Results for "Johnny Mathis"

Johnny Mathis

The fourth of seven children, John Royce Mathis was born on September 30, 1935 in Gilmer, Texas to Clem and Mildred Mathis. As a small boy, the family moved to Post Street in San Francisco. It was there that he learned an appreciation of music from his father who taught him his first song, “My Blue Heaven”. At age eight, his father purchased an old upright piano for $25. When he brought it home, it wouldn't fit through the front door. So that evening, Johnny stayed up all night to watch his father dismantle the piano, get it into the small living room of their basement apartment and then reassemble it

Anthony Jefferson: All I Am

By NICHOLAS F. MONDELLO

Male vocal artists such as Al Jarreau, George Benson, Luther Vandross, Lou Rawls, Brook Benton, et al maintained the vibrancy of the classic crooners of the Golden Age—Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis, et al. With All I Am Anthony Jefferson does a superb job of artistically paying tribute to many of these iconic names—and ...

Nat King Cole: Hittin’ the Ramp: The Early Years (1936-1943)

By MARK SULLIVAN

Before pianist/vocalist Nat King Cole had a career as a pop crooner--his many hits included “All for You," “The Christmas Song," “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66," “(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons," “Nature Boy" and “Mona Lisa" (the No. 1 song in 1950)--he led a successful jazz trio which featured both his piano playing and ...

Christmas 2015 V: A Concord Christmas – David Benoit, Jane Monheit and the Count Basie Orchestra

By C. MICHAEL BAILEY

Well, it ain't over 'til it's over...The Concord Music Group issued two notable Holiday releases. The David Benoit Trio with Jane Monheit and the All American Boys Chorus Believe Concord 2015 What Believe is, is a slick updating of Vince Guraladi's A Charlie Brown Christmas (Fantasy, ...

Paul Jost: The First Thing is Heart

By CHRIS M. SLAWECKI

Even for a musician who has been playing and singing since age six, Paul Jost has just come through one exceptional year. First, he released his debut with The Jost Project, Can't Find My Way Home (2013, Dot.Time Records), featuring the leader on vocals, harmonica and guitar, with drummer Charlie Patierno, double bassist Kevin ...

Steve Wilson: Lifetime of Study

By GEORGE COLLIGAN

[ Editor's Note: The following interview is reprinted from George Colligan's blog, Jazztruth] I'm very happy to have the opportunity to interview a musician that I've worked with a lot over the years. When people say that a musician has worked with everybody in the business, Steve Wilson has literally worked with everyone in ...

George Benson: Inspiration: A Tribute To Nat King Cole

By BRUCE LINDSAY

Million-selling, hugely popular and readily recognisable jazz artists are a bit thin on the ground these days. So when one such giant records a tribute to another it's something of an event. George Benson's Inspiration: A Tribute To Nat King Cole certainly falls into that category: an album of songs from one of the biggest stars ...

Joey DeFrancesco: Wonderful! Wonderful!

By DAN BILAWSKY

The organ trio is one of the most time-tested aggregations in jazz, and the men who form said grouping on Wonderful! Wonderful! are three of the most treasured musicians to ever play their instruments. Organ giant Joey DeFrancesco, guitar hero Larry Coryell and swinging drum stalwart Jimmy Cobb all set the bar impossibly high on their ...

Al Jarreau: Simple and Necessary Happiness

By ESTHER BERLANGA-RYAN

There are very few jazz greats that make people who love this music smile in awe while witnessing their beautiful talent. Jazz is larger than life, and they all contribute to its greatness every day, whether it is from a small stage in the Village in New York, or from some old record, spinning while popping ...