Only a few living musicians can compete with Johnny Mathis, the legendary vocalist. With the release of his first single, Wonderful Wonderful, he established his mark in the music industry.
Similarly, he has sold over 180 million records globally since his debut!
For the A Certain Smile singer, who was a strong campaigner for Civil and Gay Rights in the 1960s, music, and action went hand in hand.
Through allusions to prior interviews, we will reveal who Mathis is while examining the It’s Not For Me To Say singer’s tastes and thoughts on married life.
In addition, the musician discusses his connection with a former partner who died a decade ago.
Johnny Mathis’s Journey as a Singer and His Coming Out Story
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One thing is certain: music has been likely the only constant factor in Mathis’ life across all of his previous love relationships!
John Royce Mathis was born on September 30, 1935, in Gilmer, Texas, as the fourth of seven Mathis children. His father, Clem Smith, a small-time artist in Texas, instilled in him a love of music.
When he was 13 years old, Connie Cox, a Bay Area teacher, volunteered to teach him instead of his father doing odd things for her.
Mathis is, in many respects, following in his father’s footsteps in the music profession. When asked about the effect of his father, the native Texan once said:
“I’m just thankful to my father.” He was my dearest friend, and I sing today because I miss him so much. He was a fantastic singer. I followed in his footsteps, and he brilliantly guided me.”
After attending San Francisco State College to earn a degree in education, the songwriter returned to his genuine passion, music.
A chance meeting with Helen Naga, co-founder of the popular Blackhawk at the time, insured that his road to the music industry would be a short one.
After being passed around by the industry’s leading record labels, the Chances Are singer released Wonderful, Wonderful on Columbia Records in 1957. The song finally made it to the top of the Billboard Hot 100.
He had a long list of achievements under his belt by the time the George Washington High School alumni came out as gay in 1982, including Chances Are and It’s Not For Me To Say.
The same Southerners who condemned him for his role in the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s promised to murder the American artist if he came out.
In a 2014 interview with the British tabloid Express, he went into additional detail on the subject. As he put it,
“It irritated a few people in the southern states. I was in no real danger, but it’s difficult to overcome when you’re young. It no longer bothers me at all.”
Is it true that Johnny Mathis married his partner in a lavish ceremony?
When he enters the stage, the singer captures the audience’s attention with his soulful vocal performance. His fans will naturally assume that he is the same outgoing individual outside of the show.
Nothing could be further from the truth, however. In reality, the 85-year-old has spent his whole life as an introvert. Consider Mathi’s unwillingness to conduct random interviews.
In a 2017 Express interview, the Gina hitmaker revealed a rare look into why he doesn’t publicize his love life, noting that fame drives him to give up a lot, but he chose not to give up his privacy.
Records show that the songwriter has only one public connection. He had an on-again, off-again romance with Ronettes vocalist Estelle Bennett before coming out as gay in the 1970s.
Unfortunately, the Texas native’s longtime boyfriend died in 2009. Mathis must be concerned by the thought that he can’t do right by his former partner(s) by marrying them in a lavish wedding as he nears the end of his life, right?
On the contrary, the artist is content with his sole existence. In 2014, he told the Guardian:
“I’ve never married and have no regrets about not having a family of my own. I come from a large city, so there are always people around. I’ve been quite happy, but I’ve never married.”
Nonetheless, he appears to enjoy playing the cool uncle to his 15 nephews and nieces. In the same Guardian interview, the A Certain Smile singer claimed:
“I would have made a terrific father because I have raised my brothers’ and sisters’ children. I have about 15 or 16 nieces and nephews, all of them are studious, bright, and attractive.”
The Singer’s Substance Abuse
He acquired a drug addiction as a result of his criticism and the difficulties of singing day after day. He was often regarded as a romantic singer.
After suffering from voice strain, the legendary African-American singer sought counsel from the divisive Dr. Marx Jacobson.
Everything that followed would propel him towards a life of drugs and alcohol. He recalled his interaction with Dr. Marx in the same 2014 Express interview, adding,
“I went to see him because I had laryngitis and was performing five gigs a night at the Copacabana in New York. Everyone on Broadway went to see him, including the Kennedys. He gave me vitamin shots, which restored my voice beautifully but left me addicted to drugs. It was quite distressing, but I had no choice but to stop.”
Nancy Reagen, the former First Lady of the United States, persuaded him to enter a recovery clinic after learning about his drinking problems at reception.
All we can say is congratulations to Johnny Mathis for never complying with cultural standards and doing what he loves, from turning his hobby into a business to coming out as homosexual!
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