Johnny Mathis is Perfection

If you have the opportunity, then go to a Johnny Mathis concert. What I experienced last night was one of the highlights of my life. As a young man I was addicted to the Mathis sound, especially love songs, as was millions of others. What I heard last night seemed every bit as good as what I heard over 50 years ago. The audience of thousands of other older people felt the same way. Mathis was simply superb and rewarded us by singing so many of the familiar songs that he made famous. He is perfection. That he can still thrill audiences with such vocal quality at age close to 76 boggles the mind.

The Wikipedia site on Mathis points out that he has sold some 350 million records worldwide and has recorded some 136 albums from 1956 through 2010 and there are 874 MP3 downloads available. You can learn many incredible facts about him, but my point is that what matters most is seeing and appreciating him in person while he is still alive. You will find it almost incomprehensible that any singer could stay so excellent for over half a century. Mathis is right up there with the likes of Frank Sinatra.

Apparently Johnny Carson called him "the best ballad singer in the world." I agree with that assessment. The Mathis style is absolutely an accomplishment that no one else comes close to matching. He has deserved every one of the many awards he has received.

Rarely do we hear singers any more that have the incredible ability to enunciate clearly every syllable of the lyrics they are singing. If a song is truly good, then why not hear, without struggling, absolutely every word? Mathis has this ability, perhaps better than any other singer, ever.

He looks a lot heavier and moves very little on the stage and when he does it is slow, cautious movement. But that voice is as uniquely soothing as ever. Apparently from 2000 onwards he has limited his concert engagements to fifty to sixty appearances per year, which seems like an incredible effort for someone that old. It must be emphasized that he surrounds himself with remarkable musicians, including his superb conductor-pianist John Scott Lavender and the world-class guitarist Gil Reigers who spent much time upfront working with Mathis that was pure icing on the remarkable cake-concert. At the concert I attended there was a 25-piece orchestra, which made the concert all the more incredible.

The Mathis lesson for older people is keep on doing what you do well, no matter your age. Young people should acquaint themselves with the Mathis voice and style; he will vividly demonstrate that contemporary singers are nothing close to his talent.

If God wanted to sing he would choose the velvet voice and style of Johnny Mathis. The Mathis sound which has been flourishing for over half a century is truly heavenly.

Take my advice. If you have an opportunity to see a Mathis concert, take it. It will renew whatever feelings of love and romance you have.