For those unaware, Johnny Mathis, who, as I write, is still a much-loved and respected figure in popular music at the age of 90, has been one the most distinctive and successful singers in popular music for the last seven decades. His velvet voice and immaculate phrasing enabled him to transcend the genres to encompass, sophisticated pop, jazz, easy listening and even disco over the years, and he had over 80 hits from the 1950s through to the 80’s.

He began his recording career just as the long-playing album format was becoming a burgeoning medium, soon followed by the stereo boom and he was ideally placed to take advantage of that. This 46-track 2-CD collection features just about all the titles from his first albums for Columbia, Johnny Mathis, Wonderful, Wonderful, Warm and Swing Softly.

Mostly comprising his trademark versions of classics from the Great American Songbook, and with accompaniments directed by great arranger/composers of the day - Percy Faith, Ted Macero, Bob Prince, Manny Albam, Gil Evans, and John Lewis - the collection offers a thoroughly enjoyable showcase for his unique talent as a song stylist, captured at the start of what would be a long and illustrious career.

Johnny’s beginnings are as remarkably calm, humble and as dutifully soulful as one could only imagine. The fourth of seven children, born John Royce Mathis in Gilmer, Texas to Clem and Mildred Mathis, as a small boy, the family moved to Post Street in San Francisco. It was there that he learned an appreciation of music from his father who taught him his first song, “My Blue Heaven.”

At age eight, his father purchased an old upright piano for $25. When he brought it home, it wouldn’t fit through the front door. So that evening, Johnny stayed up all night to watch his father dismantle the piano, get it into the small living room of their basement apartment and then reassemble it. Clem Mathis, who worked briefly as a musician back in Texas playing the piano and singing on stage, would continue to teach his son many songs and routines.

Johnny had proven to be the most eager of the children to learn all about music. He sang in the church choir, school functions, community events, for visitors in their home as well as amateur shows in the San Francisco area.

Johnny was 13 years old 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 learning vocal scales and exercises, voice production, classical and operatic skills.

Another pivotal point in his career was when he was at University a fellow student, whose sextet was working at the Black Hawk nightclub, brought Johnny in for a Sunday afternoon jam session. It was at the Black Hawk that Helen Noga, co-owner of the club, first heard him sing. She decided that 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.”

The rest, as they say, is history for Johnny has since received five GRAMMY nominations during his career. The first was for “Misty” in 1960 in the category of Best Male Vocal Performance - Single Record or Track. The second was in 1992 for “In a Sentimental Mood / Mathis Sings Ellington” in the category of Best Traditional Pop Performance. He also was nominated in 2006 for “Isn’t it Romantic,” and again in 2011 for “Let It Be Me – Mathis In Nashville” in the category of Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. His latest nomination occurred in 2014 for “Sending You A Little Christmas” also for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

Disc 1:
Autumn In Rome; Easy To Love; Street Of Dreams; Love, Your Magic Spell Is Everywhere; Prelude To A Kiss; Babalu; Caravan; In Other Words (Fly Me To The Moon); Star Eyes; It Might As Well Be Spring; Cabin In The Sky; Angel Eyes; Will I Find My Love Today?; Looking At You; Let Me Love You; All Through The Night; It Could Happen To You; That Old Black Magic; Too Close For Comfort; In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning; Year After Year; You Stepped Out Of A Dream

Disc 2:
Early Autumn; Day In, Day Out; Warm; My One And Only Love; Baby, Baby, Baby; A Handful Of Stars; By Myself; Then I’ll Be Tired Of You; I’m Glad There Is You; What’ll I Do; The Lovely Things You Do; There Goes My Heart; While We’re Young; You Hit The Spot; It’s De-Lovely; Get Me To The Church On Time; Like Someone In Love; You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To; Love Walked In; This Heart Of Mine; Sweet Lorraine; Can’t Get Out Of This Mood; I’ve Got The World On A String; Easy To Say (But So Hard To Do)

Official Purchase Link

www.johnnymathis.com