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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0O9_YXRqC8
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 Johnny Mathis in concert at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California , on May 25, 2006. | |
| Background information | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | John Royce Mathis |
| Born | September 30, 1935 |
| Origin | Gilmer , Texas , United States |
| Genres | Pop , soul , Easy Listening |
| Occupations | Singer , songwriter , actor |
| Years active | 1956–present |
| Labels | Columbia , Mercury |
| Website | www.JohnnyMathis.com Johnny Mathis (born John Royce Mathis , September 30, 1935) is an American singer of popular music . One of the last in a long line of traditional male vocalists who emerged before the 1960s, Mathis concentrated on romantic jazz and pop standards for the adult contemporary audience through to the 1980s. Starting his career with a flurry of singles of standards , Mathis became more popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and over 60 making the Billboard charts .[1] According to the Recording Industry Association of America , Mathis has sales of over 17 million certified units in the United States.[2] According to British recordings chart historian and music writer Paul Gambaccini , Mathis has recorded over 130 albums and sold more than 180 million records worldwide.[3] Mathis was born on September 30, 1935 in Gilmer, Texas , the fourth of seven children to Clem Mathis and his wife, Mildred Boyd, and is of both African-American and Caucasian [4] 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 anold upright piano US$ 25 to encourage his efforts. From his father, Mathis began learning songs and routines–his first song being "My Blue Heaven."[5] [6] ancestry. for Mathis started out singing and dancing for visitors at home, and later publicly, at school and church events. 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.[7] He studied with Cox for six years, learning vocal scales and exercises, voice production, classical and operatic skills. He remains one of the few popular singers who has received years of professional voice training that included opera. The first band that Mathis would sing with as a young 13-year-old was formed by fellow San Francisco resident, Merl Saunders , whom Mathis eulogized in October, 2007 at his funeral to thank for giving him his first break as a singer. 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.[7] He was spotted at a jam session by Helen Noga , former head cocktail waitress and co-owner of The Black Hawk Club at 200 Hyde Street in San Francisco and The DownBeat Club Guido Caccienti . She became his manager. The clubs attracted the world's finest jazz musicians, including Dave Brubeck , Miles Davis , and Billie Holiday . John Noga andGuido Caccienti had opened the Black Hawk in the fall of 1949 for $10,000. 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 .[6] 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 six 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. Mathis received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003, by the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. This Special Merit Award is presented by vote of the Recording Academy's National Trustees to performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artist significance to the field of recording.[14] [edit ] Grammy Hall of FameJohnny Mathis was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame , which is a special Grammy award established in 1973 to honor recordings that are at least twenty-five years old, and that have "qualitative or historical significance."[15] [16] |