PRESENTS

Welcome to the Grapevine News. This section of the Mathis Chronicles contains my views about anything I find or am sent about Johnny Mathis on the Internet and elsewhere, that had been overlooked by the "official" sites. Occasionally, I report on things not directly related to Mathis but have a connection, may even make up a question to ask myself and try to answer. Readers are welcome to share their experiences here also. So enjoy and thanks for coming.

VOL. 4 NO. 7 - SEPTEMBER 30, 2005

MORE BAD NEWS: Bad news for the New England Mathis enthusiasts. The North Shore Music Theatre has suffered a horrible fire and has cancelled its entire fall schedule. The stage, orchestra pit, lighting and sound equipment, walls, carpeting, and just about all 1800 seats were destroyed. So Johnny won't be coming to perform in October, at least not there! Now, there's always the chance that he could reschedule at a different venue but for now, don't look for him. That's very disappointing, especially for the people who come in from overseas. But, this was a freak accident (hopefully no freak set fire to the place). I wish the North Shore people well getting that beautiful facility back up and running again.

GOOD NEWS: On the upside, New England's loss is Minneapolis' gain! Johnny Mathis will be performing at the Orpheum Theater on Saturday, October 15. If life doesn't get in the way, I'll post the new date in the See Mathis Live! section of TMC.

FANTASTIC NEWS: The Brazilian album will be resurrected!! Well, maybe it would be better to say "a" Brazilian-style album is planned in the next year or so. This could be a close cousin to the Sergio Mendez-produced album that got put on the shelf in favor of Mathis Sings Ellington some, I don't know, fifteen years ago! A few songs like Photograph did make it out of that recording session eventually. (I've always wondered whether Who's Counting Heartaches, from the duet album, was part of that session. Oddly enough, Bahia, which appeared on the Personal Collection box set, is a leftover from the Hollywood Musicals session.)

According to a story in the Cleveland Plains Dealer, this phantom Brazilian album was never released because, well, Mendez and writer Dori Caymmi couldn't get along. Can you imagine?! But Johnny wants to get permission from Columbia to go through with putting another one together! Isn't that fantastic?!

I've been waiting for this kind of music from Johnny Mathis for a long time. This could be a wonderful 70th birthday present to himself, to get to do what he wants to do for a change. And you know what? He deserves it! I say screw Columbia and finance it yourself, Johnny. Your fans will gladly help you recoup, I'm sure. I'd pre-order it right now if I could! I'll bet it was the gorgeous song Dindi, from this year's wonderful "Isn't It Romantic" album, that got him wanting to record again, which is why I hope that Jorge Calandrelli gets the producer's job in lieu of Mendez. Imagine the guest singers he could bring on. His old friend, Dionne Warwick, for example, who did a Brazilian-themed album of her own about ten years ago, and who lives in Brazil now or at least until her late mother got sick. Ooh, and maybe he'll even return to Brazil for one last concert date! They love him so much down there, it'd be wonderful. I find it hard to believe that a sponsor for such a show would be so hard to find.

This has been a really sucky year of late; I've suffered personal loss with the sudden death of my mother's oldest sister; the Southern United States has suffered tragic loss of incredible proportions, and the world has lost Luther Vandross, Johnny Carson, and the Pope. Needless to say, it's been pretty hard lately to give a damn about trivia such as this. Even so, although Johnny's latin album probably won't happen this year, it's nice to finally be able to look forward to something again. And of course, there is this to be thankful for:

THE FIRST 70 DOWN: Come Friday, oh, come Friday, that's the day! September 30, 1935 a future star was born. He made it! Thank you, Jesus, he made it to 70! The way this year has gone that's no small accomplishment. You're here, Johnny, and I hope you're in good health, I hope the cancer is gone, I hope the voice is what you want it to be. Your friend Barbara Cook is still going strong and beautiful, so are you.

"The years of our life are threescore and ten, or even by reason of strength, fourscore." --Psalms 90:10. Maybe so, but I've read where the Hunza people, a tribe of people that live in the Himalayas near Pakistan, live on average 120 to 140 years. If Mathis is kin to these folk somehow, why, he's only middle-aged now!

Here's to the first 70 years, Johnny Mathis! I raise my glass to you! I toast to your health, may you live forever, and may you never die.

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