When Mathis was 13, voice teacher Connie Cox accepted him as her student in exchange for work around her house. He started singing and dancing for visitors at home, at school, and at church functions. Mathis began learning songs and routines from his father his parents also ran his fan club. Mathis' father worked in vaudeville as a singer and pianist, and on realizing his son's talent, bought an old upright piano for $25 (US$416 in 2022 dollars ) and encouraged his music.

The family moved to San Francisco when Mathis was five, settling on 32nd Avenue in the Richmond District, where Mathis grew up. He is African-American and has stated that he has Native American ancestry on his mother's side. Mathis was born in Gilmer, Texas, the fourth of seven children of Clem Mathis and Mildred Boyd, both domestic cooks. In a 1968 interview, he cited Lena Horne, Nat King Cole, and Bing Crosby among his musical influences. He has also recorded seven albums of Christmas music. Although frequently described as a romantic singer, his discography includes traditional pop, Latin American, soul, rhythm and blues, show tunes, Tin Pan Alley, soft rock, blues, country music, and even a few disco songs for his album Mathis Magic in 1979. Mathis is the third-best-selling artist of the 20th century, selling 360 million records worldwide. He has received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for three recordings. Starting his career with singles of standard music, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status and 73 making the Billboard charts. John Royce Mathis (born September 30, 1935) is an American singer of popular music.

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