CHANCES ARE

When I was fourteen and hormones were raging and girls became very important to our survival a new singer emerged to become our make out minstrel, our slow dance balladeer. His name was Johnny Mathis."Chances Are" "Wonderful, Wonderful", 'A Certain Smile", "When Sunny Gets Blue" and his unforgettable interpretation of the Errol Garner classic "Misty" became locked in my memories. Fifty five years later and they are still there. I grew to love Sinatra and Tony Bennett, Mel Torme and a host of others. But Johnny Mathis was always associated with early romances and first loves. Playing "Chances Are " over and over while we slow danced or made out on some basement couch. The nice thing about this memory is that the music is just as fresh and just as romantic as it was more than a half century ago. And Johnny Mathis has only added to this legacy with more than 350 million records sold world wide. He made us realize life as grown ups with "Me and Mrs. Jones" and revived our love affair with great songs from the movies in his extraordinary collaboration with Henry Mancini. Years might pass and as my musical tastes explored Jimmy Witherspoon, John Duffey, Ray Charles, Joe Williams, Willie Nelson, Bob Seeger O.C. Smith and countless others I would hear Johnny Mathis on a film score or late night television and the memories and the appreciation would come flooding back.

I was working as the director of Special Events at the National Building Museum in Washington. When I got the job the building was undergoing a complete renovation. The former Pension Building , one of Washington's true architectural wonders, was saved from demolition by the efforts of Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and a small army of determined preservationists who succeeded in convincing Congress to renovate the building and create a museum dedicated to the "building arts." Thus the National Building Museum was born and it would operate in the building to be maintained by the General Services Administration. Thus all maintenance, cleaning , security and general operations would be performed by GSA as it was know. The building's "Great Hall" was a marvel: five stories high, larger than a football field and supported and surrounded by Corinthian and Doric columns. It was a space that had been designed for and now restored for grand special events. According to its charter it would host an Inaugural Ball and Dinner every four years,. At all other times it could be rented and the revenues used to support the Museum.It was my job to seek out and rent the facility and manage the events.  Everything from film premiers, the Symphony Ball, new car introductions, diplomatic receptions and countless charitable fund raisers were held there.

One of the highlights every year was the taping of the television program "Christmas in Washington."The creation of producer George Stevens the program featured several musical stars, the Naval Academy Choir and it was attended by the President and First Lady along with a a roster of guests that were truly the "A List" of Washington only "important" senators and congressmen, diplomats and journalists. NBC broadcast it for many years. It is now on TNT.Back in the mid nineties the musical star of "Christmas in Washington" was Johnny Mathis. His Christmas album from the early sixties had remained a classic so he was perfect for the show. As rehearsals began everyone stopped their work for a moment as that wonderful voice echoed through the building. This was not just a hot pop star but an artist who had helped to define Christmas for more than forty years.

Some maintenance need sent me to the third floor where the GSA building management team had their offices. Thelma, the assistant building manger, was a large, joyous and highly competent woman with eight kids. When our business was concluded she said' I have always been in love with Johnny Mathis. I invited him to my Senior Prom but of course he didn't come." I said why don't come to the dress rehearsal on Saturday night. It's open to all the staff. You can bring your whole family" "Oh I would love to but Saturday night is choir practice and I can't miss that". I went back to work and started looking for Johnny Mathis' manager. I regret to say I have forgotten his name, but when I found him I asked for a  favor. Can you get Mr. Mathis to autograph a picture for someone on the staff? I told him the  story of Thelma and the prom invitation. With regret he explained that he hadn't brought any photos but as soon as they returned to LA he would send me one. Sure.

It was a truly memorable "Christmas in Washington" all because of Johnny Mathis and the glorious music. As always I invited a lot  of friends to the dress rehearsal and we went to Chinatown for dinner afterwards. Everyone young and old was talking about him and not just how good he sounded but how great he looked. Tuesday morning arrived and just before 10 AM the Fed Ex guy showed up in my office.I opened the envelope and then hurried to the third floor. "Thelma, this is for you you" She looked at me with great suspicion as she opened it. Iinside was a photo of Johnny Mathis with the following inscription: "Thelma, sorry I missed the prom. All my love, Johnny."; She cried and maybe I did a little too.

I saw him on a talk show not long after this when he said the he lived "a very simple life." "I play a little golf. I cook a little(he is renowned in LA for his Italian cooking) and oh, yeah I sing a little." Indeed he does. I saw him at Wolf Trap a few years ago at the age of seventy-two looking maybe fifty. When he reached the memorable phrase "On my own will I wander through this world alone" he smiled and winked as he glided effortlessly through it. This past Christmas I knew I would spend it alone but still tried to maintain the spirt. Jay Leno always features Christmas music for a couple of weeks  Jay said"It just isn't Christmas without Johnny Mathis. When I hear him it truly is Christmas for me. " Dressed in his trademark sweater, white pants and tennis shoes he sang a medley of "The Christmas Song" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.".Jay's right. Merry Christmas, BC."

As I was preparing to write this little piece I listened to that early music and wished that there was someone here to slow dance with...'Chances are when I wear a silly grin..."