View source for Johnny Mathis

{{short description|Retired American Jazz and Pop singer (born 1935)}}
{{other people||Johnny Mathis (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name              = Johnny Mathis
| image             = Johnny Mathis 1960.JPG
| caption           = Mathis in 1960
| birth_name        = John Royce Mathis
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|1935|09|30}}
| birth_place       = [[Gilmer, Texas]], U.S.
| origin            = San Francisco, California, U.S
| genre             = {{flatlist|
* [[Traditional Pop]]
* [[jazz]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/johnny-mathis-mn00000246885/biography|title=Johnny Mathis > Artist Biography by John Bush|work=[[RhythmOne]]|last=Bush|first=John|access-date=July 19, 2020|quote=Johnny Mathis concentrates on romantic readings of jazz and pop standards ... from the '70s onwards Mathis began incorporating more varied styles of music into his recordings, including soft rock, R&B and country.}}{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>}}
| occupation        = Singer
| years_active      = 1956–present <!--Do not edit with an end date unless a complete retirement announcement is made in the future. Johnny Mathis has retired from touring, but his team has stated that he might still release studio recordings.-->
| label             = {{flatlist|
* [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
* [[His Master's Voice (British record label)|His Master's Voice]]
* [[Fontana Records|Fontana]]
* [[Mercury Records|Mercury]]}}
| website           = {{URL|johnnymathis.com}}
}}
'''John Royce Mathis''' (born September 30, 1935) is an American singer. Starting his 69-year career with singles of [[standard (music)|standard music]], Mathis is one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gaydos |first=Steven |date=January 4, 2019 |title=Johnny Mathis Remembers His Jazz Roots |url=https://variety.com/2019/music/spotlight/johnny-mathis-2-1203099669/ |access-date=April 17, 2023 |website=Variety}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Johnny Mathis |url=https://nmaahc.si.edu/johnny-mathis |access-date=April 17, 2023 |website=National Museum of African American History and Culture |language=en}}</ref> and became highly popular as an album artist, with several of his albums achieving [[Music recording certification|gold or platinum]] status and 73 making the [[Billboard charts|''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 music|soul]], [[rhythm and blues]], [[show tune]]s, [[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.<ref name=pc23/>

==Early life and education==
Mathis was born in [[Gilmer, Texas]], on September 30, 1935,<ref name="mathis"/> the fourth of seven children of Clem Mathis and Mildred Boyd, both domestic cooks.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/jan/10/johnny-mathis-my-family-values|title=Johnny Mathis: My family values|date=January 10, 2014|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|accessdate=February 17, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Eric |last=Herschthal |url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/arts/music/blacks_and_jews_musical_gray_area |title="For Blacks And Jews, A Musical Gray Area" Eric Herschthal, ''Jewish Week'', October 12, 2010 |publisher=Thejewishweek.com |date=June 25, 2014 |access-date=June 29, 2014 |archive-date=October 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011171947/http://www.thejewishweek.com/arts/music/blacks_and_jews_musical_gray_area |url-status=dead }}</ref> Mathis is African-American<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/johnny-mathis-the-voice-of-the-50s-was-always-ahead-of-his-time-now-hes-ready-to-talk-about-it/2018/08/01/7a0cdee4-73cb-11e8-b4b7-308400242c2e_story.html |title=Johnny Mathis, the voice of the '50s, was always ahead of his time. Now he's ready to talk about it. |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 2, 2018|last=Heller |first=Karen}}</ref> and has said that he has Native American ancestry on his mother's side.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2000/07/03/forever-johnny|title=Forever Johnny|first=Jesse|last=Green|magazine=The New Yorker |date=June 25, 2000}}</ref> The family moved to San Francisco when Mathis was five,<ref>Wayne Bledsoe, "Not Perfect, But Wonderful." Knoxville (TN) News-Sentinel, September 28, 2003, p. E1.</ref> settling on 32nd Avenue in the [[Richmond District, San Francisco|Richmond District]], where Mathis grew up.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Katz |first1=Mike |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u3ogEAAAQBAJ |title=Rock and Roll Explorer Guide to San Francisco and the Bay Area |last2=Kott |first2=Crispin |date=May 14, 2021 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-4930-4174-9 |page=150 |language=en}}</ref>

