Johnny’s NEW Album “Christmas Time Is Here” Out 10/13/2023
**JOHNNY MATHIS CELEBRATES THE SEASON
WITH CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE**
New Album Available October 13th is Mathis’ Seventh Holiday Release
10-Track Album includes holiday favorites and a New Duet with Broadway Superstar Kristin Chenoweth
August 11, 2023 (New York, NY) – It’s impossible to imagine celebrating Christmas without the music of Johnny Mathis. In 1958, just three years into his tenure on Columbia Records and months after releasing the chart-topping Johnny’s Greatest Hits, his album Merry Christmas produced magical recordings of seasonal favorites like “Sleigh Ride,” “Winter Wonderland” and many more, which have become perennial favorites heard around the world every Holiday Season.
On October 13th – Johnny Mathis returns with Christmas Time is Here, a brand–new album from Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings (the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment). This merry collection features 10 newly recorded holiday tracks that capture the essence of the Yuletide season as only The Voice Of Romance can.
Christmas Time is Here will be available on CD and digital, plus festively colored vinyl released through Real Gone Music. Pre-order the album today HERE *
(* Find your “local” International Indie Music Store HERE, and your specific Amazon.com region HERE.)
The new release, produced by longtime Mathis collaborators Jay Landers (Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, Andrea Bocelli) and Fred Mollin (Kristin Chenoweth, Jimmy Webb, Natalie Cole, Billy Joel) expands upon last year’s digital EP Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, which found Johnny in peak form as the world’s premier interpreter of holiday standards.
Christmas Time is Here includes, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Blue Christmas,” a remake of Johnny’s No. 1 U.K. single “When a Child is Born,” “Christmas Time is Here” (the timeless favorite from the beloved TV special A Charlie Brown Christmas), “Merry Christmas, Baby,” “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and a spirited take on “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” featuring Broadway superstar Kristin Chenoweth (Wicked, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Schmigadoon!) as Johnny’s duet partner.
Through an extraordinary career stretching across nearly seven decades, Mathis has continued making spirits bright with album after album of Christmas classics. After 1958’s Merry Christmas (certified 5x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America – RIAA), 1963’s Sounds of Christmas, was the first on his own Global Records label. The platinum-certified Give Me Your Love for Christmas followed in 1969, and 1986’s Christmas Eve with Johnny Mathis featured unforgettable versions of “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” 2002’s The Christmas Album kept Mathis ringing in the season, while 2013’s GRAMMY-nominated Sending You a Little Christmas found Mathis collaborating with Billy Joel, Natalie Cole, Gloria Estefan, Vince Gill, Amy Grant and more.
The sessions for Christmas Time is Here took place at Hollywood’s famed Capitol Recording Studio (the final album recorded at the iconic Tower location before the studio closed for extensive renovations) and Nashville, and found Mathis reuniting with Jay Landers (producer/executive producer/A&R) – whose work includes 13 albums with Mathis, 30 with Barbra Streisand and five with Bette Midler – as well as producer Fred Mollin, who collaborated with Mathis on Let It Be Me: Mathis in Nashville (2010) and Sending You a Little Christmas, along with tracks by Michael McDonald, Linda Ronstadt and Carole King.
Christmas Time is Here is filled with all the warmth and magic that makes every Christmas – and every Johnny Mathis Christmas album – so special and timeless.
* * * * *
Johnny’s Latest Interviews- Winter 2022
**Click the UNDERLINED Links Below to Read or Hear Each of Johnny’s Interviews**
Broken Record Podcast! Justin Richmond talks to Johnny about his illustrious career, and performing with greats like Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole & more. –
Broken Record Podcast – Pushkin FM
*********************************************************************
DECADES radio show with Joe E. Kramer – Dec. 17th Christmas Show! Johnny Mathis Spotlight segment starts at minute 51:17–
http://www.
*********************************************************************
Sac Cultural Hub EXCLUSIVE! Johnny Mathis Releases New Christmas EP, Hits The Road With Holiday Shows–
https://www.sacculturalhub.
*********************************************************************
The Hollywood Reporter! Motion Picture & Television Fund Raises Over $800K During Telethon–
A Holiday Message From Johnny
Johnny sends his heartfelt thanks to everyone who worked so hard on his tours this year, and all you Mathis Fans for supporting his music in person AND online!
Its been another rough year for live music, but the sincere appreciation you’ve shown Johnny & his staff has made it a joyful labor of love.
No matter how you celebrate, whether with your family or chosen family, have a Healthy & Happy Holiday Season!
**Johnny in Two Upcoming Documentaries**
Johnny had the honor of being interviewed earlier this year for 2 new upcoming documentaries.
Release dates are posted here and on Johnny’s official social media when available.
“I Can’t Give You Anything But Love”
Jimmy McHugh was a prolific writer of songs, many of which would become American Songbook staples (he wrote Johnny’s festive recording” ‘Ole Kris Kringle”). Johnny sat down with the documentary makers this year to discuss his many McHugh penned recordings.
See Johnny in the world debut of “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love: The Jimmy McHugh Story” on June 27th 2023 at DANCES WITH FILMS Festival in Hollywood, CA .
Click below for tickets!
Jimmy McHugh & Johnny Mathis in 1957, photo credit Getty Images-Michael Ochs Archives.
Johnny sits at the original piano McHugh composed many of his hits on, located in the Jimmy McHugh Music offices.
Behind the scenes of Johnny’s interview.
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
“Bill Russell: Legend” Documentary
Johnny & NBA Legend Bill Russell have been good friends since childhood, and he was very happy to participate in honoring Bill in this upcoming 2 part documentary for Netflix premiering Feb. 8th.
Click here to see a FIRST LOOK clip:
https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/bill-russell-legend-release-date-trailer-news
Bill Russell & Johnny with the Boston Celtics in the late 1960s, found in a vintage Mathis concert program.
Johnny on set between interview questions from director Sam Pollard.
Bill’s recent passing was devastating for Johnny and all who knew him, and hopefully the release date will be updated in the future.
Johnny regales the crew with a story about his career.
Read more about the upcoming “Bill Russell: Legend” Documentary by clicking HERE
“MISTY” – A New Book About Johnny & His Entire Music Catalog
Mathis Fans, we’re excited to share this news with you just in time for the Holiday Season…
MISTY: The Music of Johnny Mathis is a new in-depth book about Johnny & His Entire Columbia & Mercury Records Catalog.
Author Jakob Baekgaard worked with Johnny & his team to trace his musical journey from the past to the present. It includes a wealth of photos and album scans from his own archive. It’s the ideal companion for fans and new listeners interested in exploring one of the most prominent voices in American music.
Whether you’re a long-time Mathis fan or just interested in the real “nuts & bolts” of how albums are made, MISTY: The Music of Johnny Mathis is a perfect gift for the music in your life. We hope you enjoy it!
♥Available for pre-order now by clicking any link below♥
Johnny Mathis Official Store
Sonicbond Publishing – Official Publisher’s Store
Bookshop.org– release date Dec. 31st 2022
Barnes & Noble– release date Dec. 31st 2022
Amazon.com US – release date Dec. 31st 2022
Amazon.com UK – release date 2nd Dec. 2022
