JOHNNY MATHIS
hen George Avakian, head of the jazz department at Columbia Records, brought 20-year-old singer/track star Johnny Mathis to America's leading record company, it was with the intention of positioning him as a jazz singer, a move that would likely limit his exposure despite the success many jazz artists have attained. Columbia took an unusual tactic with the promising vocalist, skipping the standard procedure of releasing a single to radio; instead, they introduced him to the world with a full album featuring well-crafted versions of standards by the likes of Duke Ellington and Cole Porter and other selections irresolutely more pop than jazz. The world barely noticed...or cared. Turns out it was his destiny to sing popular, tastefully-arranged romantic pop songs ... MORE ››
