Birth name John Mathis Years active 1951–1999 Associated acts Jimmy & Johnny Role Singer-songwriter Record label United Artists Records | Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter Labels United Artists Name Johnny Mathis Genres Country | |
Born September 28, 1930Maud, Texas, US ( 1930-09-28 ) Died September 27, 2011, Cornersville, Tennessee, United States Albums Classic Country Music, Vol. 1, Come Home to My Heart Similar People Jimmy Lee Fautheree, George Jones, Charlie Chaplin | ||
Johnny "Country" Mathis (September 28, 1930 – September 27, 2011) was an American country music singer and songwriter. He is credited with penning more than 500 tunes over the course of his long career.
Contents
Biography
John Mathis was born on September 28, 1930, in Maud, Texas. He played on Louisiana Hayride from 1951 to 1960, as a solo artist and as a member of the hitmaking duo Jimmy & Johnny (with Jimmy Lee Fautheree). Mathis left the group to go solo in the middle of the 1950s, leaving Fautheree's brother Lynn to fill his shoes in the duo. Jimmy and Lynn saved the name Jimmy & Johnny, which proved ideal for Mathis, who returned to the group from 1959 to 1961.
As a solo artist, he released several singles for D Records, Decca, United Artists, and Little Darlin. His final charting single was "Please Talk to My Heart," released in 1963. He also encountered significant success as a songwriter, penning songs for Johnny Paycheck, George Jones and Webb Pierce, among others. For few decades, until the late 1990s, he sang gospel music and focused on his family.
Mathis suffered a stroke in February 1999, and was no longer able to perform. The stroke left him in poor health until his death in Cornersville, Tennessee, on September 27, 2011, one day prior to his 81st birthday. He is survived by Jeannie Mathis, his wife of 43 years, and four children.
Singles
Songs
I Want to Go Somewhere
If You Don't Somebody Else Will
All I Need Is You
My Heart Is on the Paper
I'll Cry When I Call Your Name
The Sign of Time
I Don't Know When That Will Be
Who Needs Your Love
Just Do the Best You Can
While You're on My Mind
I Say What I Mean
Come Home to My Heart
Thinking Too Far Behind
Big Old Heart Full of Love
Heart Needs a Heart
No More
One Life
Caryl Chessman
If You Should Come Back Today
Here's No More Love
It's So Lonesome in My Heart
Expressing My Love
I'm a Dreamer
Take Your Heart and Go