Mathis' father worked in [[vaudeville]] as a singer and pianist, and on realizing his son's talent, bought an old [[upright piano]] for $25 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|25|1944}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}) and encouraged his musical pursuits. Mathis began learning songs and routines from his father; his parents also ran his fan club. Mathis' first song was "[[My Blue Heaven (song)|My Blue Heaven]]",<ref name="stationave">{{cite web|url= http://www.stationave.com/bios.johnnymathis.html|title= The Incomparable Mr. Johnny Mathis|publisher= Station Avenue Productions|date= April 3, 2006|access-date= February 2, 2007|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120306212639/http://www.stationave.com/bios.johnnymathis.html|archive-date= March 6, 2012|url-status= dead}}</ref> and he started singing and dancing for visitors at home, school, and church functions.<ref name="lvol">{{cite web|url= http://www.lvol.com/bios/e60.html|title= Johnny Mathis|publisher= Las Vegas Online Entertainment Guide|year= 2006|access-date= February 2, 2007}}</ref>

When Mathis was 13, voice teacher Connie Cox accepted him as her student in exchange for housework.<ref name=Star>{{cite web|first= Richard|last= Ouzounian|title= Johnny Mathis: A born crooner|url= https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2009/08/22/johnny_mathis_a_born_crooner.html|newspaper= Toronto Star|date= August 22, 2009|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017221733/http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/article/684202|archivedate=October 17, 2012|url-status=dead|accessdate=June 13, 2023}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.marinij.com/2014/05/08/lib-at-large-at-78-johnny-mathis-still-quietly-elegant-on-and-offstage/ | title= Lib at Large: At 78, Johnny Mathis still quietly elegant on- and offstage | newspaper= Marin Independent Journal | first=Paul | last=Liberatore | date=July 19, 2018 | access-date=March 30, 2025}}</ref>

Mathis was a star athlete at [[George Washington High School (San Francisco)|George Washington High School]] in San Francisco. He was a high jumper, hurdler, and basketball player. In 1954, Mathis enrolled at [[San Francisco State College]] on an athletic scholarship, competing in both basketball and track and intending to become an English and physical education teacher.<ref name=Star/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://sfstategators.com/honors/hall-of-fame/johnny-mathis/54|title=Hall of Fame: Johnny Mathis|publisher=San Francisco State Gators|accessdate=June 13, 2023}}</ref> There, he set a [[high jump]] record of {{Height|out=unit|m=1.97}}, still one of the college's top jump heights and only {{Height|cm=7}} short of the 1952 Olympic record of {{Height|out=unit|m=2.04}}. Mathis and future [[National Basketball Association]] star [[Bill Russell]] were featured in a 1954 sports section article of the ''San Francisco Chronicle'' demonstrating their high-jumping skills; at the time, Russell was No. 1 while Mathis was No. 2 in the city of San Francisco.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hartlaub |first=Peter |date=April 15, 2022 |title=Johnny Mathis — yes, the singer — was an S.F. high jump champion. Seventy years later, he's still giving back |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Johnny-Mathis-yes-the-singer-was-an-S-F-17076465.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240401031241/https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Johnny-Mathis-yes-the-singer-was-an-S-F-17076465.php |archive-date=April 1, 2024 |access-date=May 1, 2024 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en}}</ref>

==Career==
===Early years===
While singing at a Sunday afternoon jam session with a friend's jazz sextet at the [[Black Hawk (nightclub)|Black Hawk Club]] in San Francisco, Mathis attracted the attention of the club's co-founder, Helen Noga. She became his music manager and found Mathis a job singing weekends at Ann Dee's 440 Club. In September 1955, Noga learned that [[George Avakian]], head of Popular Music A&R at [[Columbia Records]], was on vacation near San Francisco. After repeated calls, Noga persuaded Avakian to hear Mathis at the 440 Club. After hearing Mathis sing, Avakian sent his record company a telegram reading: "Have found phenomenal 19-year-old boy who could go all the way. Send blank contracts."<ref name="lvol"/>

At San Francisco State, Mathis became noteworthy as a high jumper, and he was asked to try out for the U.S. Olympic Team that traveled to [[Melbourne]] in November 1956.<ref name="mathis">{{cite web|access-date=May 12, 2011|title=Johnny Mathis Official Website|url=http://www.johnnymathis.com/}}</ref> However, on his father's advice, Mathis opted to embark on a professional singing career.

