eruption of rock and roll in the mid-1950s, or to any popular music which exists concurrently to rock and roll but originated in a time before the appearance of... For many people, Spanish music is virtually synonymous with flamenco, an Andalucian-Gitano form of music. ... For other uses, see Soul music (disambiguation). ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... For other uses of Broadway, see Broadway. ... Tin Pan Alley is the name given to the collection of New York City-centered music publishers and songwriters who dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th century and early 20th century. ... This article is about the music genre. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... For other uses, see Chic. ... Bernard Edwards (1953-1996), born in Greenville, North Carolina, was a bass player and record producer, both as a member of Chic and on his own. ... Nile Gregory Rodgers (born September 19, 1952 in New York City) is a prolific and influential musician, composer, arranger, guitarist and music producer, and co-founding member of the seminal multi-platinum hit R&B band Chic, with influential bassist, the late Bernard Edwards. ... Holiday Song redirects here. ...

In 1958, Johnny’s Greatest Hits was released and was the first ever Greatest Hits album in the music industry. It began the Greatest Hits tradition copied by every record company. Johnny's Greatest Hits spent an unprecedented 490 consecutive weeks (nine and a half years) on the Billboard Album Chart; a feat unmatched by any other recording artist in history, earning him a place in the Guinness Book Of World Records. He has had five of his albums on the Billboard charts simultaneously, an achievement equaled by only two other singers, Frank Sinatra and Barry Manilow. He released 200 singles and had 71 songs charted around the world. He is the third largest album seller and Frank Sinatra's main rival in sales from 1957 to 1987. Mathis is one of only a few recording artists whose career has spanned six decades and selling over 350 million records worldwide.

He has received three Grammy awards. In 1979, his hit duet "The Last Time I Felt Like This" from the film Same Time, Next Year was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Mathis and Jane Olivor sang the song at the Oscar ceremony televised to over two billion people around the world. This was his second performance at the Oscar awards - another historic achievement. He has taped twelve of his own television specials and made over 300 television guests appearances with 33 of them being on The Tonight Show. Through the years his songs (or parts of them) have been heard in 100 plus television shows and films around the globe. His appearance on the Live By Request broadcast in May 1998 on the A&E Network had the largest television viewing audience of the series. Grammy Award statuette The Grammy Awards, presented by the Recording Academy (an association of Americans professionally involved in the recorded music industry) for outstanding achievements in the recording industry, is one of four major music awards shows held annually in the United States (the Billboard Music Awards, the American Music... Same Time, Next Year is a play by Bernard Slade which tells the story of a couple, married to others, who develop a relationship in which they meet each year at a country inn and spend a weekend together. ... // The Academy Award for Best Original Song is one of the awards given to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; nominations are made by Academy members who are songwriters and composers. ... // Jane Olivor, an American cabaret singer born May 18, 1947, pursued a career that caused her to be compared favorably to such music-world public figures as Barbra Streisand and to the chanteuse Édith Piaf during the 1970s. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Mathis continues to perform but from 2000 onwards has limited his concert engagements to fifty to sixty appearances per year. For 2006, he is scheduled for a UK tour that includes his annual Scottish Golf vacation and attendance at the 2006 Ryder Cup, two stints at his favourite Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas. He still records occasionally and his latest album Isn't It Romantic: The Standards Album (2004) has been enthusiastically received by critics and music buyers. Tonight Show host Johnny Carson, who heard over 2000 singers on his show, said: "Johnny Mathis is the best ballad singer in the world." He appeared on the NBC Tonight Show with Jay Leno^[6] as a guest on March 29th, 2007 performing the classic "Shadow of Your Smile" with Saxophonist Dave Koz. The Ryder Cup is a golf trophy contested biennially in an event called the Ryder Cup Matches by teams from Europe and the United States. ... The Hilton Hotel chain is owned by Hilton Hotels Corporation and is based in Beverly Hills, California. ... For further information, see Las Vegas metropolitan area and Las Vegas Strip. ... For other persons named John Carson, see John Carson (disambiguation). ... Jay Leno (April 28, 1950) is an Emmy-winning American comedian and writer who is best known as the host of NBC televisions long-running variety and talk program The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. ... Dave Koz (March 27, 1963) is a homosexual American jazz saxophonist. ...

