Johnny Mathis

Johnny Mathis (b. September 30th, 1935)
a.k.a. John Royce Mathis

HERE'S JOHNNY
Johnny Mathis, The Man With The Golden Voice, Burnishes Some New Theater Classics
Alot has changed on Broadway in the last 35 years, but Johnny Mathis once again proves himself the equal to anything the Great White Way can dish out. MATHIS ON BROADWAY is his first collection of theater songs in four decades -- 1960's marvelous RHYTHMS AND BALLADS OF BROADWAY having set a benchmark for interpretive singing -- and the 64-year old crooner still dazzles. This time, Mathis pays homage to some of the most extraordinary shows and composers of the last 20 years, including RENT, THE LION KING, and Stephen Sondheim's INTO THE WOODS and PASSION. Chatting from his home in Los Angeles, Mathis told barnesandnoble.com's David Cohen what it's like to get back to Broadway after all these years.

barnesandnoble.com: How did you choose the songs on the album?

Johnny Mathis: When I do an album I try to find a producer that's excited about something that they want me to sing, and I check with the record company to find out what they think they can sell -- which is their No. 1 priority. Mine is trying to find some pretty songs to sing. I hadn't done a Broadway album since RHYTHMS AND BALLADS OF BROADWAY, about 35 yrs ago. I needed someone to give me a list of songs that would represent the shows the best way. My producer Jay Landers came up with some good ones. I had seen several of the shows, not all of them. I had seen SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE, LES MIZ, THE LION KING. Jay came up with things like "Loving You" from Sondheim's PASSION which is just a little gem. Such a simple direct, wonderful thing.

bn.com: Was it a difficult recording to make?

JM: We were on a limited budget, which almost everything anybody does is nowadays. I sang live with an orchestra. It took six days to record.

bn.com: What are your favorite Broadway shows?

JM: The first Broadway show I saw was KISMET. I got to know the composers. I was enthralled, hooked. I still do a medley from KISMET. WEST SIDE STORY: I've recorded almost every song from that show. I still sing "Maria," "Tonight," and others. Those two shows and classics like MY FAIR LADY.

bn.com: How do you keep your voice in such great shape?

JM: When I was 12 and started to take singing lessons from a woman, she told me that I would probably spend the rest of my life taking care of my voice. I thought, "what can go wrong?" Little did I know the excesses this life can lead you into. I used to smoke and drink. I gave up cigarettes 35 years ago, drinking six years ago. I knew I wanted to sing for the rest of my life so I knew I would have to stay in shape. I work out at a gym five days a week. The results are really worthwhile.

bn.com: Who are the great American singers?

JM: My favorite singer to this day is Nat King Cole. I've tried to emulate his phrasing. It is so absolutely beautiful to listen to his lovely voice. I also met, early on Ella Fitzgerald. Her songbooks are some of the most amazing bodies of work. She just went in and reeled them off. Those are the things I still listen to.

bn.com: What was it like recording a duet with Barbra Streisand for her BACK TO BROADWAY album?

JM: She was wonderful. I met her for the first time, and we just melded like we had known each other for a very long time. She is a consummate professional. A charming lady, very pretty. She has a bearing that takes over the room. When the orchestrator introduced me to the musicians, they applauded, but when he introduced Barbra Streisand, they just cheered. She has a wonderful reputation and rightfully so, because she's a brilliant musician. A lot of singers are rather lax in their musical ability, but she is an extraordinary musician too.

bn.com: Who do you listen to now? Any new singers?

JM: So many. Celine Dion, a beautiful god-given voice. Michael McDonald, as earthy as anybody. James Taylor, Patti Austin, Roberta Flack. Giants like Aretha, Stevie Wonder -- I'm amazed that anybody can keep the level of consistency over the years that they have.

bn.com: What's left for you to record? Opera?

JM: I never had the inspiration, because when I listen to Leontyne Price, Beverley Sills, Richard Tucker, Pavarotti -- I worship these people -- I know the discipline it takes to do that type of singing. For me, I try to find things that would be fun and do it and see if it sounds good.

bn.com: Any plans for the immediate future?

JM: Even though there's no forum for me on the radio for the kind of music I sing anymore, I am still excited about having a career where I can sing the best music in the world, and people will come and hear me because of the hit records I've had in the past.