Mathis' first album, ''[[Johnny Mathis (album)|Johnny Mathis: A New Sound In Popular Song]]'', was a slow-selling jazz album, but he stayed in New York City to sing in nightclubs. His second album was produced by [[Columbia Records]] vice president and record producer [[Mitch Miller]], who helped to define the Mathis sound. Miller preferred that Mathis sing soft, romantic ballads, pairing him with conductor and music arranger [[Ray Conniff]], and later [[Ray Ellis]], [[Glenn Osser]], and [[Robert Mersey]]. In late 1956, Mathis recorded two of his most popular songs: "[[Wonderful! Wonderful!]]" and "[[It's Not for Me to Say]]".<ref name=pc23>{{Pop Chronicles|23}}.</ref> That same year, [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] signed him to sing the latter song in the movie ''[[Lizzie (1957 film)|Lizzie]]'' (1957).

===Showbiz millionaire===
[[File:Johnny Mathis signing autographs.jpg|thumb|Mathis signing autographs in 1959]]
In June 1957, Mathis appeared on the TV program ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'', which helped increase his popularity. Later that year, Mathis released his second single to sell one million copies, "[[Chances Are (song)|Chances Are]]".<ref name=Millionaire>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=December 24, 1958|title=Mathematics on Mathis|page=57|url=http://www.archive.org/stream/variety213-1958-12#page/n295/mode/1up|access-date=May 21, 2019|via=[[Archive.org]]}}</ref> In November, he released "[[Wild Is the Wind (song)|Wild Is the Wind]]", which featured in the [[Wild Is the Wind (1957 film)|film of the same title]] and was nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Original Song]]. Mathis performed the song at the ceremony in March 1958.

The week before Mathis appeared at the Academy Awards, ''[[Johnny's Greatest Hits]]'' was released. The album spent an unprecedented 490 consecutive weeks (nearly nine and a half years) on the ''Billboard'' top 200 album charts,<ref>{{cite magazine|title= Top LP's|date=July 20, 1968|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]| page =70}}</ref> including three weeks at number one. It held the record for the most weeks on the top [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] albums in the U.S. for 15 years, until [[Pink Floyd]]'s ''[[The Dark Side of the Moon]]'' (March 1973) reached 491 weeks in October 1983.<ref>{{cite magazine|title= Top LP's & Tapes|date=October 29, 1983|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]| page =73}}</ref>

Later in 1958, Mathis made his second film appearance for [[20th Century Fox]], singing the song "[[A Certain Smile (song)|A Certain Smile]]" in the [[A Certain Smile (film)|film of that title]]. The song was also nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Original Song]]. By the end of the year, Mathis was set to earn $1&nbsp;million a year.<ref name=Millionaire/> Critics called him "the velvet voice".<ref name="stationave"/> In 1959, Mathis released his album ''[[Heavenly (Johnny Mathis album)|Heavenly]]'', which topped the ''Billboard'' album chart for five weeks during its historic 295-week run.<ref>{{citation | last = Whitburn  | first = Joel | title = Joel Whitburn Presents Top Pop Albums, Seventh Edition  | year = 2010 | publisher = Record Research Inc. | isbn = 978-0-89820-183-3 | page=503}}</ref>

In 1962, ''[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]'' magazine listed Mathis as one of 30-35 millionaires on its list of "America's 100 Richest Negroes".<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]|date=May 1962|access-date=November 15, 2020|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b9cDAAAAMBAJ|pages=130–137|title=America's 100 Richest Negroes}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=May 2, 1962|title=5 From Show Business In 'Ebony' Roster of 100 U.S. Negro Millionaires|page=1}}</ref> He had two of his biggest hits in 1962 and 1963, with "[[Gina (song)|Gina]]" (number 6) and "[[What Will Mary Say]]" (number 9).

