Johnny Mathis (popzanger)
John Royce 'Johnny' Mathis (Gilmer, Texas, 30 september 1935) is een Amerikaanse popzanger en entertainer.

Carrière 
Johnny Mathis is sinds 1957 onder contract bij het platenlabel Columbia Records, maar tussen 1963 en 1967 publiceerde hij echter enkele albums bij Mercury Records. Vooral zijn kerstalbums werden steeds weer bestsellers. Merry Christmas (1958) kreeg bijvoorbeeld vijf keer platina. Daarnaast is het album Johnny's Greatest Hits uit hetzelfde jaar een mijlpaal in de hithistorie. 490 weken bleef de hitverzameling in de Amerikaanse hitlijst en het is na The Dark Side of the Moon van Pink Floyd de langst geklasseerde lp in de pophistorie.

Zijn grootste hits zijn It's Not for Me to Say (1957), Chances Are (1957, VS, 1e plaats), The Twelfth of Never (1957), A Certain Smile (1958), Someone (1959), Misty (1959), My Love for You (1960), Gina (1962), What Will Mary Say (1963), Life Is a Song Worth Singing (1974), I'm Stone in Love with You (1975), When a Child Is Born (1976, UK, 1e plaats), Too Much, Too Little, Too Late (1978, VS, 1e plaats, duet met Deniece Williams), Gone Gone Gone (1979) en Friends in Love (1982, duet met Dionne Warwick). Na zijn succesvolle hitduetten met Dionne Warwick en Denise Williams, waarmee hij in 1978 het album That's What Friends Are For opnam, stond Johnny Mathis zeer vaak met andere prominente, vrouwelijke collega's in de studio, waaronder Barbra Streisand, Barbara Dickson, Angela Bofill, Patti Austin, Gladys Knight, Paulette McWilliams, Stephanie Lawrence, Jane Olivor en Nana Mouskouri. Tot zijn grote voorbeelden telt bovendien de zangeres Lena Horne, wier stijl hij naar eigen zeggen imiteerde.

Mathis streefde in het bijzonder in de jaren 1970 naar muzikale veelzijdigheid. De albums I'm Coming Home (1973) en Mathis is … (1977) werden geproduceerd door de Philly soul-legende Thom Bell. Een jaar later ontstond de lp The Heart of a Woman, geproduceerd door Johnny Bristol, die voorheen als songwriter en producent van talloze hits voor Motown verantwoordelijk was. Op de albumcover toonde Mathis zich in jeans en open hemd ongewoon nonchalant. Op het hoogtepunt van de discogolf nam de zanger net als zijn crooner-collega's Frank Sinatra en Andy Williams liederen in deze stijl op. Het album The Best Days of my Life (1979) bevatte meerdere disco-beïnvloede nummers, waaronder de Britse hit Gone, Gone, Gone (15e plaats), ook als de nog in hetzelfde jaar gepubliceerde lp Mathis Magic. Zo ontstonden ook disco-versies van de bekende Cole Porter-standards Night and Day en Begin the Beguine. Op Mathis' lp Different Kinda Different (1980) bevindt zich bovendien zijn interpretatie van de disco-klassieker I Will Survive.

Ook tegenwoordig publiceert Mathis regelmatig platen, die de trouw van zijn fans aanduiden. Voorts is hij een uiterst populaire concert-attractie. In 2006 maakte Mathis jazz-opnamen met de Big Phat Band.

In december 2017 verscheen met The Voice of Romance: The Columbia Original Album Collection een veelomvattende presentatie van zijn totale carrière. De 68 cd's omvattende box bevat meerdere studio-albums, bovendien talrijke niet eerder gepubliceerde opnamen, waaronder het album I Love my Lady, een door Nile Rodgers geproduceerd disco-project, dat stilistisch aan Rodgers' Chic-platen aanleunt.

