Johnny "Country" Mathis

Born: September 28, 1933 in Maude, TX
Active In: 50's, 60's, 70's

Not to be confused with the pop singer of the same name, Johnny "Country" Mathis was born on September 28, 1933, in Maud, TX. He became a long time member of the Louisiana Hayride from 1951 thru 1960. Johnny "Country" Mathis started out as part of the duo Jimmy & Johnny, with Jimmy Lee Fautheree. While they only released a handful of records, the duo hit the country & western Top Ten in 1954 with "If You Don't Somebody Else Will." It was recorded for the Chicago blues label Chess; it was one of the only country songs the label ever released. By the mid-'50s, Mathis went solo, recording a string of records for Dallas' renowned D Records, (including a rockabilly single, "Bee-Boppin' Daddy," under the name Les Cole & the Echoes), Decca, United Artists, and Little Darlin.

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