Description
Johnny Mathis Autograph
- Artist: JOHNNY MATHIS
- Autographed By: JOHNNY MATHIS
- Product: 8″ x 10″ BLACK AND WHITE PROMO PHOTO HAND SIGNED BY JOHNNY MATHIS
- Genre: MUSIC
- Product Attributes: EXCELLENT CONDITION
- Service Attributes: From the Graydon Wall collection. Market leading unconditional 90-day money back guarantee and lifetime COA. Worldwide shipping is available
Johnny Mathis is an American singer of popular music, born on September 30, 1935, in Gilmer, Texas, USA. He began his career with singles of standard music, and later became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status and 73 making the Billboard charts. Mathis has received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for three recordings. He is the third best-selling artist of the 20th century, selling 360 million records worldwide. Although frequently described as a romantic singer, his discography includes traditional pop, Latin American, soul, rhythm and blues, show tunes, 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 six albums of Christmas music.
Mathis was born to Clem Mathis and Mildred Boyd, both domestic cooks. The family moved to San Francisco when Mathis was five years old, settling on 32nd Avenue in the Richmond District, where Mathis would grow up. Mathis’ father had worked in vaudeville as a singer and pianist, and upon realizing his son’s talent, bought an old upright piano for $25 (US$416 in 2022 dollars) and encouraged his music. Mathis began learning songs and routines from his father; his parents also ran his fan club.
Mathis’ first song was “My Blue Heaven”. He started singing and dancing for visitors at home, at school, and at church functions. When Mathis was 13, voice teacher Connie Cox accepted him as her student in exchange for work around her house. Mathis studied with Cox for six years, learning vocal scales and exercises, voice production, classical and operatic singing.
The first band Mathis sang with was formed by his high school friend Merl Saunders. Mathis was a star athlete at George Washington High School in San Francisco. He was a high jumper and hurdler, and he also played on the basketball team. In 1954, Mathis enrolled at San Francisco State College on an athletic scholarship, competing in both basketball and track and intending to become a physical education teacher. While there, he set a high-jump record of 1.97 m (6 ft 51⁄2 in).
Johnny Mathis Autograph