Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams.
John Royce Mathis (b. September 30… Read Full Bio ↴Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams.
John Royce Mathis (b. September 30, 1935), known popularly as Johnny Mathis, is an American Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter of popular music.
The last in a long line of traditional male vocalists who emerged before the rock-dominated 1960s, Mathis concentrated on romantic jazz and pop standards for the adult contemporary audience through to the 1980s. Starting his career with a standard flurry of singles, Mathis was far more popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums receiving gold and platinum status and seventy three making the Billboard charts to date.
Mathis was born fourth of seven children in Gilmer, Texas to Clem and Mildred Mathis. The family moved when he was young to San Francisco, California on Post Street, in the famous Fillmore district where he was raised. His father worked for a time in vaudeville, and when he saw the budding talent in his son, the elder Mathis bought an old upright piano for US$25 to encourage his efforts. Mathis began learning from his father songs and routines–his first song being, "My Blue Heaven." Mathis started out singing and dancing for visitors at home, and later publicly, at school and church events.
At thirteen, Mathis was taken to Connie Cox, a San Francisco Bay Area voice teacher, who accepted him as a student in exchange for work he would do around her house. He studied with Cox for six years, learning vocal scales and exercises, voice production, classical and operatic skills.He remains one of the few popular singers who has received years of professional voice training that included opera. At George Washington High School, Mathis was well known, not only for his singing abilities, but also as a star athlete. On the track and field team, he was a high jumper and hurdler, and on the basketball team, he earned four athletic letters. In 1954, Mathis enrolled at San Francisco State University on a scholarship with the intention of becoming an English and physical education teacher. Mathis remains an important part of San Francisco State University's sports history—in 1954 he broke future basketball great Bill Russell's high jump record by jumping 6 ft 5 in (1.96 meters).
He was spotted by Helen Noga, owner of The Black Hawk club, at a jam session and she became his manager. In September 1955, after Noga landed Mathis a job singing weekends at Ann Dee’s 440 Club, she ruthlessly pursued jazz producer George Avakian, who she found out was on vacation in the Bay Area. Avakian came to see him sing, and sent the now famous telegram to Columbia Records: Have found phenomenal 19-year old boy who could go all the way. Send blank contracts.[2]
Mathis now had to decide whether to go to the Olympic tryouts, to which he had been invited, or to keep an appointment in New York to make his first recordings, which were subsequently released in 1956. With his father's advice, Mathis opted for a recording career and the rest is history. He has never completely abandoned his enthusiasm for sports and today is an avid golfer who has achieved five holes-in-one, and has hosted several Johnny Mathis Golf Tournaments in the USA and the United Kingdom. Since 1985 he has been hosting a charity golf tournament in Belfast sponsored by Shell corporation, and the annual Johnny Mathis Invitational Track & Field Meet has continued at San Francisco State College since it started in 1982.
His first album Johnny Mathis: A New Sound In Popular Song was a slow selling jazz album, but Mathis stayed in New York to play the clubs. His second album was produced by Columbia records vice-president and producer Mitch Miller, who defined the Mathis sound - he preferred him to sing soft, romantic ballads. In late 1956, Mathis recorded two of his most popular songs - "Wonderful! Wonderful!" and "It's Not For Me To Say." That year MGM signed Mathis to sing the latter song in the 1957 film Lizzie, and shortly afterward he made his second film appearance for 20th Century Fox singing the title song in A Certain Smile -he had small acting roles in both movies as a bar singer. This early cinematic visibility in two successful movies gave him mass exposure. Next was his appearance on the very popular Ed Sullivan Show in 1957 and this helped to seal his stardom. Critics called him the velvet voice
In 1958, Mathis left San Francisco with the Nogas, and moved to Beverly Hills where he shared a home with them. In 1964, there was a severe downturn in sales for many artists due to The Beatles and the British invasion of the early 1960s, around the time Mathis and the Nogas ended their business relationship. Mathis purchased a mansion in the Hollywood Hills, that was originally built by billionaire Howard Hughes, and where he still maintains a residence.
Mathis established Jon Mat Records, Inc. to produce his recordings, and Rojon Productions, Inc. to handle all of his concert, theater, showroom and television appearances, and all promotional and charitable activities. His new manager and business partner was Ray Haughn, who helped guide his career until his death in September 1984. Since that time, Mathis has taken sole responsibility for his career, operating from office suites in Burbank. With the exception of a three-year break with Mercury Records in the mid-1960s, he has been with Columbia Records throughout his recording career.
Although he is frequently described as a romantic singer, his vast discography includes jazz, traditional pop, Brazilian and Spanish music, Soul, R&B, soft rock, Broadway, Tin Pan Alley standards, some blues and country songs, and even a few disco tunes for his album Mathis Magic (1979). In 1980/81 Mathis recorded an album with Chic's Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers, I Love My Lady, which remains unreleased. Mathis also remains highly associated with holiday music, having recorded nine Christmas albums. According to British recordings chart historian and Guinness Book of Records Music writer Paul Gambaccini, Mathis has recorded over 110 albums and sold more than 350 million records worldwide. His Merry Christmas album of 1958 has made the USA charts almost every year since its release and is now approaching 6 Million unit sales.[4] this makes Mathis the third most successful male recording artist ever.[5] He was given the title The Voice Of Romance. Mathis has the distinction of having the longest stay of any recording artist on the Columbia Record label, having been with the label from 1956 to 1963 and from 1968 to the present.In 1958, Johnny’s Greatest Hits was released and was the first ever Greatest Hits album in the music industry. It began the Greatest Hits tradition copied by every record company. Johnny's Greatest Hits spent an unprecedented 490 consecutive weeks (nine and a half years) on the Billboard Album Chart; a feat unmatched by any other recording artist in history, earning him a place in the Guinness Book Of World Records. He has had five of his albums on the Billboard charts simultaneously, an achievement equaled by only two other singers, Frank Sinatra and Barry Manilow. He released 200 singles and had 71 songs charted around the world. He is the third largest album seller and Frank Sinatra's main rival in sales from 1957 to 1987. Mathis is one of only a few recording artists whose career has spanned six decades and selling over 350 million records worldwide.
