Introduction:
Johnny Mathis, often called the Voice of Romance, has captivated audiences for more than seven decades. With over 360 million records sold, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame, he is one of the best-selling artists of all time. Today, as he approaches 90, Mathis’s story remains as inspiring as his timeless voice.
Born on September 30, 1935, in Gilmer, Texas, Johnny was the fourth of seven children. His parents, both cooks, moved the family to San Francisco when he was five. There, his father recognized his son’s musical gift early and bought him a $25 piano. By his teens, Johnny was studying voice under Connie Cox, training in classical techniques that would shape his career.
But music wasn’t his only talent. At George Washington High School, Johnny excelled in track and field, even setting a high jump record. His skills earned him a college scholarship and a chance to try out for the 1956 U.S. Olympic team. Yet, when Columbia Records came calling, Johnny made the fateful choice to pursue singing over sports—a decision that would change music history.
His early hits, Wonderful! Wonderful! and It’s Not for Me to Say, launched him into stardom. By 1957, his single Chances Are had sold over a million copies, cementing him as a household name. His album Johnny’s Greatest Hits stayed on the Billboard charts for 490 weeks—nearly ten years—a record unbroken until Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon surpassed it decades later.
Behind the velvet voice, however, Mathis faced personal battles. He quietly struggled with alcohol addiction, later crediting First Lady Nancy Reagan for encouraging him to seek help. He also confronted dependency issues after medical treatments led to unintended drug use. With resilience and support, Johnny overcame these challenges, choosing health and longevity over self-destruction.
In 1982, Mathis made a rare comment about his sexuality, revealing he was gay. The backlash at the time was harsh, even leading to threats. For years, he kept his personal life private, until he revisited the subject with honesty in 2017. His courage to live authentically, especially in an era of stigma, has earned him renewed admiration.
Beyond music, Johnny’s passions reveal his depth. A dedicated golfer, he has hosted charity tournaments for decades. A true foodie, he inherited a love for cooking from his parents, even publishing a cookbook titled Cooking for You Alone. Unlike many stars, he finds joy in preparing his own meals, often experimenting with recipes collected from his vast cookbook library.
Today, Johnny Mathis continues to perform, often with a full orchestra, proving that elegance in music never goes out of style. His life—marked by triumphs, struggles, resilience, and reinvention—shows us that legends aren’t just made by their records, but by their humanity.
At nearly 90, Johnny Mathis remains more than a singer. He is a survivor, an artist, and above all, a man whose story reminds us that even the smoothest voices carry echoes of struggle and strength.