Hollywood Hills home of singer Johnny Mathis damaged in fire
Legendary singer Johnny Mathis at his Hollywood Hills home, which was damaged in a fire Monday evening, authorities said.
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The longtime Hollywood Hills home of crooner Johnny Mathis was damaged in a fire Monday evening, authorities said.
The home on Stebbins Terrace, which Mathis has owned for more than 50 years, caught fire shortly after 5:30 p.m., said Brian Humphrey, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department.
After about 30 minutes, the blaze was knocked down by 41 firefighters, Humphrey said. No injuries were reported, and the extent of the damage was not known.
It’s unclear if Mathis, 80, was home at the time of the fire. Representatives for the singer have not responded to requests for comment.
Mathis was discovered at the age of 18 in a San Francisco bar, and his singing career has lasted six decades; he launched a tour this year to commemorate his 60th year in the music industry. Mathis performed Sunday in Cleveland, according to his touring schedule.
At a March interview in the home involved in Monday’s blaze, Mathis told The Times that he has kept his voice so fresh with rest, exercise and a careful diet. And he said he has sustained such a long career by realizing that even if he can’t “kill” every performance, he can entertain the audience.
“If you do what I do, there’s no way you can sleepwalk,” Mathis said. “I would say three-quarters of what I do depends on the sincerity of it. You can croak, but if you croak good, they’ll still listen.”
For breaking news in California, follow @MattHjourno.
Times staff writer Mikael Wood contributed to this report.
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