He has received three Grammy awards. In 1979, his hit duet "The Last Time I Felt Like This" from the film Same Time, Next Year was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Mathis and Jane Olivor sang the song at the Oscar ceremony televised to over two billion people around the world. This was his second performance at the Oscar awards - another historic achievement. He has taped twelve of his own television specials and made over 300 television guests appearances with 33 of them being on The Tonight Show. Through the years his songs (or parts of them) have been heard in 100 plus television shows and films around the globe. His appearance on the Live By Request broadcast in May 1998 on the A&E Network had the largest television viewing audience of the series.
Mathis continues to perform but from 2000 onwards has limited his concert engagements to fifty to sixty appearances per year. For 2006, he is scheduled for a UK tour that includes his annual Scottish Golf vacation and attendance at the 2006 Ryder Cup, two stints at his favourite Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas. He still records occasionally and his latest album Isn't It Romantic: The Standards Album (2004) has been enthusiastically received by critics and music buyers. Tonight Show host Johnny Carson, who heard over 2000 singers on his show, said: "Johnny Mathis is the best ballad singer in the world." He appeared on the NBC Tonight Show with Jay Leno[6] as a guest on March 29th, 2007 performing the classic "Shadow of Your Smile" with Saxophonist Dave Koz.A 1982 Us Magazine article quoted Mathis as having said, "Homosexuality is a way of life that I've grown accustomed to." He further confirmed a sexual relationship with a male saxophonist. After more than twenty years of silence on the subject, in 2006, Mathis revealed in an interview his silence was due to death threats he received as a result of that 1982 article.[7][8] On April 13, 2006 Mathis granted a podcast interview with The Strip in which he touched on the subject once again.[9]
Mathis enjoys cooking, which he learned from his mother. He likes family gatherings with his six brothers and sisters and their families. In 1982 he published a cookbook, Cooking for You Alone.
He is an avid golfer, and in his earlier years he excelled at other sports including high jumping, tennis, and basketball.
Among the many organizations that have benefited from his generosity through the years are: The Cancer Society, March Of Dimes, YWCA, YMCA, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and NAACP.
The following songs reached either the top 50 on the US Billboard Hot 100 or the top 10 on the Adult Contemporary singles chart. Billboard began publishing AC singles charts in 1961.
"Wonderful! Wonderful!" (1957) #14 Pop (Gold)
"It's Not for Me to Say" (1957) #5 Pop (Gold)
"Chances Are" (1957) #1 Pop (Gold)
"The Twelfth of Never" (1957) #9 Pop
"Wild Is the Wind" (1957) #22 Pop
"No Love (But Your Love)" (1958) #21 Pop
"Come to Me" (1958) #22 Pop
"All the Time" (1958) #21 Pop
"Teacher, Teacher" (1958) #21 Pop
"A Certain Smile" (1958) #14 Pop
"Call Me" (1958) #21 Pop
"Let's Love" (1959) #44 Pop
"Someone" (1959) #35 Pop
"Small World" (1959) #20 Pop
"Misty" (1959) #12 Pop (Gold)
"Starbright" (1960) #25 Pop
"My Love for You" (1960) #47 Pop
"Gina" (1962) #6 Pop, #2 AC
"What Will Mary Say" (1963) #9 Pop, #3 AC
"Every Step of the Way" (1963) #30 Pop, #10 AC
"On a Clear Day You Can See Forever" (1965) #98 Pop, #6 AC
"Love Theme From Romeo & Juliet (A Time for Us)" (1969) #96 Pop, #8 AC
"Pieces of Dreams" (1970) #9 AC
"I'm Coming Home" (1973) #75 Pop, #1 AC
"Life Is a Song Worth Singing" (1974) #54 Pop, #8 AC
"Stardust" (1975) #4 AC
"Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" with
Deniece Williams (1978) #1 Pop, #1 AC (Gold)
"You're All I Need to Get By" with
Deniece Williams (1978) #47 Pop, #16 AC
"Friends In Love" with Dionne Warwick (1982) #38 Pop, #6 AC
"Simple" (1984) #81 Pop, #6 AC
Each of the above were issued under the Columbia Records label with the exception of the duet with Dionne Warwick, "Friends In Love," which was released under Warwick's label, Arista Records.
