Johnny Mathis Biography

Home	Music	Video	Stock Footage	Help

Original Recordings by the Original Artists!

Johnny Mathis
Easy Listening | 3 CD Set
Reg. $24.99 ON SALE!
$19.99

It would be easy to dismiss Johnny Mathis as another comforting singer with a gentle voice who sells a lot of records. The truth is Mathis has sold an immense number of singles and albums in his 40-year career and even in 1998 continues to invigorate his image. He was born John Royce Mathis in 1935 in San Francisco and after studying piano and voice at his parents' behest as a youngster, he still wanted to be an English teacher, not a singer. He learned about show business young, too, since his father had been in vaudeville and taught young John routines. He began to sing at school and church, moved towards amateur productions and won a first prize in an amateur talent contest. As a student at San Francisco State College, Mathis also was active in sports, continuing his high school interest in which he won a half dozen letters in various activities. At SF State, he was on the track team where he set a new college record for the high jump and was considered for the Olympic team. He also sang at jam sessions and in occasional school functions and soon was sitting in at the popular SF jazz club, the Black Hawk. One of the managers convinced him to try singing professionally - in 1955 - and he was soon in New York clubs like the Village Vanguard. He then signed a recording contract with Columbia and released his debut jazz-tinged album. His first single was the No. 14 hit "Wonderful Wonderful" and he was off and running. Between May 1957 and October 1958, he scored eleven Top 25 hits, including "It's Not for Me To Say" and the No. 1 "Chances Are," followed by No. 9 "Twelfth of Never." He was selling so many records that he was being compared with Frank Sinatra. As his career moved into the '60s, he was trying different things, such as singing in Portuguese. Looking at twenty years in the business, Mathis worked on new music, in 1978 scoring a No. 1 single with DeNiece Williams on "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" and in 1982 reaching the Top 40 with a duet with Dionne Warwick on "Friends In Love." He since has had a number of duet partners. He is said to be the third more successful recording artist of all time behind Sinatra and Elvis Presley. And his work in 1998 includes a hot television commercial for the youth-oriented GAP clothing company.

TIMELESS MEDIA GROUP 100% GUARANTEED
If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase you may return it for a prompt refund, credit or exchange. Click here for details

All Items Usually Ship Within 24 Hours!