Discografie

Singles 
 1957:	Chances Are
 1957:	It's Not for Me to Say (met Ray Conniff)
 1957:	No Love (But Your Love) (met Ray Ellis and His Orchestra)
 1957:	The Twelfth of Never (met Ray Conniff and His Orchestra)
 1957:	Wild Is the Wind (met Ray Ellis and His Orchestra)
 1957:	Wonderful Wonderful
 1958:	A Certain Smile (met Ray Ellis and His Orchestra)
 1958:	All the Time (met Ray Ellis and His Orchestra)
 1958:	Call Me (met Ray Ellis and His Orchestra)
 1958:	Come to Me (met Ray Ellis and His Orchestra)
 1958:	Teacher, Teacher (met Ray Ellis and His Orchestra)
 1958:	Winter Wonderland (met Percy Faith and His Orchestra)
 1959: It's Not for Me to Say
 1959:	Let's Love (met Ray Ellis and His Orchestra)
 1959:	Misty (met Glenn Osser and His Orchestra)
 1959:	Small World (met Glenn Osser and His Orchestra)
 1959:	Someone (met Ray Ellis and His Orchestra)
 1959:	The Best of Everything (met Glenn Osser and His Orchestra)
 1959:	The Story of Our Love (met Glenn Osser and His Orchestra)
 1959:	You Are Beautiful (met Ray Ellis and His Orchestra)
 1960: Don't Blame Me
 1960: I Just Found Out About Love
 1960:	How to Handle a Woman
 1960:	Maria (met Glenn Osser and His Orchestra)
 1960:	My Love for You (met Glenn Osser and His Orchestra)
 1960:	Starbright (met Glenn Osser and His Orchestra)
 1961: Christmas Eve
 1961: Laurie, My Love
 1961: Love Look Away
 1961: My Kind of Christmas
 1961: My Love for You
 1961: You Set My Heart to Music
 1961:	Wasn't the Summer Short? (met Ray Ellis and His Orchestra)
 1962: Chances Are
 1962: Everything's Coming Up Roses
 1962: That's the Way It Is
 1962: Unaccustomed as I Am
 1962:	Gina (met Don Costa & Orchestra)
 1962:	Marianna (met Pete King & His Orchestra)
 1962:	Sweet Thursday
 1963: The Little Drummer Boy
 1963:	Come Back (met Don Costa & Orchestra)
 1963:	Every Step of the Way (met Glenn Osser & Orchestra)
 1963:	I'll Search My Heart (met Don Costa & Orchestra)
 1963:	Sooner or Later (met Don Costa & Orchestra)
 1963:	What Will Mary Say (met Don Costa & Orchestra)
 1963:	Your Teenage Dreams (met Don Costa & Orchestra)
 1964: The Fall of Love 1964:	Bye Bye Barbara (met Don Costa & Orchestra)
 1964:	Listen Lonely Girl 1964:	Taste of Tears (met Don Costa & Orchestra)
 1965: Danny Boy 1965: Sweetheart Tree 1965: Take the Time 1965:	On a Clear Day You Can See Forever 1966: Moment to Moment 1966: So Nice (Samba de verao) 1966: The Impossible Dream 1966: The Shadow of Your Smile 1967: Don't Talk to Me 1967: Misty Roses 1967: Two Tickets and a Candy Heart 1968: Among the First to Know 1968: The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) 1968: Venus 1968: You Make Me Think About You 1969: Give Me Your Love for Christmas 1969: Whoever You Are, I Love You 1969:	Love Theme from "Romeo and Juliet" 1970: Evil Ways 1970: Midnight Cowboy (uit de Film Asphalt-Cowboy)
 1970: Odds and Ends 1970: Pieces of Dreams 1970: Wherefore and Why 1971: Long Ago and Far Away 1971: Sign of the Dove 1971: Ten Times Forever More 1972: If We Only Have Love 1972: Make It Easy on Yourself 1973: Show and Tell 1973: Soul & Inspiration / Just Once in My Life (medley)
 1973: Take Good Care of Her 1973: What Will My Mary Say 1973:	I'm Coming Home 1973:	Life Is a Song Worth Singing 1974: Sweet Child 1975: Feel Like Makin' Love 1975: Only You (And You Alone) 1975: Sail on White Moon 1975: Woman Woman 1975:	I'm Stone in Love with You 1976: 99 Miles from L. A. 1976: Stardust 1976: Yellow Roses on Her Gown 1976:	When a Child Is Born 1977: Arianne 1977: Loving You – Losing You 1977: Sweet Love of Mine 1977: Sweet Surrender 1978: Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do) (met Deniece Williams)
 1978: You Light Up My Life 1978:	Too Much, Too Little, Too Late (met Deniece Williams)