[edit] Other Noteworthy Songs
"Heavenly" (Platinum)
"Maria" (1960) #78, (1962) #88
"When Sunny Gets Blue"
"Fly Me To The Moon"
"My Funny Valentine"
"Moon River"
"The Impossible Dream"
"Somewhere My Love"
"When a Child Is Born" (Gold)
"Feelings" (Platinum)
"What I Did For Love"
"Gone, Gone, Gone"
"The Last Time I Felt Like This" with
Jane Olivor (1979) #15 AC
"Begin the Beguine"
"It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas"
"Sleigh Ride"
"That's All"
Mathis has had much more success as an albums artist. His albums achieved success in part due to their reputation as an accompaniment to lovemaking. Some of his celebrated early albums include:
Johnny Mathis Columbia CL-887
Wonderful, Wonderful Columbia CL-1028
Heavenly Columbia CS-8152 Multi (Platinum)
Faithfully (Gold)
Open Fire, Two Guitars Columbia CL-1270/CS-8056 (Gold)
Warm Columbia CL-1078/CS-8039 (Gold)
Swing Softly Columbia CL-1165/CS-8023 (Gold)
Johnny's Mood
Johnny's Greatest Hits Columbia CL-1133 (Multi-Platinum)
More Johnny's Greatest Hits Columbia CL-1344/CS-8150 (Gold)
I'll Buy You a Star
Merry Christmas Columbia CL-1195/CS-8021 (Multi-Platinum)
Those Were The Days
Theme From Romeo And Juliet
Close To You
Love Story
Sings The Music Of Bacharach & Kaempfert
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Song Sung Blue
I'm Coming Home
Me And Mrs. Jones
Killing Me Softly
You Light Up My Life (Platinum)
Feelings (Platinum)
I Only Have Eyes For You
The Heart Of A Woman
The Best Days Of My Life
Deniece Williams
Born June Deniece Chandler in 1950 (some sources list her birth year as 1951) in Gary, Indiana, Williams' career began in the 1970s when she became a backup vocalist for Stevie Wonder as part of "Wonderlove", along with Minnie Riperton. She left Wonder in 1975 and teamed up with producer Maurice White, who was the leader of Earth, Wind & Fire. After signing to Columbia Records, her 1976 debut album entitled This Is Niecy was released. The single "Free" reached #2 on the Black Singles chart, #25 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #1 on the British Singles chart. The album also featured "Cause You Love Me Baby" (which charted separately on the R&B chart as the flip side of "Free") and "That's What Friends Are For". She also shared a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with pop singer Johnny Mathis in 1978 with the duet "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late". The duet also topped the Black Singles and Adult Contemporary charts.
Williams moved on to the American Recording Company (ARC) in the early 1980s where she scored the top ten R&B smash hit "Silly." in 1981. The following year, famed producer Thom Bell helped Williams score another #1 R&B chart-topper with her remake of The Royalettes' "It's Gonna Take a Miracle," which became a Top 10 pop hit as well. In 1984, Williams released the album Let's Hear It for the Boy, in which the title track reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was featured on the soundtrack to the motion picture, Footloose.
Williams continued releasing albums during the 1980s such as Hot On The Trail (1986), Water Under The Bridge (1987), and As Good As It Gets (1988), which featured her last Top Ten hit to date, "I Can't Wait", written by Skylark. However, in part due to a lack of promotion from her record company, her mainstream popularity faded.
Since 1996, Williams has presented her own BBC radio show in the UK, showcasing the best in new gospel and inspirational music.
[edit] Vocal profile
Deniece Williams's vocal range has also been pointed out by The New York Times, 'Miss Williams mounted a spectacular vocal display in which her penetrating, feline soprano soared effortlessly to E flat above high C, and she worked various vowel sounds into prolonged feats of vocal gymnastics'[1] . In pointing to Williams's similar vocal ability as her former musical icon and colleague (Minnie Riperton), Mark Anthony Neal in referencing Jill Scott's agility in displaying vocal acrobatics, states 'Scott Draws on her upper register recalling the artistry of the late "songbird" Minnie Riperton and Deniece Williams'[2]. According to Monica Haynes of Post-Gazette.com, Williams "has the kind of range that would make Mariah Carey quiver."[3]
John Royce Mathis (b. September 30… Read Full Bio ↴Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams.
John Royce Mathis (b. September 30, 1935), known popularly as Johnny Mathis, is an American Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter of popular music.
The last in a long line of traditional male vocalists who emerged before the rock-dominated 1960s, Mathis concentrated on romantic jazz and pop standards for the adult contemporary audience through to the 1980s. Starting his career with a standard flurry of singles, Mathis was far more popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums receiving gold and platinum status and seventy three making the Billboard charts to date.
Mathis was born fourth of seven children in Gilmer, Texas to Clem and Mildred Mathis. The family moved when he was young to San Francisco, California on Post Street, in the famous Fillmore district where he was raised. His father worked for a time in vaudeville, and when he saw the budding talent in his son, the elder Mathis bought an old upright piano for US$25 to encourage his efforts. Mathis began learning from his father songs and routines–his first song being, "My Blue Heaven." Mathis started out singing and dancing for visitors at home, and later publicly, at school and church events.
At thirteen, Mathis was taken to Connie Cox, a San Francisco Bay Area voice teacher, who accepted him as a student in exchange for work he would do around her house. He studied with Cox for six years, learning vocal scales and exercises, voice production, classical and operatic skills.He remains one of the few popular singers who has received years of professional voice training that included opera. At George Washington High School, Mathis was well known, not only for his singing abilities, but also as a star athlete. On the track and field team, he was a high jumper and hurdler, and on the basketball team, he earned four athletic letters. In 1954, Mathis enrolled at San Francisco State University on a scholarship with the intention of becoming an English and physical education teacher. Mathis remains an important part of San Francisco State University's sports history—in 1954 he broke future basketball great Bill Russell's high jump record by jumping 6 ft 5 in (1.96 meters).
He was spotted by Helen Noga, owner of The Black Hawk club, at a jam session and she became his manager. In September 1955, after Noga landed Mathis a job singing weekends at Ann Dee’s 440 Club, she ruthlessly pursued jazz producer George Avakian, who she found out was on vacation in the Bay Area. Avakian came to see him sing, and sent the now famous telegram to Columbia Records: Have found phenomenal 19-year old boy who could go all the way. Send blank contracts.[2]
Mathis now had to decide whether to go to the Olympic tryouts, to which he had been invited, or to keep an appointment in New York to make his first recordings, which were subsequently released in 1956. With his father's advice, Mathis opted for a recording career and the rest is history. He has never completely abandoned his enthusiasm for sports and today is an avid golfer who has achieved five holes-in-one, and has hosted several Johnny Mathis Golf Tournaments in the USA and the United Kingdom. Since 1985 he has been hosting a charity golf tournament in Belfast sponsored by Shell corporation, and the annual Johnny Mathis Invitational Track & Field Meet has continued at San Francisco State College since it started in 1982.
