Johnny Mathis: Timeless Voice of Romance

What It Takes®

Academy of Achievement

Film, Politics, Arts, Self-help, Sports, Society & Culture, Success, Literature, Humanitarian, Military, Social Justice, Technology, Podcast, Achievement, Music, Science

4.6 • 943 Ratings

🗓️ 31 December 2018

⏱️ 41 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

He is one of the romantic singers of all time... with a voice people often compare to satin, to silk or to velvet. It's hard to describe, but you sure know it when you hear it. Johnny Mathis talks here about signing with Columbia Records at the age of 19 and about his life in music over the past 60+ years. He pays tribute to the African-American artists who paved the way for him. And he tells the story behind some of his greatest hit songs, including "Chances Are," and "It's Not For Me To Say." (c ) American Academy of Achievement 2018

Transcript

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0:00.0	One of my all-time favorite coming-of-age movies, Diner, has this great scene where the main
0:05.5	characters are crammed into a booth at a diner in Baltimore having a debate.
0:10.3	They're high school boys, and it's 1959.
0:13.4	When you want to make out, who do you make out of to?
0:15.6	Sinatra or Mathis?
0:17.8	That's a stupid question.
0:20.2	One question, answer that.
0:21.6	It's irrelevant.
0:22.2	I want to answer it.
0:24.0	I'm about you, sure.
0:28.0	I'm married, we don't make out.
0:30.0	This scene takes place during a time when Frank Sinatra was decades into his career,
0:35.0	but Johnny Mathis had just caught fire with three hits that made him a household name.
0:42.0	Chances are, because I wear a silly grin,
0:48.0	the moment you come into view. Chances are you think that I'm in love with you.
1:08.8	60 years later, Johnny Mathis is still recording, still touring and still making lovers swoon. The story behind the velvet voice on this episode of what it takes,
1:16.8	a podcast about passion, vision, and perseverance from the Academy of Achievement.
1:25.0	I'm Alice Winkler. Academy, this child is gifted.
1:28.0	And I heard that enough that I started to believe it.
1:31.0	If you have the opportunity, not a perfect opportunity,
1:34.7	and you don't take it, you may never have another chance.
1:37.4	It all was so clear.
	...

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