Have you ever wondered what your favorite singer’s favorite songs are? Iconic singer Johnny Mathis is giving his fans a rare glimpse into the songs that have shaped his life and heart when he releases a new boxed set of music next month.
“All the people who like my music get the chance to see what I like,” said the 79-year-old California resident.
“The Complete Global Albums” is a collection of songs the iconic balladeer recorded from 1967-1974 when the Gilmer, Texas native released music on Mercury Records and when he founded his own production company, Global Records.
It is set for release on November 17 and can be purchased everywhere including on iTunes and Amazon.com.
“At the time my business manager had a great idea for me to go to a different record company. I had a great career with Columbia, but I didn’t think anything of it when he suggested I go to another company. I was a very excited young man looking for new things to do during that time period. I was like a sponge then,” recalls Mathis. “I was living in New York City at the time and I got the chance to meet some great writers for the Broadway stage.
“It was also my first time going to Great Britain and the people that I met there were very interesting and I made some recordings there. I was also interested in Brazilian and Spanish music. I was interested in all of this because I had met so many people along the way that were so interesting.”
The colossal set includes music that Mathis recorded that moves between well-known pop ditties to musical experimentation including the Spanish language “Ole,” “The Sweetheart Tree,” which he recorded in London.
In addition to the full 10 original Mercury albums, “The Complete Global Albums” includes additional bonus material of a then-unreleased album of show tunes, Broadway and tracks from the movie, “Away From Home” as well as the international versions of “The Sweetheart Tree” and a two-disc compilation of singles never placed on an album.
“I’m very proud of the set. It’s the good, the bad and the ugly. This usually happens when you’re dead,” Mathis laughed. “This is the last of the stuff that I did while I was at Mercury.”
Mathis learned an appreciation for music as a child living in the San Francisco area with his parents and three siblings. At the age of eight his father, Clem Mathis, bought a used upright piano and taught Johnny his first song, “My Blue Heaven.”
As he grew older, Mathis sang in church choirs, school functions and regional events in the Bay area. At the age of 13 his father took him to see voice teacher Connie Cox who agreed to take him on in in exchange for him doing odd jobs around her home.
Johnny studied with Cox for six years learning vocal scales and exercises, voice production, classical and operatic skills. In 1955, Mathis landed a job singing weekends at Ann Dee’s 440 Club. It was there that the head of Jazz A& R at Columbia Records came to hear him.
In 1956, Mathis recorded his first album, “Johnny Mathis: A New Sound in Popular Song.” It included songs like “Angel Eyes,” “Easy to Love” and “Babalu.” In the fall of 1956 he recorded his mega hits “Wonderful, Wonderful” and “It’s Not For Me to Say.” Those two singles reached their peak on the Pop Chart in 1957. These successes were followed by Mathis’ first number one hit “Chances Are.”
Mathis has continued to steadily record music throughout the decades.
“The Complete Global Albums” is a testament to that.
“These things are what you do. Your whole life is a work in progress,” Mathis said. “I don’t know what’s around the corner. I perform what interests me and I love looking to see what’s new to sing.”
Mathis recorded a song that will be featured on the soon-to-be- released Christmas album by saxophonist Dave Koz.
He is currently touring the country in his “58th/59th Anniversary Tour.
Although Pittsburgh is not on the tour schedule, Mathis has found memories of the Steel City. The charismatic performer sang at Heinz Hall about three years ago during a sold-out two-day concert.
“I remember when Pittsburgh’s air was so bad that your white shirt got black when you went outside. That’s how far back I go,” he laughed. “I have very fond memories of Pittsburgh it’s a wonderful city.”
When Mathis isn’t touring or recording, the golf enthusiast works out about an hour and 15 minutes five days a week and enjoys cooking.
“I keep myself fit. I go to the gym and I play golf as much as I can. You have to keep your energy up. I had back surgery and I have two titanium hips, but my voice has remained strong,” Mathis said.
“You have to find a good voice teacher because singing and performing is a learning process. Your voice is something you keep your whole life.”
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