Johnny Mathis

Mathis was born in Gilmer, Texas, but raised in San Francisco. His father was a former vaudevillian and encouraged his singing talent. In 1956, he took his dad's advice and turned down the chance to try out for the US Olympic Team as a high jumper to pursue a music career.

Mathis started out as a jazz singer at Columbia Records until Mitch Miller, a record producer who was also the label's vice president, steered him towards singing pop ballads. Mathis continued to sing an array of styles, but he is most remembered for his ballads like the hits "Wonderful! Wonderful!," "Misty," "The Twelfth Of Never," and "Chances Are."

He's considered the originator of Greatest Hits compilations thanks to his 1957 album, Johnny's Greatest Hits. The collection was a huge success, staying on the Billboard chart for 490 consecutive weeks, and spurred other artists to release their own hit packages.