Iconic Singer Johnny Mathis performs at Heinz Hall July 22
Music has always had a special place in balladeer Johnny Mathis’ heart, and he’s spent the last 61 years blessing his fans with songs that have stood the test of time.
Mathis will be returning to Pittsburgh to perform with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for a one-night engagement on Saturday, July 22 as a part of his Voice of Romance tour.
“I do some very special songs with the symphony. It’s a very special time for me because it’s the only time that I get to sing certain songs,” Mathis told the New Pittsburgh Courier in an exclusive interview. “I have a wonderful guitar player, Gill Reigers, who has been with me for about 40 years so I bring him out front to do some songs and he performs with the orchestra, too. It’s very intimate.
“I’m excited about performing with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra because they are some of the best musicians in the world. I grew up listening to all kinds of music. My voice teachers all suggested that it would be helpful for me to listen to all kinds of music, so I’ve grown to enjoy listening to their music and I’ve learned to keep the attention of the audience by utilizing part of the orchestra. Then, when the whole orchestra comes in it sounds like that. I have to be on my toes when I sing with orchestras because they are some of the best musicians in the world,” Mathis said. “It’s a big thrill for me as a singer to perform with some of the best orchestras. The people who come to listen to the orchestra are some of the best listeners, so I’m a happy man when I come to Pittsburgh.”
Fans will be treated to a culmination of the 81-year-old’s hits as well as new gems from his two current efforts, “Johnny Mathis: The Voice of Romance The Columbia Original Albums Collection,” which showcases first-time-on-CD debuts from his 61 years in music with Columbia Records (from 1956 to present day. 68 original albums remastered on CD, some albums and unreleased archival material are on CD for the first time in one boxed set.)
“That is a compilation of every song that I’ve ever recorded for Columbia Records—the good, the bad and the ugly,” laughed Mathis, who grew up in San Francisco. “It’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime things. The record company thought there is an audience for the music but I wish there was a lot of stuff that I wish they hadn’t released because sometimes I had to record the song while I was on the road, and when I listen to some of that I’m like, ‘Oh boy I needed more time on that one,’ but a lot of it they release because of that and I swallow real hard and say OK.”
The set will be released in the fall.
Fans will also be treated to a sampling of his forthcoming album, “Johnny Mathis sings the Great New American Songbook,” which is being produced by Jay Landers and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds and finds Mathis delivering his signature sound to songs by some of music’s contemporary icons like Whitney Houston, R. Kelly and Pharrell Williams.
“I tried to take advantage of the fact that people seem to like the sound of my voice, so I tried to find songs that have a little melody to them. Nowadays it’s kind of tough because the kids like a lot of words and most of the songs are words, words, words, words, words and not much melody,” Mathis told the Courier. “I think one of the reasons is that the kids nowadays who have success are songwriters as opposed to singers so they write songs that they can sing.”
Mathis continued, “This particular album is one of my favorites because I’m working with Babyface and he got me going in a good direction, something that he’s very comfortable with. I’m very excited about it. The songs are probably familiar to the listening public. It’s always a new experience with a new producer, I depend a lot on the producer to say this is what’s interesting now to the listening public so let’s sing this kind of music.”
This album is set to be released later this summer.
Mathis took a break from his busy recording schedule to receive an honorary degree from his alma mater, San Francisco State University, in May. The crooner attended the university for a few semesters on a sports scholarship before receiving his recording contract before he could legally drink.
“I had no idea that I would become a professional singer at such an early age. What I thought I would do was teaching. I was trying to prepare just in case things didn’t work out musically. I was on track to doing that but I also had plans; what if I made It as a professional singer, and I did, and it solved all of my problems,” Mathis laughed.
When Mathis isn’t performing or recording, he enjoys listening to Brazilian music, reading and playing golf and watching sports and the news.
Mathis got his love for music from his father who was a musician himself.
“My dad was my best pal. Even though he had seven children, he spent a lot of precious time with all of us,” Mathis recalled. “I was the only one who took to listening to him play the piano and sing. My other brothers and sisters were older or either younger and I was right there for him so it was a catalyst between my father and myself—music was that catalyst. I thought he was just the cat’s meow. He was not only my dad but he could do these wonderful things: he could play the piano and he could sing and I thought that was the greatest. He had my attention from a very early age. I learned my first songs, which were favorites of his and I eventually recorded everything my dad taught me. Most of the songs were kind of country western because that’s where he grew up, in Texas,” Mathis said. “He was just the best pal in the world and I wanted to do everything to please him. The most important thing he ever told me musically was take some lessons and learn how to conserve your voice so you won’t strain it. I learned voice production, how to preserve your voice so you won’t strain it and that’s been my saving grace all these years.”
(Tickets to the July 22 show can be purchased by visiting trustarts.org or by calling 412-392-4900.)
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