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 College’s Top 15 list and was only two inches short of the Olympic record of the time. Just as when he was in high school, Johnny’s 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”.
A fellow student whose sextet was working at the Black Hawk nightclub brought Johnny in for a Sunday afternoon jam session. It was at the Black Hawk that Helen Noga, co-owner of the club, first heard him sing. She decided that she wanted to manage his career.
In early September of 1955, Johnny landed a job singing weekends at Ann Dee’s 440 Club. After repeated attempts, Helen convinced George Avakian, then head of Jazz A&R at Columbia, to see him. Avakian came to the club, heard Johnny sing and sent the now famous telegram to his record company: “Have found phenomenal 19 year old boy who could go all the way. Send blank contracts.”
Avakian left for New York after telling Johnny that he would eventually send for him. Johnny continued his studies at San Francisco State and gained additional fame as a high jumper. In early 1956, Johnny was asked to attend the trials for the 1956 Olympic teams that would travel to Melbourne, Australia that summer. At the same time, Columbia Records requested that Johnny come to New York to start arrangements for his first recording session. Clem helped his son decide that his future and best interests were with the recording company. So, Johnny gave up his chance to become a member of the USA Olympic Team. He went to New York to record his first album in March of 1956.
The first album was a collection of jazz oriented renditions of popular standards entitled: Johnny Mathis: A New Sound In Popular Song. It included jazz musicians Gil Evans, John Lewis and Teo Macero and songs like “Angel Eyes”, “Easy to Love” and “Babalu”. The album enjoyed only moderate success because jazz vocal albums were not good sellers. Nevertheless, Johnny remained in New York and landed bookings at some of the leading nightclubs such as the Village Vanguard, The Blue Angel and Basin Street East.
Soon, Columbia placed Johnny under the supervision of producer Mitch Miller. Mitch favored using Johnny’s voice to sing soft, romantic ballads. At his second recording session, in the fall of 1956, Johnny recorded two singles. These songs were to become among his most popular all-time greatest hits: “Wonderful, Wonderful” and “It’s Not For Me To Say.” Subsequently, MGM Studios signed Johnny to sing “It’s Not For Me To Say” in the film Lizzie . He played a tavern piano bar singer. In 1958, Johnny made another motion picture appearance. This time it was for 20th Century Fox in A Certain Smile. In this movie, he sang the title song playing himself in an elegant nightclub scene. Since then, Johnny’s voice has been used in countless Hollywood movies for theme songs, background music and to enhance a particular setting or segment.
“Wonderful, Wonderful” and “It’s Not For Me To Say” reached their peaks on the BILLBOARD pop chart in July of 1957. These successes were followed by the monumental single “Chances Are” which became Johnny’s first #1 hit.
In June of 1957, Johnny appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show where he was introduced to the record buying public and became a national celebrity and household name. Columbia Records continued to release albums of Johnny singing beautiful and romantic ballads, classic standards and the best songs from Broadway musicals. These albums, like the singles, became immediate successes with sales in the millions. It was not uncommon for Johnny to have as many as four albums on the BILLBOARD Top Albums chart at the same time. In late 1959, Johnny recorded another song that became synonymous with the name of Johnny Mathis, the Erroll Garner composition, “Misty”.
Johnny’s accomplishments are numerous and varied. He holds many records and has set many precedents in the music industry. In 1958, two years after being signed by Columbia Records, Johnny’s Greatest Hits was released. It began a “Greatest Hits” tradition copied by every record company since then. Johnny’s Greatest Hits went on to become one of the most popular albums of all time and spent an unprecedented 490 continuous weeks (almost ten years) on the BILLBOARD Top Albums Chart. This record has been noted in the GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS.
According to record historian Joel Whitburn, Johnny is one of only five recording artists to have Top 40 Hits spanning each of the four decades since 1955. Amazingly, his second #1 Hit Single, “Too Much, Too Little, Too Late” (recorded with Deniece Williams), came almost 21 years after his very first #1 Hit Single, “Chances Are”.
Johnny has been honored to make several appearances before various heads of state. Starting in June of 1973, he sang at a State Dinner held in honor of the President of Liberia. In 1978, Johnny sang for the British Royal Family at A Command Performance held at The London Palladium. He performed for President and Mrs. Reagan at the State Dinner held in honor of the Prime Minister of Japan in April of 1987. Four years later in April of 1991, he sang for President and Mrs. Bush in honor of the President of Nicaragua. Most recently, in May of 1994, Johnny sang for President and Mrs. Clinton (along with the other five living First Ladies) at a very special First Ladies Tribute.
Johnny has also been honored by entertainment heads of state. In June of 1972, he was awarded his own star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has participated in the Academy Awards presentation many times to sing the song nominated in the “Best Song” category. He has received two Grammy nominations. The first was for “Misty” in 1960 in the category of Best Vocal Performance Single Record or Track Male. The second came in 1992 for In a Sentimental Mood/Mathis Sings Ellington in the category of Best Traditional Pop Performance.
