Johnny Mathis Very Best Of

The fourth of seven children, John Royce Mathis was born on September 30, 1935 in Gilmer, TX to Clem and Mildred Mathis. As a small boy, the family moved to Post Street in San Francisco. It was there that he learned an appreciation of music from his father who taught him his first song, My Blue Heaven. At age eight, his father purchased an old upright piano for $25. When he brought it home, it wouldnt fit through the front door.

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Johnny had proven to be the most eager of the children to learn all about music. He sang in the church choir, school functions, community events, for visitors in their home as well as amateur shows in the San Francisco area. Johnny was 13 years old when Clem took him to see Connie Cox, a Bay Area voice teacher, who agreed to take on the youngster in exchange for his doing odd jobs around her house. Johnny studied with Connie for six years learning vocal scales and exercises, voice production, classical and operatic skills. At George Washington High School, Johnny was known not only for his singing ability but his athleticism as well. He became a star athlete on the track and field team as a high jumper and hurdler and played on the basketball team. In 1954, Johnny enrolled at San Francisco State College with the intention of being an English and Physical Education teacher. While there, Johnny set a high jump record of 6-5 1/2. This is still on the Colleges Top 15 list and was only two inches short of the Olympic record of the time. Just as when he was in high school, Johnnys name was frequently mentioned in the sports sections of the Northern California newspapers. He was often referred to as the best all-around athlete to come out of the San Francisco Bay Area