Johnny Mathis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Johnny Mathis
Mathis in concert at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California, in 2006
Background information
Birth name	John Royce Mathis
Born	(1935-09-30) September 30, 1935 (age 89) Gilmer, Texas, U.S.
Origin	San Francisco, California, U.S
Genres	Pop jazz
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	1956–present
Labels	Columbia His Master's Voice Fontana Mercury

John Royce Mathis (born September 30, 1935) is an American singer. He is one of the best-selling music artists of the 20th century. Johnny Mathis started his career singing popular songs. He became famous for his albums, with many of them selling millions of copies.

Mathis has won a special Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He has also had three of his songs added to the Grammy Hall of Fame. People often call him a romantic singer. But his music includes many styles like pop, jazz, soul, and even some disco songs. He has also recorded seven albums of Christmas music.

Early Life and School Days

Johnny Mathis was born in Gilmer, Texas, on September 30, 1935. He was the fourth of seven children. His parents, Clem Mathis and Mildred Boyd, were both cooks. His family later moved to San Francisco, where he grew up.

His father used to sing and play piano in shows. When he saw Johnny's talent, he bought an old piano for $25. He encouraged Johnny to learn music. Johnny learned songs from his father. His first song was "My Blue Heaven." He started singing and dancing for family, at school, and at church events.

When Johnny was 13, a voice teacher named Connie Cox took him as a student. She taught him for six years. He learned how to sing classical and opera music. His first band was with his high school friend Merl Saunders.

Johnny was also a great athlete at George Washington High School. He was good at high jump and hurdles. He also played on the basketball team. In 1954, he went to San Francisco State University on a sports scholarship. He wanted to become an English or physical education teacher.

While at college, Johnny set a high-jump record of 1.97 meters (6 feet 5.5 inches). This was only 7 centimeters (2.75 inches) short of the 1952 Olympic record. He was often called "the best all-around athlete" from the San Francisco Bay Area.

Music Career Highlights

Starting His Singing Journey

One day, Johnny was singing with a friend's jazz band at the Black Hawk Club in San Francisco. Helen Noga, one of the club's owners, noticed him. She became his music manager. She helped him get a job singing on weekends.

In September 1955, Helen convinced George Avakian from Columbia Records to listen to Johnny. After hearing him, Avakian sent a telegram to his company. It said: "Have found phenomenal 19-year-old boy who could go all the way."

In 1956, Johnny had a big decision to make. He was asked to try out for the U.S. Olympic Team for high jump. But his father advised him to choose music. Johnny decided to become a professional singer.

His first album, Johnny Mathis: A New Sound In Popular Song, was a jazz album. It sold slowly at first. But Johnny stayed in New York City to sing in clubs. His second album was made by Mitch Miller. Miller helped create the "Mathis sound." He wanted Johnny to sing soft, romantic songs.

In late 1956, Johnny recorded two of his most famous songs: "Wonderful! Wonderful!" and "It's Not for Me to Say." He even sang "It's Not for Me to Say" in the movie Lizzie (1957).

Becoming a Star

In June 1957, Johnny appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. This TV show made him much more popular. Later that year, his song "Chances Are" sold over a million copies. In November 1957, he released "Wild Is the Wind." This song was in a movie and was nominated for an Academy Award. He sang it at the Oscar ceremony in March 1958.

Mathis in 1960

Just before the Oscars, his album Johnny's Greatest Hits came out. This album stayed on the Billboard top 200 album charts for an amazing 490 weeks. That's almost nine and a half years! It was number one for three weeks. This album held the record for the longest time on the Billboard 200 for 15 years.

In 1958, Johnny was in another movie, singing "A Certain Smile." This song was also nominated for an Academy Award. By the end of that year, he was earning a lot of money. People called him "the velvet voice."

In 1962 and 1963, he had two more big hits: "Gina" and "What Will Mary Say."

Managing His Own Career

In 1964, Johnny decided to manage his own music business. He started Jon Mat Records to produce his music. He also started Rojon Productions to handle his concerts and TV shows. His new manager was Ray Haughn, who helped guide his career for many years.

Return to the Charts

During the 1970s, music styles changed with bands like The Beatles becoming popular. But Johnny Mathis made a comeback in the late 1970s. In 1976, his song "When a Child Is Born" was the Christmas number one single in the UK.

Then, in 1978, he recorded "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" with singer Deniece Williams. This song became a huge hit! It reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. It was his first number one hit since "Chances Are" in 1957.

After this success, Johnny Mathis recorded many duets. He sang with famous artists like Dionne Warwick, Natalie Cole, and Gladys Knight. He even sang "Without Us," the theme song for the TV show Family Ties.

Recent Years and Performances

Johnny Mathis continues to perform live. From 2000 onwards, he decided to do about 50 to 60 concerts a year. He is one of the few pop singers who still travels with his own full orchestra.

On January 14, 2016, he performed to a sold-out crowd in The Villages as part of his "60th Anniversary Concert Tour."

In November 2015, Johnny Mathis's Hollywood house was destroyed by a fire. He had owned it for 56 years. In January 2023, a landslide near his rebuilt home caused damage.

Career Achievements and Awards

Johnny Mathis has been with Columbia Records for most of his career. He is one of the artists with the longest time on the Columbia label. Other artists with long tenures include Bob Dylan and Barbra Streisand.

Mathis has had five of his albums on the Billboard charts at the same time. Only a few other singers, like Frank Sinatra, have achieved this. He has released 200 singles and had 71 songs chart worldwide.

Grammy Awards

In 2003, Johnny Mathis received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. This award honors performers who have made amazing contributions to music throughout their lives.

Mathis has also had three of his recordings added to the Grammy Hall of Fame:

• "Chances Are" (inducted in 1998)
• "Misty" (inducted in 2002)
• "It's Not for Me to Say" (inducted in 2008)

Other Honors

On June 1, 1972, Johnny Mathis received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This honors his contributions to music.

In 2006, he received the Society of Singers Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2007, he was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.

In 2011, he received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement. This award was presented by General Colin Powell.

In 2017, San Francisco State University gave Johnny Mathis an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree. This was a special honor, as he had attended the university before starting his music career.

Other Appearances and Hobbies

Johnny Mathis has made 12 of his own TV specials. He has also appeared as a guest on over 300 TV shows. He was on The Tonight Show 54 times! The show's host, Johnny Carson, once said, "Johnny Mathis is the best ballad singer in the world."

His songs have been heard in more than 100 TV shows and films. In 1989, he sang the theme song for the TV show Loving.

Mathis was the narrator for '51 Dons, a 2014 movie. It was about the 1951 San Francisco Dons football team. This team refused to play in a bowl game because they wouldn't agree to leave out their two African-American players. These players were friends with Johnny Mathis.

He also appeared as himself in the TV show Criminal Minds and the 2017 movie Just Getting Started.

Even though he missed the Olympics, Johnny Mathis still loves sports. He is a very good golfer and has made nine holes-in-one. He has also hosted several golf tournaments for charity. Since 1985, he has hosted a charity golf tournament in Belfast. The annual Johnny Mathis Invitational Track & Field Meet has been held at San Francisco State University since 1982.

Johnny Mathis also enjoys cooking. He even published a cookbook called Cooking for You Alone in 1982.

Discography

See also

In Spanish: Johnny Mathis para niños