1996 marked Johnny’s 40th Anniversary as a recording artist. He celebrated by releasing All About Love. He then released The Global Masters (songs from his three year contract at Mercury Records) in 1997, and 1998 saw the release of The Ultimate Hits and Because You Loved Me.
In his free time, Johnny loves to golf. He plays golf almost every day when he’s not traveling and has sung at many golf banquets such as the Ryder Cup. In 1985 and 1986, Johnny hosted his own golf tournament, The Johnny Mathis Seniors PGA Classic which was held in Los Angeles, California.
Johnny’s other favorite avocation is cooking. He is a gourmet cook who cooks for himself and often others when he’s home or traveling. His mother taught him at an early age how to cook up a storm and do it well. He’s enjoyed doing so all his life.
Rainbow Connection
Johnny Mathis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And what's on the other side?
Rainbows are visions but only illusions
Rainbows have nothing to hide
So we've been told and some choose to believe it
I know they're wrong, wait and see
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection
Well, who said that every wish would be heard and answered
When wished on the morning star?
Well, somebody thought of that and someone believed it
Look what it's done so far
And what's so amazing that keeps us star-gazing
And what do we think we might see?
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me
And all of us under its spell
We know that it's probably magic
Well, have you been half asleep and have you heard voices?
I've heard them calling my name
And is this the sweet sound that called the young sailor?
The voice may be one and the same
But I've heard it too many times to ignore it
It's something that I'm supposed to be
Someday we'll find the rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me
The lovers, the dreamers and me
The song "Rainbow Connection" was written for The Muppet Movie in 1979 by Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher. The song itself is performed by Kermit the Frog, voiced by Jim Henson, and has become one of The Muppets' most iconic and beloved pieces of music. In this song, Johnny Mathis seems to acknowledge the rarity of rainbows and how this unexpected beauty can capture one's imagination. As the lyrics explore the beauty and mystery of the rainbow, the song also touches on universal themes of hope and the power of imagination, which are central to The Muppets' message.
The opening lyrics, "Why are there so many songs about rainbows / And what's on the other side?" questions the concept of rainbows and what they represent. The song suggests that rainbows are not just images in the sky, but they represent something more - hope, faith, and dreams. Mathis mentions how people have been told that rainbows are just illusions, but he believes that someday everyone will find the rainbow connection. The song continues with the idea that rainbows are magical and have the power to inspire, and that we are all under their spell.
The lyrics suggest that the rainbow connection is a feeling - a feeling that connects people across the world. Mathis sings: "Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection / The lovers, the dreamers and me." This connection is not just about rainbows, but about the universal connection between people who dream and hope for a better future. The lyrics conclude with the idea that the rainbow connection is something we are meant to find, and it will ultimately bring us together.
Line by Line Meaning
Why are there so many songs about rainbows
Why is it that rainbows are such a popular topic in songs?
And what's on the other side?
What exists beyond a rainbow's physical reach?
Rainbows are visions but only illusions
While rainbows are visually stunning, they aren’t necessarily what they appear to be.
Rainbows have nothing to hide
Rainbows are out in the open and hold no hidden secrets.
So we've been told and some choose to believe it
It's been suggested that rainbows are mere illusions, and some people choose to accept that at face value.
I know they're wrong, wait and see
The singer is confident in their belief that this assumption is incorrect.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection
At some point in time, it will become evident that rainbows hold a deeper significance to humanity.
The lovers, the dreamers and me
The people who are believed to have the ability to make things happen.
Well, who said that every wish would be heard and answered
Who claims that every desire will be ful!lled just by wishing it so?
When wished on the morning star?
Is there really any power in making wishes on heavenly bodies?
Well, somebody thought of that and someone believed it
The idea of wishing on stars originated somewhere and was eventually embraced by certain people.
Look what it's done so far
The power of belief has brought success to certain people.
And what's so amazing that keeps us star-gazing
What is so captivating about looking up at the stars?
And what do we think we might see?
Under what circumstances do we think we could catch a glimpse of something beyond ourselves?
And all of us under its spell
All of us are susceptible to the magical pull of the universe.
We know that it's probably magic
There is something inexplicably mystical about the way the universe works.
Well, have you been half asleep and have you heard voices?
Have you ever had those late-night moments of clarity where you begin to understand your own consciousness?
I've heard them calling my name
The singer has had moments where they feel a connection to something beyond themselves.
And is this the sweet sound that called the young sailor?
Is this the same sound to which the young sailor was drawn?
The voice may be one and the same
The voice that called to the young sailor may be the same voice that is calling to the artist.
But I've heard it too many times to ignore it
As many times as the artist has heard this call, they cannot simply brush it off.
It's something that I'm supposed to be
The artist has a clear sense of purpose, which is tied to this mystical force within themselves.
Someday we'll find the rainbow connection
At some point in time, we will understand and connect to something greater than ourselves.
The lovers, the dreamers and me
All of the people who dare to hope and dream that their lives hold more significance than they may appear on the surface.
Contributed by Elena A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.