===Split from Noga===
{{Unsourced-section|date=June 2025}}
In October 1964, Mathis sued Noga to void their management arrangement, which Noga fought with a countersuit in December. After splitting from Noga, Mathis established Jon Mat Records, incorporated in California on May 11, 1967, to produce his recordings, and Rojon Productions, incorporated in California on September 30, 1964, to handle all his concert, theater, showroom, and TV appearances, and all promotional and charitable activities. (Previously, Mathis had founded Global Records to produce his Mercury albums.) Mathis' new manager and business partner was Ray Haughn, who helped guide Mathis' career until his death in 1984.

===Popularity plateau===
{{Unsourced-section|date=June 2025}}

[[File:Johnny Mathis (1974).jpg|thumb|Mathis in 1974]]
While Mathis continued to make music, the ascent of the Beatles and early 1970s album rock kept his adult contemporary recordings off the pop singles charts until he experienced a career renaissance in the late 1970s. Mathis had the 1976 [[Christmas number one single]] in the UK with the song "[[When a Child Is Born]]", and two years later, he recorded "[[Too Much, Too Little, Too Late]]" with singer [[Deniece Williams]]. Nat Kipner and John McIntyre Vallins arranged its lyrics and music. Released as a single in 1978, it reached number one on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 pop chart, number nine on the Canadian Singles Chart, and number three on the U.K. Singles Chart. It also topped the US R&B and adult contemporary charts. "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" was certified gold and silver in the U.S. and the U.K. by the RIAA and the British Phonographic Industry, respectively. It was his first number one hit since "Chances Are".

The duo released a follow-up duet, their version of "[[You're All I Need to Get By]]", that peaked at number 47 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. In 1983, they were credited with performing "Without Us", the theme song for the American television sitcom ''[[Family Ties]]'' from its second season onward. The success of his duets with Williams prompted Mathis to record duets with various partners, including [[Dionne Warwick]], [[Natalie Cole]], [[Gladys Knight]], [[Jane Olivor]], [[Stephanie Lawrence]], and [[Nana Mouskouri]]. A compilation album, also called ''Too Much, Too Little, Too Late'', was released by Sony Music in 1995 and featured the title track among other songs by Mathis and Williams.

===Recent years===
[[File:Johnny Mathis.JPG|thumb|Mathis performing in 2006]]
From 1980 to 1981, Mathis recorded an album with [[Chic (band)|Chic]]'s [[Bernard Edwards]] and [[Nile Rodgers]], ''[[I Love My Lady]]'', that remained unreleased in its entirety until its 2017 appearance in the 68-disc collection [[The Voice of Romance: The Columbia Original Album Collection]]. (Three tracks appeared on a Chic [[box set]] in 2010 and a fourth, the title track, on Mathis's ''Ultimate Collection'' in 2011 and the Chic Organization's ''[[Up All Night (The Chic Organization album)|Up All Night]]'' in 2013.)

Mathis returned to the British Top 30 album chart in 2007 with the Sony BMG release ''The Very Best of Johnny Mathis''; in 2008 with the CD "A Night to Remember"; and in 2011 with "The Ultimate Collection".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/johnny%20mathis/|title= Johnny Mathis – Albums |publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date= February 17, 2014}}</ref>

Mathis continued to perform live until 2025. Starting in 2000, he limited his concert performances to about 50 to 60 per year. Mathis was one of the last pop singers to travel with his own full orchestra, as opposed to a band. He frequently collaborated with comedians [[Gary Mule Deer]] and [[Brad Upton (comedian)|Brad Upton]], who provided stand-up comedy routines in between his sets.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Swick |first1=Shaun |title=30 Years of Comedy: Q&A with Brad Upton |url=https://www.cityartsmagazine.com/30-years-comedy-qa-brad-upton/ |website=City Arts Magazine |date=August 26, 2014}}</ref>

