Johnny Mathis

John Royce Mathis (born September 30, 1935) is an American singer. Starting his career with singles of standard music, Mathis is one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century. He became highly popular as an album artist, with several of his albums achieving gold or platinum status and 73 making the Billboard charts.

Mathis has received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for three recordings. Although frequently described as a romantic singer, his discography includes traditional pop, Latin American, soul, rhythm and blues, show tunes, Tin Pan Alley, soft rock, blues, country music, and even a few disco songs for his album Mathis Magic in 1979. Mathis has also recorded seven albums of Christmas music. In a 1968 interview, he cited Lena Horne, Nat King Cole, and Bing Crosby among his musical influences.

Mathis was born in Gilmer, Texas, on September 30, 1935, the fourth of seven children of Clem Mathis and Mildred Boyd, both domestic cooks. Mathis is African-American and has said that he has Native American ancestry on his mother's side. The family moved to San Francisco when Mathis was five, settling on 32nd Avenue in the Richmond District, where he grew up to be an active member of the student body at George Washington High School. Mathis would perform for his classmates, already a clear vocal talent.

Clem Mathis worked in vaudeville as a singer and pianist, and on realizing his son's talent, bought an old upright piano for $25 (equal to $457 in 2025) and encouraged Mathis's musical pursuits. He began learning songs and routines from his father, and his parents also ran his fan club. Mathis's first song was "My Blue Heaven", and he started singing and dancing for visitors at home, school, and church functions.

When Mathis was 13, voice teacher Connie Cox accepted him as her student in exchange for housework. Mathis studied with Cox for six years, learning vocal scales and exercises, voice production, and classical and operatic singing. The first band he sang with was formed by his high school friend Merl Saunders. Mathis eulogized Saunders at his funeral in 2008, thanking him for that first chance to be a singer.

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.