 1978:	You're All I Need to Get By (met Deniece Williams)
 1979: Begin the Beguine 1979: No One but the One You Love 1979: The Last Time I Felt Like This (met Jane Olivor)
 1979:	Gone, Gone, Gone 1980: Different Kinda Different (met Paulette McWilliams)
 1980: I'll Do It All for You (met Paulette McWilliams)
 1980: Midnight Blue 1980: Three Times a Lady 1980: You Saved My Life (met Stephanie Lawrence)
 1981:	When a Child Is Born (met Gladys Knight & the Pips)
 1982: Somethin's Goin' On 1982:	Friends in Love (met Dionne Warwick)
 1983: Got You Where I Want You (met Dionne Warwick)
 1983: One Love 1984: Love Won't Let Me Wait (met Deniece Williams)
 1984:	Dreamin' 1984:	Simple 1985: Hooked On Goodbye 1985: Just One Touch 1986: It Might as Well Be Spring (met Henry Mancini, uit de musical State Fair)
 1986: Where Can I Find Christmas? 1988: Daydreamin' (remix)
 1988: I'm on the Outside Looking In Albums 
 1956: Johnny Mathis 1957:	Swing Softly 1957:	Warm (met Percy Faith and His Orchestra)
 1957:	Wonderful Wonderful 1958:	Good Night, Dear Lord 1959:	Heavenly / Ride on a Rainbow 1959:	Open Fire, Two Guitars 1960: Rhythms of Broadway 1960:	Faithfully 1960:	Johnny’s Mood 1960:	The Rhythms and Ballads of Broadway 1961:	I'll Buy You a Star 1962:	Live It Up! 1962:	Rapture 1963:	Johnny 1963:	Romantically 1964: Ballads of Broadway 1964: Olé 1964:	Tender Is the Night 1964:	The Wonderful World of Make Believe 1964:	This Is Love 1965: Away from Home 1965: The Young Americans Presented by Johnny Mathis (met The Young Americans)
 1965:	Love Is Everything 1965:	The Sweetheart Tree 1966: Ein Abend mit Johnny Mathis 1966:	So Nice 1966:	The Shadow of Your Smile 1967:	Johnny Mathis Sings 1967:	Up, Up and Away 1968:	Love Is Blue 1968:	Those Were the Days 1969: Sings the Music of Bert Kaempfert 1969:	Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet 1969:	People 1969:	The Impossible Dream 1970: Johnny Mathis 1970:	Close to You 1970:	Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head 1971: Sings of Love 1971: Tenderly 1971:	Johnny Mathis Sings the Music of Bacharach & Kaempfert 1971:	Love Story 1971:	You've Got a Friend 1972: This Guy’s in Love with You 1972:	In Person – Recorded Live at Las Vegas (Mathis' enige livealbum in de hitlijst) opgenomen in het Caesars Palace
 1972:	Song Sung Blue / Make It Easy on Yourself (UK)
 1972:	The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face) 1973: Embraceable You 1973:	I'm Coming Home 1973:	Killing Me Softly with Her Song 1973:	Me and Mrs. Jones 1974:	The Heart of a Woman 1975: Heavenly and Faithfully (2 lp's)
 1975:	Feelings 1975:	When Will I See You Again 1976:	I Only Have Eyes for You 1977:	Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me / Sweet Surrender 1977:	Mathis Is … 1978:	That's What Friends Are For (met Deniece Williams)
 1978:	You Light Up My Life 1979:	Mathis Magic 1979:	The Best Days of My Life 1980: Night & Day 1980:	Different Kinda Different / All For You 1980:	Tears and Laughter 1981: 99 Miles from L. A. 1981:	Celebration – The Anniversary Album 1982:	Friends in Love 1983:	Unforgettable: Tribute to Nat 'King' Cole (met Natalie Cole)
 1984: Live 1984:	A Special Part of Me 1985: Right from the Heart 1986:	The Hollywood Musicals (met Henry Mancini)
 1988: Once in a While 1989: In the Still of the Night 1990: In a Sentimental Mood: Mathis Sings Ellington 1992:	Better Together – The Duet Album 1993: How Do You Keep the Music Playing? – The Songs of Michel Legrand and Alan & Marilyn Bergman 1996:	All About Love 1998: Because You Loved Me: The Songs of Diane Warren 2000: Mathis on Broadway 2005: Isn't It Romantic: The Standards Album 2008:	A Night to Remember 2010: Let It Be Me – Mathis in Nashville 2015: Life Is a Song Worth Singing (2 cd's)