His first album Johnny Mathis: A New Sound In Popular Song was a slow selling jazz album, but Mathis stayed in New York to play the clubs. His second album was produced by Columbia records vice-president and producer Mitch Miller, who defined the Mathis sound - he preferred him to sing soft, romantic ballads. In late 1956, Mathis recorded two of his most popular songs - "Wonderful! Wonderful!" and "It's Not For Me To Say." That year MGM signed Mathis to sing the latter song in the 1957 film Lizzie, and shortly afterward he made his second film appearance for 20th Century Fox singing the title song in A Certain Smile -he had small acting roles in both movies as a bar singer. This early cinematic visibility in two successful movies gave him mass exposure. Next was his appearance on the very popular Ed Sullivan Show in 1957 and this helped to seal his stardom. Critics called him the velvet voice
In 1958, Mathis left San Francisco with the Nogas, and moved to Beverly Hills where he shared a home with them. In 1964, there was a severe downturn in sales for many artists due to The Beatles and the British invasion of the early 1960s, around the time Mathis and the Nogas ended their business relationship. Mathis purchased a mansion in the Hollywood Hills, that was originally built by billionaire Howard Hughes, and where he still maintains a residence.
Mathis established Jon Mat Records, Inc. to produce his recordings, and Rojon Productions, Inc. to handle all of his concert, theater, showroom and television appearances, and all promotional and charitable activities. His new manager and business partner was Ray Haughn, who helped guide his career until his death in September 1984. Since that time, Mathis has taken sole responsibility for his career, operating from office suites in Burbank. With the exception of a three-year break with Mercury Records in the mid-1960s, he has been with Columbia Records throughout his recording career.
Although he is frequently described as a romantic singer, his vast discography includes jazz, traditional pop, Brazilian and Spanish music, Soul, R&B, soft rock, Broadway, Tin Pan Alley standards, some blues and country songs, and even a few disco tunes for his album Mathis Magic (1979). In 1980/81 Mathis recorded an album with Chic's Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers, I Love My Lady, which remains unreleased. Mathis also remains highly associated with holiday music, having recorded nine Christmas albums. According to British recordings chart historian and Guinness Book of Records Music writer Paul Gambaccini, Mathis has recorded over 110 albums and sold more than 350 million records worldwide. His Merry Christmas album of 1958 has made the USA charts almost every year since its release and is now approaching 6 Million unit sales.[4] this makes Mathis the third most successful male recording artist ever.[5] He was given the title The Voice Of Romance. Mathis has the distinction of having the longest stay of any recording artist on the Columbia Record label, having been with the label from 1956 to 1963 and from 1968 to the present.In 1958, Johnny’s Greatest Hits was released and was the first ever Greatest Hits album in the music industry. It began the Greatest Hits tradition copied by every record company. Johnny's Greatest Hits spent an unprecedented 490 consecutive weeks (nine and a half years) on the Billboard Album Chart; a feat unmatched by any other recording artist in history, earning him a place in the Guinness Book Of World Records. He has had five of his albums on the Billboard charts simultaneously, an achievement equaled by only two other singers, Frank Sinatra and Barry Manilow. He released 200 singles and had 71 songs charted around the world. He is the third largest album seller and Frank Sinatra's main rival in sales from 1957 to 1987. Mathis is one of only a few recording artists whose career has spanned six decades and selling over 350 million records worldwide.
He has received three Grammy awards. In 1979, his hit duet "The Last Time I Felt Like This" from the film Same Time, Next Year was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Mathis and Jane Olivor sang the song at the Oscar ceremony televised to over two billion people around the world. This was his second performance at the Oscar awards - another historic achievement. He has taped twelve of his own television specials and made over 300 television guests appearances with 33 of them being on The Tonight Show. Through the years his songs (or parts of them) have been heard in 100 plus television shows and films around the globe. His appearance on the Live By Request broadcast in May 1998 on the A&E Network had the largest television viewing audience of the series.
Mathis continues to perform but from 2000 onwards has limited his concert engagements to fifty to sixty appearances per year. For 2006, he is scheduled for a UK tour that includes his annual Scottish Golf vacation and attendance at the 2006 Ryder Cup, two stints at his favourite Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas. He still records occasionally and his latest album Isn't It Romantic: The Standards Album (2004) has been enthusiastically received by critics and music buyers. Tonight Show host Johnny Carson, who heard over 2000 singers on his show, said: "Johnny Mathis is the best ballad singer in the world." He appeared on the NBC Tonight Show with Jay Leno[6] as a guest on March 29th, 2007 performing the classic "Shadow of Your Smile" with Saxophonist Dave Koz.A 1982 Us Magazine article quoted Mathis as having said, "Homosexuality is a way of life that I've grown accustomed to." He further confirmed a sexual relationship with a male saxophonist. After more than twenty years of silence on the subject, in 2006, Mathis revealed in an interview his silence was due to death threats he received as a result of that 1982 article.[7][8] On April 13, 2006 Mathis granted a podcast interview with The Strip in which he touched on the subject once again.[9]
Mathis enjoys cooking, which he learned from his mother. He likes family gatherings with his six brothers and sisters and their families. In 1982 he published a cookbook, Cooking for You Alone.
He is an avid golfer, and in his earlier years he excelled at other sports including high jumping, tennis, and basketball.
Among the many organizations that have benefited from his generosity through the years are: The Cancer Society, March Of Dimes, YWCA, YMCA, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and NAACP.
The following songs reached either the top 50 on the US Billboard Hot 100 or the top 10 on the Adult Contemporary singles chart. Billboard began publishing AC singles charts in 1961.