On January 14, 2016, Mathis performed to a sold-out audience in [[The Villages, Florida]], as part of his 60th Anniversary Concert Tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.villages-news.com/johnny-mathis-show-at-the-sharon-had-been-set-in-motion-by-the-late-oscar-feliu/|title=Johnny Mathis' show at The Sharon had been set in motion by the late Oscar Feliu|first=Tony|last=Violanti|publisher=Villages-News.com|access-date=February 24, 2016|date=January 15, 2016}}</ref>

On March 26, 2025, it was announced that Mathis would be retiring from touring in May 2025 due to "age and memory issues". He committed to performing all scheduled dates up to that point and canceled the rest of his previously planned concerts.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Carly |date=March 26, 2025 |title=Johnny Mathis to Retire From Live Stage Performances Due to 'Age and Memory Issues' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/johnny-mathis-retire-stage-performances-concerts-1236173693/ |access-date=March 29, 2025 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> On May 18, 2025, Mathis performed his final concert at the [[Bergen Performing Arts Center]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Casey |first1=John |title=Johnny Mathis takes a final bow at N.J. concert |url=https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/johnny-mathis-final-concert |website=advocate.com |publisher=The Advocate |access-date=May 19, 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

===Career achievements===
{{Unsourced-section|date=June 2025}}

Mathis, [[Bob Dylan]], [[Barbra Streisand]], [[Tony Bennett]], [[Billy Joel]], and [[Bruce Springsteen]] are Columbia Records' longest-tenured artists. With the exception of a four-year break to record for [[Mercury Records]] in the mid-1960s, Mathis has been with Columbia throughout his career, from 1956 to 1963 and since 1968.

Five of Mathis' albums have been on the ''Billboard'' charts simultaneously, an achievement equaled by only three other singers: [[Frank Sinatra]], [[Barry Manilow]], and (posthumously) [[Prince (musician)|Prince]]. Mathis has released 200 singles and had 71 songs chart worldwide.

==Other appearances==
Mathis has taped 12 of his own television specials and made over 300 television guest appearances, 54 of them on ''[[The Tonight Show]]''. ''Tonight Show'' host [[Johnny Carson]] said, "Johnny Mathis is the best ballad singer in the world." On March 29, 2007, Mathis appeared on the show with Carson's successor, [[Jay Leno]],<ref>{{cite web
 |url = http://www.nbc.com/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno/show_calendar/index.shtml
 |title = NBC Tonight Show with Jay Leno
 |publisher = NBC.com
 |year = 2007
 |access-date = March 31, 2007
}}
</ref> to sing "[[The Shadow of Your Smile]]" with saxophonist [[Dave Koz]]. Through the years, Mathis's songs (or parts of them) have been heard in more than 100 TV shows and films around the globe. His 1998 appearance on the ''[[Live by Request]]'' broadcast on [[A&E Networks|A&E]] had the largest television viewing audience of the series. In 1989, Mathis sang the theme for the ABC daytime soap opera ''[[Loving (TV series)|Loving]]''.

Mathis served as narrator for ''[['51 Dons]]'', a 2014 documentary film about the [[Racial integration|integrated]] and undefeated [[San Francisco Dons football|1951 San Francisco Dons football team]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Jarvis|first=Kimberly|url=http://espnmediazone.com/us/weekly-updates/2014/espn-thisweekend-february-6-2014/#d|title=Black History Month Premiere: '51 Dons|publisher=[[ESPN]]|access-date=October 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209042035/http://espnmediazone.com/us/weekly-updates/2014/espn-thisweekend-february-6-2014/#d|archive-date=February 9, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The team was denied a chance to play in a [[bowl game]] because it refused to agree not to play its two African-American players, [[Ollie Matson]] and [[Burl Toler]], who were childhood friends of Mathis.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usfca.edu/about/51dons/espn/|title=ESPN Documentary: '51 Dons|publisher=[[University of San Francisco]]|access-date=October 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027080155/http://www.usfca.edu/about/51dons/espn/|archive-date=October 27, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Mathis appeared in the Season 14 finale of ''[[Criminal Minds]]'', "Truth or Dare", playing himself. He also played himself in the 2017 movie [[Just Getting Started (2017 film)|''Just Getting Started'']].

