Gator
Art & Entertainment
A look at alumni on the performing and creative arts scene Now
Playing Over
the summer a camera crew was spotted shooting footage of Johnny
Mathis(attended '54-'57) in Cox Stadium. The
campus scenes will be featured in "Johnny Mathis: Wonderful!
Wonderful!," a documentary on Mathis' life and musical career scheduled
to air on PBS in December. Cox Stadium
was Mathis' literal stomping ground while he was a student track star
at SF State. In 1957, Mathis, then a record-breaking high jumper, was
invited to participate in the U.S. Olympic trials. The invitation came
the same week a Columbia Records exec heard Mathis sing at a San Francisco
club. A telegram was quickly dispatched to Columbia's New York office:
"Have found phenomenal 19-year-old boy who could go all the way!
Send blank contracts." The rest is pop music history. Mathis has since amassed more than 60 gold and platinum albums, as well
as such prestigious honors as this year's annual ELLA Award. Previous
recipients of the award, named for Ella Fitzgerald and honoring outstanding
musician-humanitarians, include Julie Andrews and Sir Elton John. For more on Mathis, check local listings for documentary air times.  
| 
