Johnny Mathis
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Johnny Mathis By Travis Jacobson, Aaron Hanson, Xinwen Zhang, Quentin Wathum-Ocama, and Julia Karpas General Background Information ● Full name: John Royce Mathis ● Born: September 30th, 1935 ● Born in Gilmer, Texas, to Celm and Mildred Mathis ● Number four of six children ● Attended George Washington High School (in/near San Francisco) and San Francisco State College ● Was a writer as well as a singer ● Vocal Genres: Pop and R&B ● Styles: Early Pop/Rock, Soul and Show Tunes ● Labels: Columbia and Mercury Other Background Information ● As a small boy, his family moved to San Francisco. At his high school, Mathis was known for his singing ability as well as his athleticism. He was a star athlete on the track and field team, especially as a high jumper. ● Enrolled in College in 1954 and initially studied to become an English and Phy. Ed. teacher. He was also a part of the collegiate track team, and set a high jump record of 6'-5 1/2", which was only two inches short of the Olympic record at the time. Mathis was asked to attend the 1956 Olympic team trials, but he declined, for a reason later discussed ● In his free time he loves to golf and cook, and has sang at many golf banquets including the Ryder Cup. Hosted his own golf tournaments, the Johnny Mathis Seniors PGA Classic, held in Los Angeles in 1985 and 1986. ● He is a gourmet cook, and was taught by his mother at an early age. He enjoys cooking for himself and others when on the road or at home Musical Background ● Mathis was first introduced to and taught music by his father. ● At 13, he was taken to see Connie Cox, a voice teacher, who taught him in exchange for odd jobs to be done around her house. He studied 6 years with her, learning vocal scales and exercises, voice production, and classical and operatic skills. ● First recognized in college at Black Hawk nightclub by the co-owner of a club, Helen Noga, during a jam session with friends ● He landed a gig at Ann Dee's 440 club in September, 1955 ● His first contract was with Columbia, after Helen convinced George Avakian, head of Jazz A&R at Columbia at the time, to come hear Mathis sing. ● Avakian 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." ● In 1956, Mathis gave up chance to make the U.S. Olympic team to start recording his first album for Columbia in New York (his father played a huge role in the decision). Musical Background (cont.) ● Mathis' most popular hits were created under the supervision of Mitch Miller, who favored him singing soft, romantic ballads. Two in particular were recorded during his second recording session: "Wonderful, Wonderful" and "It's Not For Me To Say" . ● Mathis really exploded on the music scene after his appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in June of 1957, which helped him become a national celebrity and household name. ● Mathis was successful not only in creating hit singles, but also faired well in the album market. He is the holder of many records, and has set many precedents in the music industry. ● One notable precedent is the creation of his first greatest hits album, which began a "Greatest Hits" tradition by every record company since his. This album became one of the most popular albums of all time, and spent a record time of almost ten years on the Billboard Top Albums Chart and is in the Guinness Book of World Records. ● Awarded his own star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame in June of 1972, and was a two time inductee of the Grammy Hall of Fame, for "Chances Are" in 1998 and "Misty" in 2002. Why this topic was selected ● Although he is most known for his romantic singing style, his discography includes a wide variety of genres including soft rock. ● The reason Mathis was selected as a topic is most likely due to his popularity in particular genres of music during a time when rock and roll was just starting to form and come into its own from three distinct genres (Pop, R&B, and C&W). ● Mathis continues to be important today, and in 2003, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. This was said to be his most impressive achievement of all. Musical Style A Powerful Vocal Presence- Johnny's extensive vocal training set him apart from other artists. Having studied operatic vocal styles along with that of more familiar crooners, Johnny's voice was incredibly versatile. He could belt out strongly in much higher registers and return to soft, gentle ballads with ease. Often within the same song.The sound of his voice is his greatest asset as an artist and performer. A truly polished vocalist who could woo any listener with his pleasing tone. Musical Setting- The music in Johnny's