==Personal life==
Despite missing the Olympic high-jump trials, Mathis retains enthusiasm for sports. He is an avid [[golfer]], with nine [[holes-in-one]] to his credit. Mathis has also hosted several Johnny Mathis Golf Tournaments in the U.K. and the U.S. Since 1985, he has hosted a charity golf tournament in [[Belfast]] sponsored by [[Shell plc|Shell]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Johnny Mathis - Biographie |url=https://www.vintagemusic.fm/artist/12231/ |website=Vintage Music |access-date=November 3, 2019}}</ref> and the annual Johnny Mathis Invitational Track & Field Meet has continued at San Francisco State University since it started in 1982. Mathis also enjoys cooking, and published a cookbook, ''Cooking for You Alone'', in 1982.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lasentinel.net/johnny-mathis.html|title=Johnny Mathis|date=December 16, 2010|website=Los Angeles Sentinel|language=en-US|access-date=June 27, 2019}}</ref>

Mathis has undergone rehabilitation for alcoholism and prescription drug addiction,<ref name=Star/> and has supported many organizations, including the [[American Cancer Society]], the [[March of Dimes]], the [[YWCA]] and [[YMCA]], the [[Muscular Dystrophy Association]], and the [[NAACP]].

Mathis is a convert to [[Catholicism]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Johnny Mathis {{!}} Encyclopedia.com|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/music-popular-and-jazz-biographies/johnny-mathis#:~:text=Born%20John%20Royce%20Mathis%20September,Religion:%20Roman%20Catholic.|access-date=August 19, 2021|website=www.encyclopedia.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=November 22, 2016|title=Johnny Mathis Appreciation Society: The Beginning, with Clem, John's Father|url=http://johnnymathisappreciationsociety.blogspot.com/2016/11/johnny-mathis-appreciation-society.html|access-date=August 19, 2021|website=Johnny Mathis Appreciation Society}}</ref>

In a 1982 ''[[Us Weekly|Us]]'' magazine article,<ref name="Telegraph2002">[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandjazzmusic/3584124/Sometimes-I-feel-like-a-kid-again.html 'Sometimes, I feel like a kid again'], by Michael Shelden, in ''[[the Daily Telegraph]]''; published October 14, 2002. Retrieved November 23, 2014</ref> Mathis said, "Homosexuality is a way of life that I've grown accustomed to."<ref>{{cite journal|title=  Shaking the Closet: Analyzing Johnny Mathis's Sexual Elusiveness, 1956–82|year=2010 |doi=10.1080/03007760903523468 |volume=33 |issue=5 |journal=Popular Music and Society |pages=597–623|last1 = Stephens|first1 = Vincent|s2cid=144051596 }}{{subscription required}}</ref> He later said the comment was supposed to have been off the record<ref name="heller">{{cite news |last1=Heller |first1=Karen |title=Johnny Mathis, the voice of the '50s, was always ahead of his time. Now he's ready to talk about it. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/johnny-mathis-the-voice-of-the-50s-was-always-ahead-of-his-time-now-hes-ready-to-talk-about-it/2018/08/01/7a0cdee4-73cb-11e8-b4b7-308400242c2e_story.html |access-date=July 18, 2020 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=August 2, 2018}}</ref> and did not publicly discuss his sexual orientation for many years. In 2006, Mathis said that his silence had been due to [[death threat]]s he received as a result of that 1982 article.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/398517p-337685c.html|title= Report on interview with ''the Daily Express''|newspaper= Daily News|location=New York|date= March 10, 2006|access-date = February 2, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/entertainment/Johnny+Mathis-14447.html|title= Johnny Mathis In Death Threats|publisher= FemaleFirst.co.uk|date= February 26, 2006|access-date = February 2, 2007}}</ref> In April 2006, he addressed the subject again on the podcast ''The Strip'' and said his reluctance to speak about it was partly a generational issue.<ref>{{cite video|url= http://media.podshow.com/media/261/episodes/5018/thestrip-5018-04-14-2006_pshow_110633.mp3|title= Johnny Mathis|publisher= The Strip|format= .MP3|date= April 13, 2006|access-date= February 2, 2007|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080529020356/http://media.podshow.com/media/261/episodes/5018/thestrip-5018-04-14-2006_pshow_110633.mp3|archive-date= May 29, 2008|url-status= dead}}</ref> In a 2017 interview with ''[[CBS News Sunday Morning]]'', Mathis discussed the ''Us'' magazine article and confirmed that he is gay, saying: "I come from San Francisco. It's not unusual to be gay in San Francisco. I've had some girlfriends, some boyfriends, just like most people. But I never got married, for instance. I knew that I was gay." Mathis spoke to many news sources, including CBS, about his sexuality and his [[coming out]] story.<ref>{{cite episode |series=CBS News Sunday Morning |date=May 14, 2017 |network=CBS}}</ref><ref name="heller"/>