 Kerstalbums 
 1959:	Merry Christmas (van 1958 tot 1962 jaarlijks in de hitlijst, VS: 5-voudig-platina)
 1963: Sounds of Christmas 1969: Give Me Your Love for Christmas 1972: Christmas with Johnny Mathis and the Ray Conniff Singers (met The Ray Conniff Singers)
 1973: Christmas with Johnny Mathis and Percy Faith (met Percy Faith)
 1975: Merry Christmas (met Percy Faith & His Orchestra)
 1978: When a Child Is Born 1984: For Christmas 1985: Christmas with Johnny Mathis 1986: Christmas Eve with Johnny Mathis 1993:	The Christmas Music of Johnny Mathis: A Personal Collection 1999: Listen! It's Christmas (feat. CeCe Winans en het London Symphony Orchestra)
 2002:	The Christmas Album 2005: Winter Wonderland 2006:	A 50th Anniversary Christmas Celebration 2013:	Sending You a Little 2014: The Classic Christmas Album Compilaties 
 1958: Johnny's Greatest Hits 1959: More Johnny's Greatest Hits 1961: Portrait of Johnny 1963: Johnny's Newest Hits 1964: I'll Search My Heart and Other Great Hits 1964: The Great Years 1968: The Magic of Johnny Mathis (2 lp's)
 1969: I Just Found Out About Love! 1971: Greatest Hits Vol. 3 1972: Johnny Mathis' All-Time Greatest Hits 1973: Johnny Today 1973: The Early Years (2 lp's)
 1973: The Johnny Mathis Collection (2 lp's)
 1973: The Johnny Mathis Treasury (box met 6 lp's)
 1974: Sings the Great Songs (2 lp's)
 1974: What 'll I Do 1976: The Best of Johnny Mathis 1977: Greatest Hits Volume IV 1977: The Johnny Mathis Collection / The Mathis Collection (VK)
 1978: Johnny Mathis 1978: The Best of Johnny Mathis (2 lp's)
 1978: When a Child Is Born 1981: The Best of Johnny Mathis 1975–1980 1981: The First 25 Years – The Silver Anniversary Album 1982: Wonderful 1986: 16 Most Requested Songs 1988: Love Songs 1989: I'm Stone in Love with You 1991: The Hits of Johnny Mathis 1996: The Love Songs 1997: The Global Masters (dubbel-cd met opnamen uit 1963-1966)
 1998: Sings the Standards 1998: The Ultimate Hits Collection 1999: Super Hits 2004: The Essential Johnny Mathis 2006: Collections 2006: Gold: A 50th Anniversary Celebration 2006: The Very Best Of 2007: Discover 2008: 12th of Never (2 cd's)
 2008: The Collection 2011: The Ultimate Collection Ep's 
 1957: Will I Find My Love Today 1957: Too Close for Comfort 1957: Day In Day Out 1957: It's Not for Me to Say / Chances Are 1958: Wonderful, Wonderful 1958: Come to Me 1958: While We're Young 1958: Warm, Vol. 2 1958: Kol Nidre (met Percy Faith and His Orchestra)
 1958: Let Me Love You 1958: Twelfth of Never 1958: The Great Johnny Mathis Sings Ave Maria 1958: A Handful of Stars 1958: Ave Maria 1958: Winter Wonderland / White Christmas 1958: Merry Christmas, Vol. II 1959: There Goes My Heart 1959: Four Hits! 1959: Swing Low 1959: It's De Lovely! 1959: Call Me / All the Time 1959: Meet Mister Mathis 1959: Christmas with Johnny Mathis 1960: Tenderly 1960: Eli Eli 1960: Like Someone in Love 1960: So Nice 1960: Moonlight and Mathis 1960: Call Me 1961: I Am in Love 1961: Let's Do It 1961: Four Show Hits 1961: It's Love 1961: I'll Be Seeing You 1961: Secret Love 1962: Rapture 1962: Ring the Bell! 1962: The Party's Over 1962: Live It Up – No. 1 1962: Live It Up – No. 2 1962: Live It Up – No. 3 1964: Mathis on Broadway 1966: The Shadow of Your Smile 1967: Show Time''

Radio 2 Top 2000

Video's 
 1990: Home for Christmas
 1991: Chances Are
 2001: Live by Request
 2006: Johnny Mathis Live: Wonderful, Wonderful – A Gold 50th Anniversary Celebration

Amerikaans zanger