Johnny Mathis 60th Anniversary Concert
WHO: Johnny Mathis with special guest Gary Mule Deer
WHEN: March 5 with doors opening at 6 pm and show at 7 pm
WHERE: Celebrity Theatre, 440 N 32nd St., Phoenix, AZ
TICKETS: $133, $103, $69 and $39
PURCHASE: 602-267-1600 | celebritytheatre.com | box office: 440 N 32nd St.
Catch 60th Anniversary Concert March 5
Johnny Mathis brings his 60th Anniversary Concert Tour to Phoenix March 5 for one show only.
Even before he arrived in New York to record his first album for Columbia Records in 1956, Johnny Mathis had years of singing experience.
The fourth of Clem and Mildred Mathis’ seven children, Johnny learned an appreciation of music from his father who taught him his first song, “My Blue Heaven.” Johnny was 13 when Clem took him to see Connie Cox, a Bay Area voice teacher, who agreed to take on the youngster in exchange for his doing odd jobs around her house. Johnny studied with Connie for six years.
In 1954, Johnny enrolled at San Francisco State College (now called San Francisco State University) with the intention of being an English and physical education teacher. Black Hawk Nightclub owner Helen Noga heard him sing at a jam session with a fellow student and decided she wanted to manage his career.
In early September of 1955, Johnny landed a job singing weekends at Ann Dee’s 440 Club. After repeated attempts, Helen convinced George Avakian, then head of Jazz A&R at Columbia, to see him. Avakian came to the club, heard Johnny sing and sent the now famous telegram to his record company: “Have found phenomenal 19-year-old boy who could go all the way. Send blank contracts.”
In early 1956, Columbia Records requested that Johnny come to New York to start arrangements for his first recording session. He went to New York and recorded his first album – a collection of jazz oriented renditions of popular standards – in March of 1956. Johnny remained in New York and landed bookings at some of the leading nightclubs such as the Village Vanguard, The Blue Angel and Basin Street East.
Soon, Columbia placed Johnny under the supervision of producer Mitch Miller. Mitch favored using Johnny’s voice to sing soft, romantic ballads. At his second recording session, in the fall of 1956, Johnny recorded two singles. These songs are among his most popular all-time greatest hits: “Wonderful, Wonderful” and “It’s Not For Me To Say.” MGM Studios signed Johnny to sing “It’s Not For Me To Say” in the film “Lizzie,” in which he played a tavern piano bar singer. Since then, Johnny’s voice has been used in countless Hollywood movies for theme songs, background music and to enhance a particular setting or segment.
In June of 1957, Johnny appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show where he became a national celebrity and household name. That year “Chances Are” became Johnny’s first No.1 hit.
His second No. 1 hit single, “Too Much, Too Little, Too Late” (recorded with Deniece Williams), came almost 21 years after his very first No. 1 hit single.
Johnny has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame three times so far for “Chances Are,” “Misty,” and “It’s Not For Me To Say.” In 2003 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. In 2006 he was honored with the Society of Singers coveted Ella Award. He was inducted into the America’s Pop Music Hall of Fame in 2013 and into the Great American Songbook Hall of Fame in 2014.
In spite of a very busy tour schedule and many charity events, Johnny still finds time to enjoy a little free time. Johnny was an avid tennis player until the late 1960s, when a good friend turned him on to his now life-long love of golf. He plays golf almost every day when he’s not traveling and has sung at many golf banquets such as the Ryder Cup. Johnny’s other favorite avocation is cooking. He is a gourmet cook who cooks for himself and often others when he’s home or traveling.
After almost 60 years as a recording artist, what’s next for Johnny? “I don’t think about retiring. I think about how I can keep singing for the rest of my life. I just have to pace myself.”
Biographic details excerpted from johnnymathis.com.
