Mathis, Johnny (1935-…), is an American singer known for his moody, mellow voice and his expressive delivery of love songs. Mathis became one of the most successful vocalists in popular music history. From 1957 to 1963, he recorded a remarkable string of hits, making him one of the wealthiest African Americans in entertainment history. Mathis’s success was especially impressive because he gained his fame as a pop singer during a time when rock music was dominating the music industry.
John Royce Mathis was born in Gilmer, Texas, and raised in San Francisco. He wanted to be a jazz singer but turned to popular songs at the urging of Columbia Records producer Mitch Miller. Mathis’s first hit was “Wonderful, Wonderful” (1957). Later in 1957, he recorded the hits “Chances Are,” “The Twelfth of Never,” “It’s Not for Me to Say,” and “Wild Is the Wind.” His other major recordings include “A Certain Smile” (1958), “Call Me” (1958), “Small World” (1959), “Misty” (1959), “Maria” (1960), “Gina” (1962), “What Will Mary Say?” (1963), and “The Shadow of Your Smile” (1966). Mathis turned out more hits in the 1970’s, notably “I’m Stone in Love with You” (1974), “When a Child Is Born” (1976), and a duet with Denise Williams called “Too Much, Too Little, Too Late” (1978).
