DAILY EXPRESS (LONDON) -- His high jump record at San Francisco State College was only two inches below the Olympic record at the time. He was due to compete in trials for the Olympic Games in 1955 but just days earlier was offered a five-year recording contract with Columbia Records and chose music over sport.
“If I’d pursued athletics I’d have been retired a long, long time ago,” reflects Mathis.
Incredibly he still does a couple of live performances a month and, despite having sung with many greats including Deniece Williams, Billy Joel and Dionne Warwick, he reveals that there’s now another famous singer on his radar since recording one of her hits on his new album.
“I think Adele is quite wonderful and I think she might have mentioned me once in conversation,” he says. “I’ve seen her perform but I haven’t met her. But you know, if she called up and said she needed a singing partner, I’m available.”