In November 2015, Mathis returned home from a concert in [[Ohio]] to find his Hollywood house destroyed by a fire. He had owned it for 56 years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://abc7.com/1065602/|title=Fire tears through singer Johnny Mathis' Hollywood Hills home|first=Leanne|last=Suter|date=November 3, 2015|website=ABC7 Los Angeles}}</ref> On January 17, 2023, a series of powerful storms drenched the hillside in front of his rebuilt home in Hollywood Hills, causing the hillside's collapse and crushing a silver Jaguar with debris and mud. The landslide cut off utilities, exposing water pipes and infrastructure to the elements. The ground had given way in the 1400 block of Sunset Plaza Drive during the storm, taking out landscaping and terrain next to the home. It remained unclear at the time when Mathis, aged 87 and still performing concerts, would be able to return and reoccupy his home, as its structural stability was uncertain given surrounding terrain damage.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://abc7.com/johnny-mathis-mudslide-hollywood-hills-mansion/12713894/ | title=Hillside collapses in front of Johnny Mathis' Hollywood Hills home, crushes singer's Jaguar | date=January 17, 2023 }}</ref>

The character Shy Baldwin from ''[[The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel]]'' is a [[composite character]] based on several different singers, but [[Rachel Brosnahan]] said she most strongly associated Mathis with the character.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/movies/marvelous-mrs-maisel-characters-based-on-real-people/#:~:text=6%20Marvelous%20Mrs.%20Maisel%20characters%20inspired%20by%20real,5%20Sophie%20Lennon%20...%206%20Midge%20Maisel%20 | title=6 Marvelous MRS. Maisel Characters Inspired by Real People | date=January 23, 2020 }}</ref>

==Honors and awards==
===Grammys===
In 2003, the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences awarded Mathis the [[Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award|Lifetime Achievement Award]]. This Special Merit Award is presented by vote of the Recording Academy's National Trustees to performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artist significance to the field of recording.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/awards/lifetime-awards |title=Lifetime Achievement Award |publisher=GRAMMY.org |access-date=August 18, 2015 |archive-date=February 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217153829/http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/awards/lifetime-awards |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Grammy Hall of Fame===
Mathis has been inducted into the [[Grammy Hall of Fame]] for three separate recordings: in 1998 for "[[Chances Are (song)|Chances Are]]", in 2002 for "[[Misty (song)|Misty]]", and in 2008 for "[[It's Not for Me to Say]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/awards/hall-of-fame |title=Grammy Hall of Fame Database |publisher=Grammy.org |access-date=June 29, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122042616/http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/awards/hall-of-fame |archive-date=January 22, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Grammy Hall of Fame (Letter J) |url=http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/awards/hall-of-fame#j |website=Grammy.Org |publisher=The Recording Academy |access-date=June 3, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122042616/http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/awards/hall-of-fame |archive-date=January 22, 2011 }}</ref>

{| class=wikitable
|-
| colspan="5" style="text-align:center;"| '''Grammy Hall of Fame Awards'''
|-
! Year Recorded
! Title
! Genre
! Label
! Year Inducted
|- align=center
| 1957
| "[[It's Not for Me to Say]]"
| Traditional Pop (Single)
| Columbia
| 2008
|- align=center
| 1959
| "[[Misty (song)|Misty]]"
| Traditional Pop (Single)
| Columbia
| 2002
|- align=center
| 1957
| "[[Chances Are (song)|Chances Are]]"
| Traditional Pop (Single)
| Columbia
| 1998
|}

