Introduction:
Long before the world fell in love with “Chances Are” and “Misty,” Johnny Mathis was simply a little boy listening to his father sing. Decades later, one country music album would bring those treasured memories back to life.
Before Johnny Mathis became one of the most celebrated romantic singers in American music, his earliest musical memories were made at home, beside his father, Clem Mathis.
Born in Gilmer, Texas, Johnny was the fourth of seven children. His family eventually moved to San Francisco, where life was modest and money was often limited. But their home was filled with something far more valuable to the young boy: music.
Clem was more than a father. He was a singer, a piano player, and Johnny’s first musical inspiration. Having performed professionally in Texas, he carried a deep affection for country and Western songs. He shared that passion with his children, but Johnny was the one who listened most closely.
One of the songs that stayed with him was Bob Wills’ “San Antonio Rose.” Johnny remembered standing nearby as his father played and sang, absorbing the melodies night after night. Those moments were not formal music lessons. They were simple family experiences that gradually shaped his musical imagination.
Another important memory involved a piano Clem brought home for the family. The instrument was so large that it could not fit through the entrance of their small apartment. Rather than give up, Clem dismantled it, carried the pieces inside, and reassembled it in the living room. For young Johnny, watching his father bring music into their home was an unforgettable experience.
Clem also recognized his son’s natural ability. When Johnny was around 13, his father arranged for him to study with local voice teacher Connie Cox. The lessons, exchanged for household chores and odd jobs, gave the young singer formal training and helped lay the foundation for the remarkable voice audiences would later recognize around the world.
Yet, even after achieving international success with songs such as “Wonderful! Wonderful!,” “Chances Are,” and “Misty,” Johnny never forgot where his love of music began.
That connection became especially meaningful in 2010, when he released Let It Be Me: Mathis in Nashville. The album marked a return to the country music he had grown up hearing from his father. Featuring collaborations with celebrated musicians, including Alison Krauss and Vince Gill, the project allowed Mathis to explore a musical tradition deeply connected to his childhood.
For Johnny, recording country songs was not simply an opportunity to experiment with a different genre. It was a chance to revisit the sounds that had first inspired him to sing.
He explained that his father had sung those songs to him when he was young, and that they were the first music he remembered hearing. In that sense, the Nashville project was deeply personal: a tribute to the man who had introduced him to music and encouraged him to develop his voice.
The world may remember Johnny Mathis for his timeless romantic ballads, but behind those unforgettable recordings was a much quieter beginning. A father at a piano, a little boy listening, and songs that would stay with him for a lifetime.
Long before the applause, the awards, and the legendary hits, there was Clem Mathis singing to his son. And in many ways, that is where Johnny’s story truly began.