GRAMMY NOMINATIONS: This year's Grammy nominations are in, and there's no sign of Mathis on Broadway. No surprise there, really. However, there is a nomination for a former conductor of Johnny Mathis. Before John Scott Lavendar, Gordon Goodwin was the one who ran the show at the Mathis concerts. He's moved on to bigger and better things, and he has garnered a Grammy nomination for composing the song, Sing, Sang, Sung for his Big Phat Band's jazz recording, "Swinging for the Fences" in the category of Best Instrumental Composition. I wish Mr. Goodwin lotsa luck! Here's an interesting interview located on Mr. Goodwin's website.
SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY: I'd like to share a letter that was sent not long after my return from San Francisco last year. As you may recall, the day I was to leave for home, I took the subway down to the university to search for relics of Mathis. A very helpful person named Bob helped me with my search. I wrote to the University, praising Bob (at the time I didn't know his last name) for his helpfulness. This is the response I got:
Thank you for your kind message about Bob Grundy! We're always delighted to hear that members of the Library Staff have welcomed our patrons and helped to answer their questions. I have taken the liberty of forwarding your lovely message to Bob, knowing it will make him very happy. Thank you for taking the time to acknowledge the work and service of a staff member.You are absolutely correct about Johnny Mathis' picture not being on the Wall of Fame in the elevator lobby. I went down and looked! I checked with the Alumni Association, which maintains those photos, and their staff member said that those pictures are of alumni who have received a particular award. Johnny Mathis has been our Alumnus of the Year, but has not been involved with this other award.
I have yet to meet Johnny Mathis, although he certainly is one of the most prominent members of our alumni, and has contributed funds and support to the University. I'm sure that his concert with the San Francisco Symphony was outstanding. We do have news clippings and other information about him, including a copy of a recording of one of his first public appearances, singing in a 1950s student variety show. The song was written by another student, and is very pretty.
We do appreciate your thoughtfulness in letting us know how staff members have helped you, and hope that you will visit us again.
Cheers,
Helene Whitson
Special Collections Librarian/Archivist
Curator, San Francisco Bay Area Television Archives
San Francisco State University Library
MATHIS IN CONCERT: Tickets are supposed to go on sale online TODAY for the Valentine's Day show at Soaring Eagle Casino in Mount Pleasant, MI (somewhere near Flint).
San Diego's a nice WARM place to be in February...while there, take in one of the Johnny Mathis concerts on Fri. Feb. 2 and Sat. Feb. 3rd. Prices are very reasonable.
Housed in the Playhouse Square Center in Cleveland Ohio's performing arts district is the Palace Theatre. Johnny Mathis will perform there on February 16. Call the box office at 216-241-6000 to inquire for tickets.
I see future dates in: Westbury New York; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Antioch, Tennessee; Palm Desert, California; Atlantic City, New Jersey; Buffalo, New York; Reno, Nevada; and Beverly, Massachussetts. Sorry, no Canadian or other foreign dates that I can see. (I know. You guys count, too.) I no longer see Baton Rouge, either, for some reason.
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