JOHNNY MATHIS

[Sandra]

A request for a Johnny Mathis song we hadn't heard before on our local radio station LOVERS IN NEW YORK

[mariana44]

Great song---did you mean you had never heard the song, or just never heard JM sing it. He has recorded so many songs, but most people only seem to know a small percentage.

[Sandra]

Didn't know the song at all Marian

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Although a bit late I have just got round to reading a story in the " Cab Driver" newspaper of a Taxi Driver named John McManus who lives in Manchester and although he had been a fan of Johnny Mathis for over 30 years, had been disappointed for the first time at being unable to get a ticket for his concert. He went to pick up a fare at the Lowry Hotel and at that time John was as usual playing his Cd player with Johnny Mathis singing " Someone " with the line... someone wants to say hello, and at that same moment John was stunned when Johnny Mathis himself opened the door and climbed into the back of the cab and said...you've got good taste in music A conversation led to John telling him about him being his and his wife's favourite singer all those years, have all his albums, DVDs etc and then continued to play his Greatest Hit collection for the 45 minute drive. He was dropping Johnny off at the Mere Golf Resort and Spa in Knutsford where he was due to play a round of golf , and John always has a camera in his Taxi and couldn't resist asking Johnny for a photo together and he readily and happily obliged, he told Johnny that even when he lived in Spain for a while he would still fly in to see him in concert but the icing on the cake was when Johnny shook his hand and hugged him, and said this was better than the show and he went home happy and still buzzing from the experience. He said it was as though all his Christmases and Birthdays had all come at once.

[karl]

What a fantastic story and great to know Johnny can still sell out a concert, however I thought it was going to say Johnny arranged a ticket for him. What a coincidence that he should get into the cab his music was playing in.

Can you imagine the next time he is in the city he'll be standing waiting on a cab that is playing HIS music.

[Lena & Harry Smith]

I thought the story would end the same Karl with John getting a ticket, but maybe he wasn't so worried about it after his meeting with Johnny

[karl]

Yes that's true L&H and that reminds me of another tale from Manchester.

I remember reading years ago of a Manchester policeman and his wife who were big fans of Gene Pitney and saw him every time he played the city - they got to know him and would go backstage for a chat after the show.

It's nice to know that a huge star like Johnny Mathis was so gracious to the driver. He'd be chuffed to meet such a fan too.

[mariana44]

Yes, that story was in the papers round about tour time-it may just have been in the local Manchester papers, but I know I saw it on the Jm Facebook page. It may have happened after the concert, as Manchester was the last one.

[mariana44]

BTW Sandra--"Lovers in New York" is a Henry Mancini song, and John would often include it in his "Mancini " medley during a live show.

He sang many Mancini songs , and they were great friends until the day Henry died.

[karl]

BTW Sandra--"Lovers in New York" is a Henry Mancini song, and John would often include it in his "Mancini " medley during a live show.

He sang many Mancini songs , and they were great friends until the day Henry died.

So is it on the Mathis/Mancini album Marian? I must check the cd I have.

[jon]

Hi Karl

It isn't on the Mathis/Mancini album (I assume you're referring to the 1986 album), it's a 1960s recording. I forget which album but perhaps Mariana could enlighten on that one.

[karl]

Jon I just checked and that song is on Global Masters and So Nice/Mathis Sings and I have both so I must take a listen.

[mariana44]

No, it is not on the Mancini/Mathis album. but one of the very early albums--

[karl]

Marian see my post above yours.

[mariana44]

Thanks Karl--I did see your post--but not everyone may realise that those albums are really old !!!