Born September 30, 1935 in Gilmer, Texas. It was known that he was born here as early as 1965, yet the official sources gave the birthplace as San Francisco for so long, all the encyclopedias took it as fact. Carnegie Hall debut October 1993. Returned September 1997. The first ever "greatest hits" packaged recording was put together for Johnny Mathis by Mitch Miller when Johnny was unavailable for the studio! Johnny's Greatest Hits stayed on Billboard charts for 9-1/2 years! The country of Grenada has honored Johnny Mathis and others who are gold record winners with their images on a postage stamp. (Johnny is lower left.) He didn't have to die to be so honored, either! Of all things, Johnny was on my favorite show, the classic rock music show "The Midnight Special" in 1973! Episode 26, to be exact. He sang "Killing Me Softly With Her Song" and "To the Ends of the Earth", and also sang "My Love", a duet with Dionne Warwick! He was also the subject of a special Midnight Special salute! Incidentally, Mathis was also on Soul Train several times, too! First time was 1973 (show 88), also their Best of Soul Train 1974 (show 106) and most recently in 1988 (show 577). Also note that Mathis and Deniece Williams had the show to themselves in 1978 (show 257)! That's Mathis and Williams, by the way, singing the theme song to the old TV sitcom Family Ties (1982-89), beginning with the second season.

1999 was rather subdued. However, I'm happy to report that Mathis seems healthy and strong, and his latest studio CD Because You Loved Me seems to have sold well! The Internet-based radio show The Music of your Life via broadcast.com brings the music of Johnny Mathis all over the world! Hallmark Records release a most beautiful collaboration destined for obscurity called Listen! It's Christmas! that sold really well, at least in my part of the country. By the end of the year, he'll have another new hip and is looking forward to a new album and the new millennium!

1998 was a big year for Johnny Mathis. A wonderful new studio release featuring the songs of Diane Warren debuted in October. It's called Because You Loved Me, and has sold over 5000 copies at Amazon.com alone! Unfortunately, with his recent hip replacement surgery, he can't actively promote the record. Even if the fan club reps don't agree, we the people ARE seeing him on TV more than ever. His first live televised performance ever, on A&E's Live By Request on May 28. Earlier, the Mathis classic Chances Are was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in the category of Traditional Pop.

1997 was a big year, too! 40 years after he left his alma mater, San Francisco State University, he was named Alumnus of the Year. (Yes, he's yet another college dropout that made good!)

God Bless You, Mr. Mathis.

Hits so far!

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