===Great American Songbook Hall of Fame===
On June 21, 2014, Mathis was inducted into the Great American Songbook Hall of Fame along with [[Linda Ronstadt]], [[Shirley Jones]], and [[Nat King Cole]] (whose daughter [[Natalie Cole]] accepted the award on his behalf). Center for the Performing Arts artistic director [[Michael Feinstein]] presented the awards. According to its website, "Conceived as an enduring testament to the Great American Songbook, the Hall of Fame honors performers and composers responsible for creating America's soundtrack."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thecenterfortheperformingarts.org/About-Us/news/Celebrity-artists-added-to-Songbook-Hall-of-Fame-c |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106212908/http://www.thecenterfortheperformingarts.org/About-Us/news/Celebrity-artists-added-to-Songbook-Hall-of-Fame-c |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 6, 2015 |title=The Center for the Performing Arts – Home of the Palladium – Carmel, Indiana |publisher=Thecenterfortheperformingarts.org |access-date=June 29, 2014 }}</ref>

===Other===
On June 1, 1972, Mathis was awarded a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] for his contributions to music. Six years later, his hit duet "The Last Time I Felt Like This" from the film ''[[Same Time, Next Year (film)|Same Time, Next Year]]'' was nominated for an [[Academy Award for Best Original Song]]. Mathis and Jane Olivor sang the song at the Academy Awards ceremony. It was his second performance at the Oscars; his first was in 1958, when he sang "[[Wild Is the Wind (song)|Wild Is the Wind]]" by Dimitri Tiomkin and Ned Washington from the movie of the [[Wild Is the Wind (1957 film)|same name]]. Mathis was also awarded the [[Society of Singers]] Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.singers.org/special-events/|title=Ella Award Special Events|date=February 12, 2011|access-date=May 10, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514064028/http://www.singers.org/special-events/|archive-date=May 14, 2015}}</ref> In 2007, he was inducted into the [[Hit Parade Hall of Fame]]. In 1988, Mathis appeared as a guest vocalist, accompanied by [[Henry Mancini]], on ''[[Late Night with David Letterman]]'' to sing Henry's theme to the "Viewer Mail" segment. In 2011, Mathis received the Golden Plate Award of the [[American Academy of Achievement]], presented by Awards Council member General [[Colin Powell]].<ref>{{cite web|title= Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement |website=achievement.org|publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url=https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#the-arts}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Johnny Mathis Biography and Interview. Photo: 2011| publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url= https://achievement.org/achiever/johnny-mathis/}}</ref>

In 2017, San Francisco State University awarded Mathis an honorary [[Doctor of Fine Arts]] degree. He attended San Francisco State for three semesters before withdrawing in 1956 to pursue his music career.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.johnnymathis.com/news.html |title=Johnny Mathis News & Information |date=May 25, 2017 |access-date=November 4, 2017 |archive-date=October 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020021928/http://www.johnnymathis.com/news.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Discography==

{{Main|Johnny Mathis discography}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book | last=Mathis | first=Johnny |author2=Brash, Peter |author3=Birch, Marge | title=Cooking for You Alone | location=Pasadena, California | publisher=Tech. Educ. Co. | year=1982 | isbn=978-0-939402-00-7|ref=none}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last1=Jasper |first1=Tony |title=Johnny: The authorised biography of Johnny Mathis |publisher=W. H. Allen UK |year=1984 |isbn=0-86379-011-9}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{IBDB name |id= 0086751|name = Johnny Mathis}}
* {{IMDb name|558922|Johnny Mathis}}
* {{official website}}
* [http://musicbrainz.org/artist/48896dee-a985-424d-9849-84802f7e79c9 Music Brainz – Johnny Mathis]
* Johnny Mathis at [https://web.archive.org/web/20061219051012/http://www.johnnymathis.net/ Sony website]
* [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p3122|pure_url=yes}} Mathis, Johnny-AMG discography] — Allmusic
* [https://achievement.org/achiever/johnny-mathis/#interview Johnny Mathis Biography and Interview on American Academy of Achievement]

{{Johnny Mathis}}
{{American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Song}}
{{Authority control}}

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