"Wonderful! Wonderful!" (1957) #14 Pop (Gold)
"It's Not for Me to Say" (1957) #5 Pop (Gold)
"Chances Are" (1957) #1 Pop (Gold)
"The Twelfth of Never" (1957) #9 Pop
"Wild Is the Wind" (1957) #22 Pop
"No Love (But Your Love)" (1958) #21 Pop
"Come to Me" (1958) #22 Pop
"All the Time" (1958) #21 Pop
"Teacher, Teacher" (1958) #21 Pop
"A Certain Smile" (1958) #14 Pop
"Call Me" (1958) #21 Pop
"Let's Love" (1959) #44 Pop
"Someone" (1959) #35 Pop
"Small World" (1959) #20 Pop
"Misty" (1959) #12 Pop (Gold)
"Starbright" (1960) #25 Pop
"My Love for You" (1960) #47 Pop
"Gina" (1962) #6 Pop, #2 AC
"What Will Mary Say" (1963) #9 Pop, #3 AC
"Every Step of the Way" (1963) #30 Pop, #10 AC
"On a Clear Day You Can See Forever" (1965) #98 Pop, #6 AC
"Love Theme From Romeo & Juliet (A Time for Us)" (1969) #96 Pop, #8 AC
"Pieces of Dreams" (1970) #9 AC
"I'm Coming Home" (1973) #75 Pop, #1 AC
"Life Is a Song Worth Singing" (1974) #54 Pop, #8 AC
"Stardust" (1975) #4 AC
"Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" with
Deniece Williams (1978) #1 Pop, #1 AC (Gold)
"You're All I Need to Get By" with
Deniece Williams (1978) #47 Pop, #16 AC
"Friends In Love" with Dionne Warwick (1982) #38 Pop, #6 AC
"Simple" (1984) #81 Pop, #6 AC
Each of the above were issued under the Columbia Records label with the exception of the duet with Dionne Warwick, "Friends In Love," which was released under Warwick's label, Arista Records.
[edit] Other Noteworthy Songs
"Heavenly" (Platinum)
"Maria" (1960) #78, (1962) #88
"When Sunny Gets Blue"
"Fly Me To The Moon"
"My Funny Valentine"
"Moon River"
"The Impossible Dream"
"Somewhere My Love"
"When a Child Is Born" (Gold)
"Feelings" (Platinum)
"What I Did For Love"
"Gone, Gone, Gone"
"The Last Time I Felt Like This" with
Jane Olivor (1979) #15 AC
"Begin the Beguine"
"It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas"
"Sleigh Ride"
"That's All"
Mathis has had much more success as an albums artist. His albums achieved success in part due to their reputation as an accompaniment to lovemaking. Some of his celebrated early albums include:
Johnny Mathis Columbia CL-887
Wonderful, Wonderful Columbia CL-1028
Heavenly Columbia CS-8152 Multi (Platinum)
Faithfully (Gold)
Open Fire, Two Guitars Columbia CL-1270/CS-8056 (Gold)
Warm Columbia CL-1078/CS-8039 (Gold)
Swing Softly Columbia CL-1165/CS-8023 (Gold)
Johnny's Mood
Johnny's Greatest Hits Columbia CL-1133 (Multi-Platinum)
More Johnny's Greatest Hits Columbia CL-1344/CS-8150 (Gold)
I'll Buy You a Star
Merry Christmas Columbia CL-1195/CS-8021 (Multi-Platinum)
Those Were The Days
Theme From Romeo And Juliet
Close To You
Love Story
Sings The Music Of Bacharach & Kaempfert
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Song Sung Blue
I'm Coming Home
Me And Mrs. Jones
Killing Me Softly
You Light Up My Life (Platinum)
Feelings (Platinum)
I Only Have Eyes For You
The Heart Of A Woman
The Best Days Of My Life
Deniece Williams
Born June Deniece Chandler in 1950 (some sources list her birth year as 1951) in Gary, Indiana, Williams' career began in the 1970s when she became a backup vocalist for Stevie Wonder as part of "Wonderlove", along with Minnie Riperton. She left Wonder in 1975 and teamed up with producer Maurice White, who was the leader of Earth, Wind & Fire. After signing to Columbia Records, her 1976 debut album entitled This Is Niecy was released. The single "Free" reached #2 on the Black Singles chart, #25 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #1 on the British Singles chart. The album also featured "Cause You Love Me Baby" (which charted separately on the R&B chart as the flip side of "Free") and "That's What Friends Are For". She also shared a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with pop singer Johnny Mathis in 1978 with the duet "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late". The duet also topped the Black Singles and Adult Contemporary charts.
Williams moved on to the American Recording Company (ARC) in the early 1980s where she scored the top ten R&B smash hit "Silly." in 1981. The following year, famed producer Thom Bell helped Williams score another #1 R&B chart-topper with her remake of The Royalettes' "It's Gonna Take a Miracle," which became a Top 10 pop hit as well. In 1984, Williams released the album Let's Hear It for the Boy, in which the title track reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was featured on the soundtrack to the motion picture, Footloose.
Williams continued releasing albums during the 1980s such as Hot On The Trail (1986), Water Under The Bridge (1987), and As Good As It Gets (1988), which featured her last Top Ten hit to date, "I Can't Wait", written by Skylark. However, in part due to a lack of promotion from her record company, her mainstream popularity faded.
Since 1996, Williams has presented her own BBC radio show in the UK, showcasing the best in new gospel and inspirational music.
