Johnny Mathis, the Velvet Voice that time could never fade, remains one of the most timeless artists of our era. With a voice as smooth as silk and roots deeply embedded in jazz, Mathis forged a unique legacy that no one has been able to replicate. Born with an impeccable ear for elegance, Mathis dreamed of standing alongside jazz legends like Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan while studying at San Francisco State College. Singing jazz standards in nightclubs on weekends, fate introduced him to Columbia Records’ jazz executive George Avakian.
By 1956, Mathis had moved to New York and recorded his debut album Johnny Mathis: A New Sound in Popular Music. Although this album quietly faded, Mitch Miller of Columbia saw a more commercial future for Mathis, a prediction that proved prophetic. Mathis soon released hits like “Wonderful! Wonderful!” and “It’s Not for Me to Say,” which quickly soared on the charts and made him a reluctant pop idol, setting him apart from the jazz crooners he initially admired.
In a groundbreaking move in 1958, Columbia released Johnny’s Greatest Hits, a collection of his early successes before “greatest hits” albums were even a norm. This gamble revolutionized the music industry, with the album remaining on the Billboard charts for over nine years, creating a precedent for compilations and cementing his place in music history.
Despite singing classic ballads such as “The Twelfth of Never” and “Misty,” Mathis confessed he did not feel a deep emotional connection to them. He found “The Twelfth of Never” repetitive and only agreed to record “Misty” after pianist Erroll Garner personally insisted. These songs, however, became iconic pillars of American music, defining an entire generation.
Behind the scenes, success did not protect Mathis from dark struggles. In the 1960s, he fell into addiction due to treatments from the infamous celebrity doctor Max Jacobson, who administered amphetamine-laced injections disguised as vitamin therapy. This addiction led to hospitalization. Thankfully, in the 1980s, aided by close friend Nancy Reagan, Mathis entered rehabilitation and reclaimed both his health and voice.
In a time when openness about sexuality could end careers, Mathis guarded his private life fiercely. A 1982 Us Weekly profile quoted him as saying, “Homosexuality is a way of life that I’ve grown accustomed to,” a statement that triggered swift and severe backlash, including death threats, forcing him to retract and withdraw from public discourse.
In the late 1970s, Mathis unexpectedly embraced a disco detour with a collaboration on the song “Too Much, Too Much,” produced by the famous Chic duo Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers. However, the album was shelved by Columbia for being too risky, only seeing release decades later in 2017 as part of The Voice of Romance box set.
Beyond music, Mathis has lived a rich life. A passionate golf enthusiast, he once bested a young Bill Russell in a high-stakes match and enjoys preparing elaborate meals for friends, showcasing another side of his graceful persona.
From reigning for over nine years on Billboard charts to quietly enduring Olympic trials, the stages of grandeur to intimate dinners, Johnny Mathis has journeyed through many lives within one. His story is one of elegance, sincerity, and timeless beauty that continues to inspire.
At the age of 89, Johnny Mathis announced his retirement from live performing due to age and memory challenges, concluding his farewell tour with a final sold-out performance in May 2025—marking the poignant end of an unparalleled musical era. As the velvet voice fades from the stage, the legend of Johnny Mathis remains etched forever in the hearts of millions.
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