JOHNNY MATHIS: WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL! {FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION} (TV)
Summary
Part one of two. This concert program, from the Tropicana Resort in Atlantic City, celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the career of crooner Johnny Mathis. Mathis performs such hits as: "In the Morning"; "It's Not For Me to Say"; "Chances Are"; and "Wonderful, Wonderful." Interview footage shows Mathis discussing his early career, when he did "101 one-nighters in a row," as clips show Mathis performing with longtime friend Andy Williams on "The Andy Williams Show." Mathis then performs: "Let Go (Canto de ossanho)"; "To the Ends of the Earth"; "What I Did For Love" (in a clip from 1975); "Baubles, Bangles, and Beads"; "Stranger in Paradise"; and "Secret Love." Mathis talks about how his success as a singer came very early on as clips show him performing "Maria" in 1977. Mathis then performs "Misty." In interview footage, Mathis talks about his "holy trinity" of songs: "Chances Are," "The Twelfth of Never, and "Misty." Afterward, he performs: "99 Miles from L.A."; "The Twelfth of Never"; and "Little Boy Lost" (in a clip from an appearance on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" from 1978). Then, in a clip of Mathis on "Live by Request" in 1998, he speaks over the phone with former First Lady Nancy Reagan, who makes a personal request for him to perform "A Certain Smile," which he sings as part of the Tropicana show. Next, in interview footage, Mathis talks about his relationship with Deniece Williams before a clip shows them performing a duet of "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late." Mathis then performs some songs he learned in Brazil, "Manha de Carnaval" and, fittingly, "Brazil." Afterward, flowers flood the stage, and a performance of Mathis singing "Pure Imagination" plays over the credits.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: November 30, 2005
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:58
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:91353
- GENRE: Music
- SUBJECT HEADING: Music, popular (songs, etc.); African-American Collection - Music
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV, 2006
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Evan Haiman … Executive Producer
- John Carlo Vernile … Executive Producer
- JoAnn Young … Executive Producer
- Harriet Unger … Executive Producer
- Sven Nebelung … Coordinating Producer
- Sarah Iversen … Coordinating Producer
- James Arntz … Producer
- Steve Berkowitz … Music Producer
- Dae Bennett … Audio Producer
- Michael Beyer … Director
- Scott Lavender … Conductor
- Johnny Mathis … Performer
- Johnny Carson
- Nancy Reagan
- Andy Williams
- Deniece Williams