[edit] Vocal profile
Deniece Williams's vocal range has also been pointed out by The New York Times, 'Miss Williams mounted a spectacular vocal display in which her penetrating, feline soprano soared effortlessly to E flat above high C, and she worked various vowel sounds into prolonged feats of vocal gymnastics'[1] . In pointing to Williams's similar vocal ability as her former musical icon and colleague (Minnie Riperton), Mark Anthony Neal in referencing Jill Scott's agility in displaying vocal acrobatics, states 'Scott Draws on her upper register recalling the artistry of the late "songbird" Minnie Riperton and Deniece Williams'[2]. According to Monica Haynes of Post-Gazette.com, Williams "has the kind of range that would make Mariah Carey quiver."[3]
You're a Special Part of My Life
Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams:
Emotion Hit the beat now Lost in emotion Some guys will promise you…
Family Ties I bet we've been together for a million years And I'll…
Free Whispering in his ear my magic potion for love Telling…
Gina Gina, Gina, I kissed you once and then I felt so…
Heaven Must Have Sent You I've cried through many endless nights While holding my pill…
It's Gonna Take a Miracle Loving you so I was to blind to see You letting me…
Just the Way You Are Don't go changing, to try and please me You never let…
Love Won't Let Me Wait The time is right, you hold me tight And love's got…
Me for You You for Me Though you don't call anymore I sit and wait in vain I…
Silly Silly of me to think that I Could ever have you…
That's What Friends Are For While you're gone Do you wonder how I spend my day Thinkin'…
Too Much Too Little JOHNNY: Guess it's over, call it a day Sorry that it had…
Too Much, Too Little, Too Late (Johnny) Yes, it's over, call it a day Sorry that it had…
Too Much. Too Little Too Late Guess it's over, call it a day Sorry that it had…
Touching Me With Love Why don't you let it surround you This wonderful feeling th…
Until You Come Back To Me Though you don't call anymore I sit and wait in vain I…
What Will My Mary Say I must be going (don't go) My heart is showing (don't…
When Sunny Gets Blue When Sunny gets blue, her eyes get gray and cloudy Then…
Without Us I bet we've been together for a million years And I'll…
Without Us {From "Family Ties"} I bet we've been together for a million years And I'll…
You're All I Need to Get By Like the sweet morning dew, I took one look at…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Johnny Mathis:
01 Too Much Too Little Too Late Guess it's over, call it a day Sorry that it had…
07-It's Not For Me To Say It's not for me to say you love me It's not…
13 The Twelfth Of Never You ask me how much I need you, must I…
20 Fly Me To The Moon Fly me to the moon And let me play among the…
99 Miles From L.A Keeping my eyes on the road I see you Keeping my…
A Certain Smile A certain smile, a certain face Can lead an unsuspecting hea…
A Christmas Love Song All I want for christmas is you Your the gift that's…
A Cock-Eyed Optimist When the skies are brighter canary yellow I forget ev'r…
A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening Some like a night at the movies Some like a dance…
A Man And A Woman When hearts are passing in the night, in the lonely…
A Marshmallow World Ah, it's a marshmallow world in the winter, When the snow…
A Night To Remember They say he has grace like any bull in a…
A RIDE ON A RAINBOW Did you ever ride on a rainbow Sit starry eyed on…
A Taste Of Honey A taste of honey... tasting much sweeter than wine. I dream…
a thousand blue bubbles One kiss And a thousand blue bubbles Turn me upside down Sen…
A Time For Us A time for us, some day there'll be When chains are…
Ace in the Hole This town is full of guys who think they're mighty…
Ain't No Woman (Ain't no woman like the one I've got.) (Ain't no woman…
Alfie What's it all about, Alfie? Is it just for the moment…
All Alone Am I All alone am I ever since your goodbye All alone with…
All I Ask Of You No more talk of darkness Forget these wide-eyed fears I'm he…
All I Ever Need To wake up next to you See your smile across the…
All I Want Is Forever I don't want a lot for Christmas There's just one thing…
All I Wanted No more talk of darkness Forget these wide-eyed fears I'm he…
All Is Well All is well all is well Angels and men rejoice For tonight…
All The Things You Are Time and again I've longed for adventure Something to make m…
All the Time I want you with me all the time Sunrise and sunset,…
All This Love As I approach the prime of my life, I find…
All Through the Night The day is my enemy, the night my friend, For I'm…
Almost Like Being In Love What a day this has been! What a rare mood I'm…
Alone Again In a little while from now If I'm not feeling any…
Always I'll be loving you always With a love that's true always. Wh…
always something there to remind me I walk along the city streets you used to walk…
An Affair To Remember Our love affair is a wondrous thing That we'll rejoice in…
And I Love You So And I love you so The people ask me how How I…
And I Think That's What I'll Do I find myself in a situation Standing at the crossroads of…
Angel Eyes Try to think that love's not around Still it's uncomfortably…
Angel Eyes (Digitally Remastered) Try to think that love's not around But it's uncomfortably n…
April in Paris I never knew the charm of spring I never met it…
April Love April love is for the very young Every star's a wishing…
Arianne Arianne's an April morning That comes rippling through my wi…
As If Used to be that I believed in something Used to be…
As Long As We're Together I've always believed in dreams And that fantasies somehow co…
As Time Goes By This day and age we're living in Gives cause for apprehensio…
Autumn in New York Autumn in New York Why does it seem so inviting Autumn in…
Autumn in Rome Autumn in Rome My heart remembers fountains where children p…
Autumn Leaves The falling leaves drift by the window The autumn leaves of…
Ave Maria Ave Maria, Ave Maria Ave Maria, Ave Maria Ave, Maria, Ave, …
Ave Maria 2 Ave Maria, Ave Maria Ave Maria, Ave Maria Ave, Maria, Av…
Away In A Manger Away in a manger No crib for His bed The little Lord…
Babalu Babalu Babalu Babalu aye Babalu aye Babalu Jungle drums were…
Baby Baby Baby Baby, baby, baby Love me, love me, do Love me, love me…
Bachianas Brasileiras Evening, a rosy, slow and transparent cloud Over the space d…
