September 30, 1935: Johnny Mathis is born John Royce Mathis in Gilmer, Texas. He is raised in San Francisco. A star athlete, he turns down the chance to try out for the US Olympic Team as a high jumper in 1954 to pursue a career in music. Swooning hits like "Chances Are," "The Twelfth Of Never," "Misty," and "Wonderful! Wonderful!" earn him the title of the king of makeout music in the '50s and '60s, and a string of popular Christmas albums make him a radio favorite each holiday season.