The OTHER Johnny Mathis

One of the busiest posts on the GMC — in both visits and comments — has always been my 2006 review of a special 50th anniversary release from Johnny Mathis. The beloved singer has a ton of fans and is still a world-famous entertainer whose name is familiar to almost everybody. That’s why I was startled to recently discover that there was once another singer named Johnny Mathis — a country version.

The Texas-born singer/songwriter began to show up in the 1950s as part of a duo that called itself Jimmy & Johnny, featuring Mathis and Jimmy Lee Fautheree. The twosome made a number of appearances on the popular Louisiana Hayride and also managed to cut some records, scoring a minor hit with “If You Don’t, Somebody Else Will” (clip) in 1954.

Mathis decided to try to forge a solo career, and over the next decade or so he was able sell some records with songs like “One Life” and “Please Talk To My Heart.” He continued to appear on Louisiana Hayride, and also began to find more and more success as a songwriter. It was the latter activity that would furnish most of his success in later years, as his solo performing career wound down. It eventually ended when he suffered a stroke in 1999.