Because You Loved Me For all those times you stood by me For all the…
Begin The Beguine When they begin the beguine It brings back the sound of…
Beginning to Look alot Like Christmas It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas Everywhere you …
Best Is Yet to Come Out of the tree of life I just picked me…
Best Of Everything We've proven romance is still The best of everything That …
Betcha By Golly Wow There′s a spark of magic in your eyes Candyland appears each…
Better Together You and I are the perfect combination Until this day I've…
Beyond The Blue Horizon Blue horizon Waits a beautiful day Goodbye to things that bo…
beyond the sea Somewhere beyond the sea Somewhere waiting for me My lover s…
Blue Christmas I'll have a blue christmas without you I'll be so blue…
Blue Gardenia Blue gardenia Now I'm alone with you And I am oh so…
Brazil Brazil Where hearts were entertaining June We stood beneath …
Brazil (Aquarela do Brasil) Brazil, where hearts were entertaining June, We stood beneat…
Break Up To Make Up Tell me what's wrong with you now , tell me…
Brian If the hand of time Were hand that I could hold I'd…
Brian's Song If the hand of time Were hand that I could hold I'd…
Bridge Over Troubled Water (Feat. Fiona Apple) [Originally by Simon & Garfunkel] When…
By Myself I'll go my way by myself, this is the end…
By The Time This Night Is Over Silence takes over Saying all we need to say Theres endles…
Bye Bye Barbara No one here can love or understand me Oh, what hard…
Bye Bye Blackbird No one here can love or understand me Oh, what hard…
cabin in the sky In this cloudy sky overhead now There′s no guiding star I…
Cabin In the Sky (Digitally Remastered) In this cloudy sky overhead now There's no guiding star I…
Call Me Call me if your arms are lonely Call me if you're…
Call Me Irresponsible Call me irresponsible Call me unreliable Throw in undependab…
Can I never can say goodbye, no, no, no, no, now Never…
Can't Get Out of This Mood All day long before my eyes come little visions of…
Can’t Get Out of This Mood Words by Frank Loesser and Music by Jimmy McHugh This versi…
Caravan Night and stars above that shine so bright The myst'ry…
Carol of the Bells Hark how the bells, Sweet silver bells, All seem to…
Caroling Caroling / Happy Holiday Happy Holiday Happy holiday (caroling, caroling) happy holi…
Certain Smile A certain smile, a certain face Can lead an unsuspecting hea…
Certain Smile {From "A Certain Smile"} A certain smile, a certain face Can lead an unsuspecting he…
Chances Are Chances are 'cause I wear a silly grin The moment you…
Christmas Day Snow covered rooftops Lights on the trees The sound of sin…
Christmas Is a Feeling in Your Heart There are toys for girls and boys Silver bells make merry…
Christmas Is... I don't want a lot for Christmas There's just one thing…
Christmas Waltz Frosted window panes Candles gleaming inside Painted candy c…
Clopin Clopant In France when one is walking sadly They say he walks…
Close to You Why do birds suddenly appear Every time you are near? Just l…
Closer I Get To You My heart belongs to you So what could I do To make…
Come Back to Me Though you don't call anymore I sit and wait in vain I…
Come Saturday Morning Come Saturday morning I'm goin' away with my friend We'll Sa…
Come Sunday Ooh Lord, dear Lord above, God almighty, God of love, Pl…
Come to Me Though you don't call anymore I sit and wait in vain I…
Corner Of The Sky Everything has its season Everything has its time Show me…
Corner to Corner Everything has its season Everything has its time Show me a…
Cottage For Sale A little dream castle with every dream gone Is lonely and…
Could It Be Love This Time She doesn't wanna brush him off She doesn't wanna lead him…
Count Your Blessings When I'm worried and I can't sleep I count my blessings…
Crazy Crazy, I'm crazy for feeling so lonely I'm crazy, crazy for…
Crazy in the Heart I left my heart in San Francisco. High on a hill…
Dancing In The Dark Dancing in the dark Till the tune ends, We're dancing in…
Dancing on the Ceiling The world is lyrical Because a miracle Has brought my lover …
Danke Schoen Danke schoen, darling, Danke schoen, Thank you for all the j…
Danny Boy Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling From glen…
Day By Day Day by day, I'm falling more in love with you And…
Day In I was a stranger in the city Out of town were…
Deep Purple Woo, Wo-o-oo-wo-wo, Wo-o-oo-wo-wo, Wo-o-oo-wo-wo When the…
Deep River Deep River, My home is over Jordan. Deep River, Lord. I want…
Didn't We This time we almost made the pieces fit Didn't we? This time…
Didnt We This time we almost made the pieces fit Didn't we? This ti…
Do Me Wrong But Do Me Though you don't call anymore I sit and wait in vain I…
Do nothin Someone told someone and someone told you But they wouldn't …
Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me Someone told someone and someone told you But they wouldn't…
Do You Hear What I Hear Said the night wind to the little lamb, Do you see…
Do You Know Where You're Going To Do you know where you're going to? Do you like the…
Don Ever since the lucky night I found you I've hung around…
Don't Get Around Much Anymore Missed the Saturday dance Heard they crowded the floor Could…
Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight Do me wrong, do me right Tell me lies, but hold…
Don't Take Away My Heaven Oh baby, I found heaven when I found you And this…
Don't Talk To Me Ever since the lucky night I found you I've hung around…
Dream Dream Dream [INTRO:] You're completely unaware, dear, that my heart is i…
Drifting Well I'm drifting and drifting, Like a ship out on the…
Early Autumn When an early autumn walks the land and chills the…
Easy to Love I know too well that I'm just wasting precious time In…
Easy to Say It's so easy to say I'm sorry When the harm has…
El Amar Y El Querer Ya Ramadhan Hadirmu menjengah syahdu Pada hati yang menunggu…
Eleanor Rigby Ah, look at all the lonely people Ah, look at all…
Eli Eli Eli, Eli I pray that it never will end. The sand and…
Elusive Butterfly You might wake up some mornin' To the sound of something…
Embraceable You Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you Embrace me, you irrepla…
Emotion It's over and done But the heartache lives on inside And who…
Evergreen Love soft as an easy chair Love fresh as the morning…
