ent001111-013

GENERAL ARTISTS CORPORATION JOHNNY MATHIS - 2 2 and three-quarters short of the Olympic record* His remarkable Jump, incidentally, has been matched only four times in the history of the Olympics. Johnny was one of the best all-around athletes ever to come out of the San Francisco school system. He was an all-city basketball po.ayer at George Washington High, and broke city records in the high- jump and hurdles* Before the end of his freshman year at San Francisco State College, he had collected more honorary letters and medals -~ American Athletic Association, Stockton Relays, Fresno West Coast Re- lays, Far Western Conference, Pacific Association A,A.U. Championship ?╟÷ than he could find room on his chest to pin them on. Johnny1s singing talent was discovered by Columbia Records1 George Avakian when he was persuaded to hear him by Helen Noga, co-owner of San Francisco?╟╓s famous Black Hawk night club. Helen, who is now Johnny?╟╓s manager, insisted: ?╟╓?╟╓George, he's the best young singer you ever heard in your lifel" Avakian was amazed at Johnny?╟╓s unusually xfide range and is still aghast at the way the boy can move in song from tenderness to swing to rhythm and blues and even to violence* "His improvisational flights in all tempos and moods," says Avakian, "reflect a sensitive awareness to modern Jazz." Johnny, a very modest and handsome youngster, has been singing as far back as he can remember. Hd?╟╓d sing at school rallies, at dances, or even alone at home. Between singing he was winning six letters for athletic feats. The track team gave him his first singing Job. "The shotputter, a fellow named Johnny Bologna took me to a friend who ran a tavern," Johnny explains, "and I sang there on Friday and Saturday nights. The woman who owned the 440 Club across the street heard me