September 30 - Johnny Mathis (The Musical Birthday Series, 3rd Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for September 30th are here: Charles Villiers Stanford (2019) and Donald Swann (2020)

Johnny Mathis (b. 30 September 1935) is an American singer-songwriter. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High

 

At San Francisco State, Mathis had become noteworthy as a high jumper, and in 1956 he was asked to try out for the U.S. Olympic Team that would travel to Melbourne that November. Mathis had to decide whether to go to the Olympic trials or to keep his appointment in New York City to make his first recordings. -- Wikipedia 

 

 Johnny Mathis had a choice --

To use his legs, or use his voice;

To try for the Olympic team,

Or start out on his show biz dream.

He pondered on this circumstance

And gave a vocal career a chance;

 

And in conclusion, let me say,

That in the ‘50s, Black and gay,

He made the better choice that day.

 

 

 

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