Personal life

A 1982 Us Magazine article quoted Mathis as having said, "Homosexuality is a way of life that I've grown accustomed to." He further confirmed a sexual relationship with a male saxophonist. After more than twenty years of silence on the subject, in 2006, Mathis revealed in an interview his silence was due to death threats he received as a result of that 1982 article.^[7][8] On April 13, 2006 Mathis granted a podcast interview with The Strip in which he touched on the subject once again.^[9] Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Us Weekly (a. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A death threat is a threat (often made anonymously) against a person threatening to kill them. ... is the 103rd day of the year (104th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Mathis enjoys cooking, which he learned from his mother. He likes family gatherings with his six brothers and sisters and their families. In 1982 he published a cookbook, Cooking for You Alone.

He is an avid golfer, and in his earlier years he excelled at other sports including high jumping, tennis, and basketball.

Among the many organizations that have benefited from his generosity through the years are: The Cancer Society, March Of Dimes, YWCA, YMCA, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and NAACP. Not to be confused with YMCA. Neysa Moran McMein (1888-1949) Y.W.C.A. In Service for the Girls of the World, Poster, 1919 The YWCA (Young Womens Christian Association) is a womens membership movement that strives to create opportunities for womens growth, leadership and power... Not to be confused with YWCA. This article is about the association. ... Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) is a U.S. organization founded in 1950 which combats muscular dystrophy and diseases of the nervous system and muscular system in general by funding research, providing medical and community services, and educating health professionals and the general public. ... The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), is one of the oldest and most influential hate organizations in the United States. ...

Discography

Selected Hit Singles

The following songs reached either the top 50 on the US Billboard Hot 100 or the top 10 on the Adult Contemporary singles chart. Billboard began publishing AC singles charts in 1961. “Hot 100” redirects here. ... Adult contemporary music, frequently abbreciated to just AC, is a type of radio format that plays mainstream and pop music, without hip-hop or rap since, as per the name, it is geared more towards adults than teens. ...

Each of the above were issued under the Columbia Records label with the exception of the duet with Dionne Warwick, "Friends In Love," which was released under Warwick's label, Arista Records. Wonderful! Wonderful! is a popular song. ... Its Not for Me to Say is a popular song. ... A Gold Single is a single that has passed a milestone in official sales. ... Chances Are is a popular song. ... The Twelfth of Never was a popular song recorded by Johnny Mathis and later by Donny Osmond. ... Misty is a jazz standard written in 1954 by the pianist Erroll Garner. ... On a Clear Day, You Can See Forever is an original musical play with music by Burton Lane and lyrics and book by Alan Jay Lerner. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Arista redirects here. ...

Other Noteworthy Songs

Mathis has had much more success as an albums artist. His albums achieved success in part due to their reputation as an accompaniment to lovemaking. Some of his celebrated early albums include: Maria is a popular song. ... For other uses, see Fly Me to the Moon (disambiguation). ... The Impossible Dream (The Quest) is a popular song composed by Mitch Leigh, with lyrics written by Joe Darion. ... // Jane Olivor, an American cabaret singer born May 18, 1947, pursued a career that caused her to be compared favorably to such music-world public figures as Barbra Streisand and to the chanteuse Édith Piaf during the 1970s. ... Begin the Beguine is a song written by Cole Porter and introduced by June Knight in the Broadway musical Jubilee (1934). ... Sleigh Ride was written by Leroy Anderson in 1948, and was first recorded in 1949 by Arthur Fiedler & The Boston Pops Orchestra. ...

Merry Christmas is the seventh album by Johnny Mathis. ...

Bibliography

• Mathis, Johnny; Brash, Peter; Birch, Marge (1982). Cooking for You Alone. Pasadena, CA: Tech. Educ. Co.. ISBN 0939402009. 

References

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External links

• Johnny Mathis at the Internet Broadway Database
• Johnny Mathis at the Internet Movie Database

• Johnny Mathis Official website
• Johnny Mathis at Sony website
• Mathis, Johnny-AMG discography — All Music Guide
• Johnny Mathis at The Mathis Chronicles
• Johnny Mathis NPR Audio: with Ed Gordon
• Dave Koz f/ Johnny Mathis "The Shadow of Your Smile" NBC Audio: The Tonight Show