recordings is meant to be the setting for which his voice can shine through and not distract the listener from it. Most often his records feature ensembles with strings, flutes, percussion, backing singers, guitars, and bass all carefully and professionally arranged to be the backdrop for Johnny's stunning voice. Most of the music would be called ballads and fit for slow dances. Whimsical, happy, and lite-hearted tunes meant for a wide audience. Stylistic Variety Within Soft Rock Genre While leaning nearer to Pop music than straight rock and roll, Johnny's music did venture into other genres from time to time. The rhythmic variations across his catalogue touch folk, jazz, and R&B just to name a few. The instrumentation found in his recordings is extremely broad and the arrangements span genres from many different places and eras. However, the constant for his records is the soft yet soaring, powerful yet gentle, vocal performance. Every other element is secondary Influences Although Johnny is frequently described as a romantic singer, his discography includes jazz, traditional pop, Brazilian and Spanish music, Soul, R&B, soft rock, Broadway, Tin Pan Alley standards, some blues and country songs, and even a few disco tunes for his album. 1.Variety of music style 2. Special soft vocal style Johnny Mathis plays an very important role for the future development of Rock n Roll music style. Singles like "Chances Are" has combined different music styles together. Also Johnny's special soft voice has the uniqueness that other professional artist never have which gives him so many prizes such as the Grammy Prizes. How people think about Johnny Mathis Feinstein acknowledged his debt to Mathis by invoking comparisons that drew on his background as a musicologist and historian of pre-rock pop. "If it wasn't for Johnny Mathis I might not exist today, just as if it weren't for Al Jolson, Bing Crosby might not have existed, and if it weren't for Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra might not have existed, and I guess if it weren't for Nat Cole, Johnny Mathis might not have existed. There is a lineage and there are always those influences." Pre-Rock n Roll Rock Legends As the music industries experiences change.. Mr. Mathis has been able to span the decades as a well respected interpreter of sound. His soft sultry sound has been a format in many of the Baby Boomer generation. Johnny Mathis is a legendary performer who has uniquely and enduringly communicated with all audiences through his timeless music, true class and voice of romance. Music of the Period Johnny Mathis' time of best commercial success was arguably during the late fifties (1956-1959 though he continued to reach #1 on the charts as late as 1978. During this time, Johnny Mathis would have been competing for airplay against other well known popular artist such as Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis and Frank Sinatra. Singles and Albums of the Period Johnny Mathis was competing with many other greats artists in this period: ● Fats Domino released Blueberry Hill in 1956 ● Elvis Presley released songs such as Hound Dog, Jailhouse Rock and All Shook Up in 1956 & 1957 ● Jerry Lee Lewis released Great Balls of Fire which took the country by storm in 1957 ● The Everly Brothers released songs such as Bird Dog and Wake Up Little Susie in 1958 & 1957 ● Frank Sinatra who released his popular album, Come Fly with Me in 1958 ● Bobby Darin released his version of the Mack of Knife in 1959 An Unforeseen Comeback for Johnny Mathis in a New Era of Music In 1978 Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams released Too Much, Too Little, Too Late which dominated the charts. Mathis and Williams were competing against artists such as: ● The Bee Gees when they released their hit song titled Night Fever and Staying Alive ● Donna Summers who released MacArthur Park ● Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond, who both released You Don't Bring Me Flowers Period in Context Johnny Mathis's commercial and popular success in the 1950s mean something, especially as an African American artist. Even though music of the era was going through rapid transition and change, Johnny captivate audiences across the country. In this extremely competitive era, Johnny was able to have several hit singles, including his version of Chances Are which reached #1 on the charts in 1957. References Bush, J. (2012). Johnny Mathis. Allmusic. Retrieved May 28, 2012, from www. allmusic.com/artist/johnny-mathis Grein, P. (1989, December 1). Johnny Mathis Gets Misty Over Influence on Singers : Pop: Other balladeers have attracted more attention in the last year than Mathis has in more than a decade.