Every Step Of The Way Well walk the road of life together, day by day And…
Everybody's Talkin' Everybody's talkin' at me I don't hear a word they're sayin'…
Everything's Coming Up Roses I had a dream, a dream about you, baby. It's gonna…
Evie There ain´t no future in it Evie We never should…
Faithfully Highway run Into the midnight sun Wheels go round and round …
Fall In Love What do you get when you fall in love A guy…
Fallen I can′t believe it, you're a dream comin′ true. I can't…
Falling In Love Sometimes, lonely nights turn into sunny days I never though…
Feelings Feelings Nothing more Than feelings Trying to forget my Feel…
Fly Me to the Moon Fly me to the moon And let me play among the…
Folks Who Live on the Hill Many men with lofty aims Strive for lofty goals Others play …
Follow Me You don't know how you met me, you don't know…
Foolish Folks say I'm naturally kind I'd like to think that they're…
For All We Know For all we know we may never meet again Before you…
For The Good Times Don't look so sad, I know it's over But life goes…
For Your Love My heart belongs to you So what could I do To make…
Forget me not It's not for me to say you love me It's not…
Friends in Love Sometimes, lonely nights turn into sunny days I never though…
Friends Of Love Sometimes, lonely nights turn into sunny days. I never tho…
Frosty The Snowman Frosty the snowman Happy, happy snowman Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, …
Funny Little Girl Won't you go away (little girl) Wish you wouldn't stay (litt…
Gentle On My Mind If you could read my mind, love What a tale my…
Get Me to Church on Time A few more hours, that′s all the time I got A…
Get Me to the Church On Time Lately I find myself out gazing at stars Hearing guitars li…
Get Out Of Town All day long before my eyes come little visions of…
Getting to Know You Do you know where you're going to? Do you like the…
Gina Gina, Gina, I kissed you once and then I felt so…
Give Me Your Love For Christmas Give me your love for Christmas wrapped in a kiss…
Go Away Little Girl Won't you go away (little girl) Wish you wouldn't stay (litt…
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen God rest ye merry, gentlemen Let nothing you dismay Remember…
Gone Gone Gone It's a mystery I cannot explain All it feels I got…
Good Morning Heartache Good morning heartache You old gloomy sight Good morning hea…
Good Night Dear Lord Now I lay me down to sleep Leave the day behind Pray…
Goodnight My Love Goodnight my love, the tired old moon is descending Goodnigh…
Got You Where I Want You I don't want a lot for Christmas There's just one thing…
Granada Granada, tierra soñada por mi Mi cantar, se vuelve gitano c…
Hallelujah I′ve heard there was a secret chord That David played, and…
Hallelujah Chorus Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah …
Happy Happy Holiday Happy holiday (caroling, caroling) happy holid…
Have A Holly Jolly Christmas Have a holly jolly Christmas It's the best time of…
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Christmas future is far way Christmas past is past Christmas…
He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother The road is long with many awaiting turns That lead us…
He Ain't Heavy... He's My Brother The road is long with many awaiting turns That lead us…
and many more tracks by Johnny Mathis.
We have lyrics for these tracks by Deniece Williams:
05 God Is Amazing God is truly amazing God is truly amazing God is truly ama…
All I Need Like the sweet morning dew, I took one look at…
Baby Baby My Love's All For You Single: Baby, Baby, My Love Love′s All For You Baby, baby,…
Be Good To Me Whispering in his ear my magic potion for love telling him I…
Black Butterfly Morning light, silken dream to flight As the darkness gave w…
Cause You Love Me There's nothin' better that I like to do Than sitting here…
Do What You Feel Though you don't call anymore I sit and wait in vain I…
Every Moment Chasing pipe dreams and foolish schemes, what was I after H…
Free Whispering in his ear My magic potion for love Telling him I…
Go To Sleep Time to go to sleep So close your eyes baby sweet Time…
God Is Amazing God is truly amazing God is truly amazing God is truly amazi…
God is amazing 4:00 God is truly amazing God is truly amazing God is truly ama…
God Made You Special God made you special God made you special for there's no…
Healing Now that we have gotten through One more fall I can…
His Eye Is On the Sparrow Why should I feel discouraged, Why should the shadows come, …
I Though you don't call anymore I sit and wait in vain I…
I Can't Wait Late in the morning The boss is throwin' his hands all…
I Found Love Said I wouldn't be bothered with lovin' no one else Oh,…
I Surrender All Like the sweet morning dew, I took one look at…
I Want You Though you don't call anymore I sit and wait in vain I…
I'm Free I was so weary, sick and tired of sin It seemed…
I'm So Proud Sweeter than all, all the world And I'm so proud I'm so…
I've Got The Next Dance I've got the next dance I've got the next dance, with…
If You Don't Believe If you don't believe all the tears in my eyes I…
It's Gonna Take A Miracle Loving you so I was to blind to see You letting me…
Let My baby he don't talk sweet He ain't got much to…
Lets Hear It for the Boy My baby he don't talk sweet He ain't got much to…
Love Won't Let Me Wait The time is right, you hold me tight And love's got…
My Melody Some people feel it all around them Others feel it inside So…
My Soul Desire Lord, when you placed your hands upon me I knew that…
Silly Silly of me to think that I Could ever have you…
Somebody Loves You There's nothin' better that I like to do Than sitting here…
That's What Friends Are For While you're gone Do you wonder how I spend my day Thinkin'…
Too Much Too Little Too Late JOHNNY: Guess it's over, call it a day Sorry that it had…
Waiting Who's falling in love, I guess it's me Today I sat…
Waiting By The Hotline Who's falling in love, I guess it's me Today I sat…
When Love Comes Calling I saw you, you saw me Tell me are we sharing…
Why Can't We Fall In Love? Here we are together you and I Feeling like I always…
You're All I Need To Get By Like the sweet morning dew, I took one look at…
You're All That Matters You're always there to light my cigarette You send me flower…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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