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.
The Folks Who Live On The Hill
Johnny Mathis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Strive for lofty goals
Others play at smaller games
Being simpler souls
I am of the latter brand
All I want to do
Is to find a spot of land
Someday we'll build a home on a hilltop high
You and I
Shiny and new a cottage that two can fill
And we'll be pleased to be called
"The folks who live on the hill"
Someday we may be adding a thing or two
A wing or two
We will make changes as any fam'ly will
But we will always be called
"The folks who live on the hill"
Our veranda will command a view of meadows green
The sort of view that seems to want to be seen
And when the kids grow up and leave us
We'll sit and look at the same old view
Just we two
Darby and Joan who used to be Jack and Jill
The folks who like to be called
What they have always been called
"The folks who live on the hill"
The song "The Folks Who Live on the Hill" is a classic love song that speaks about simplicity and contentment in life. The lyrics express a desire to find a peaceful spot of land where the singer and his loved one can build a home and live together. The song begins by acknowledging the difference in goals and aspirations that people have, with some striving for greatness and others happy with a simple life. The singer clearly acknowledges that he belongs to the latter category and that all he wants is a place with his beloved.
The lyrics of the chorus reflect the couple's aspirations for the future. They want to build a new and shiny cottage on a hilltop, where they can live peacefully and be known as "the folks who live on the hill." The song's bridge is also noteworthy as it speaks to the inevitability of change in any family or relationship. It implies that they will grow together as a family, making changes as per their requirements. However, they will still be known as "the folks who live on the hill."
Overall, the song's lyrics convey a sense of comfort, stability, and long-lasting love. The singer portrays himself and his beloved as a timeless couple that grew old together, living the simple, peaceful life they desired. The lyrics evoke images of a beautiful family living in an idyllic cottage close to nature, far from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Line by Line Meaning
Many men with lofty aims
There are many who strive for greatness
Strive for lofty goals
They aim to achieve big things
Others play at smaller games
Meanwhile, some are content with simpler pursuits
Being simpler souls
These people have more modest aspirations
I am of the latter brand
I belong to the group of simple souls
All I want to do
My only desire
Is to find a spot of land
Is to settle down in a piece of property
And live there with you
And build a life together
Someday we'll build a home on a hilltop high
One day we'll construct a house up high
Shiny and new a cottage that two can fill
It'll be new and polished, with space for just the two of us
And we'll be pleased to be called
And we'll take pride in being known as
"The folks who live on the hill"
"The people who reside on top of the hill"
Someday we may be adding a thing or two
Sometime in the future, we may add a few more items
A wing or two
Maybe another room or two
We will make changes as any fam'ly will
As any family would, we'll alter things from time to time
But we will always be called
Regardless, we'll always be referred to as
"The folks who live on the hill"
"The people who reside on top of the hill"
Our veranda will command a view of meadows green
Our porch will offer a stunning view of green meadows
The sort of view that seems to want to be seen
It's the kind of sights that nature wants to show off
And when the kids grow up and leave us
And when our children mature and move out
We'll sit and look at the same old view
We'll sit and admire the same view we have always seen
Just we two
Only the two of us
Darby and Joan who used to be Jack and Jill
We'll be like Darby and Joan, who were once Jack and Jill
The folks who like to be called
We're happy to be known as
What they have always been called
The same thing we've always been called
"The folks who live on the hill"
"The people who reside on top of the hill"
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jerome Kern, Oscar II Hammerstein
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ben Talley
"The Folks Who Live On The Hill"
Many men with lofty aims strive for lofty goals.
Others play at smaller games, being simpler souls.
I am of the latter brand. All I want to do
Is to find a spot of land and live there with you.
Someday we'll build a home
On a hilltop high, you and I,
Shiny and new, a cottage that two can fill.
And we'll be pleased to be called
"The folks who live on the hill."
Someday we may be adding
A thing or two, a wing or two.
We will make changes as any family will.
But we will always be called
"The folks who live on the hill."
Our veranda will command a view of meadows green,
The sort of view that seems to want to be seen.
And when the kids grow up and leave us,
We'll sit and look at the same old view, just we two.
Darby and Joan who, used to be Jack and Jill,
The folks like to be called
What they have always been called,
"The folks who live on the hill."
dewey44
As one who has followed Johnny Mathis' career from the very beginning, I totally agree with your opinion that this album is his best. And to top it off, you've posted the BEST song on the album. I also have the original LP and have been playing it for the past 50 years.
Vada Austin
Johnny just can flat out sing, hitting those high a's over c's, it doesn't get much better than this.
Anita Schon
I never get tired listening to Johnny's songs. He is simply the best and so humble and a gracious person. I love you forever Johnny.
Jerri Kestner
Ahhh he always sings the sweetest music into my ears straight into my heart.
Geraldine Kestner
Indeed he has since 1956.❤❤❤
Mike Walton
A classic rendition of such a romantic old song - reliving the 50s. In comparison today is so full of hard faced materialistic wannabes who celebrate their ignorance and still can't find true happiness.
Diane Thurber
Thanks so much for this outstanding tune.I use to catch him at the Forest Hills tennis stadium;an outdoor venue with full orchestration.The voice and the music turned the evening into pure enchantment.
hairball600 hardy
As a young man I had a friend whose sister played Johnny all the time I was in his home. didnt take long to really like his singing and I have ever since then. that was back in the early 60's, 60-61 but I've never tired of listening to that voice.
ALAN GRANVILLE
A few comments note that he nearly always sings the verse to a song. This is how it should be, the songwriter wrote the verse for a reason. This is a wonderful song and J M sings it with sublime artistry.
TOMBANCROFT
! always appreciated the way that Johnny's recordings of well known standards almost always included the original intros. Many singers just begin with the main song, One of the purist voices in the business.