About Johnny Mann

Johnny Mann is best known for the forty-two albums he arranged and conducted for his Johnny Mann Singers resulting in five Grammy Award nominations and two Grammy Awards.

He is a composer, arranger, conductor, entertainer and recording star. His group of super-talented young singers appeared with him in Chevrolet’s weekly syndicated series, “Stand Up And Cheer,” which enjoyed a three-year run on national TV and many tours around the country.

Born August 30, 1928, in Baltimore, MD, Johnny got his start in Hollywood arranging scores for seven full-length motion pictures for Warner Brothers, Twentieth Century Fox and Columbia Studios. He then became the choral director of the “NBC Comedy Hour,” which led to the formation of The Johnny Mann Singers and a record contract.

Along with being musical director of the original “Alvin and The Chipmunks” TV series, he sang the voice of “Theodore”. He worked over the years with George Gobel, Johnny Mathis, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Julie London, Steve Allen, and was Danny Kaye’s conductor on a twelve week tour. With limitless energy and enthusiasm, Mann sincerely espouses the positive and good of America through his entertainment. He was invited to perform at The White House twice during President Nixon’s administration to entertain Imelda Marcos and first-time Russian visitor to the U.S., Leonid Brezhnev, General Secretary of The U.S.S.R.

Due to Mann’s His devotion to his country, he received four consecutive awards from The Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, top awards from The Disabled American Veterans, The Medal of Honor from The National DAR, The Silver Helmet Award from the AM VETS, The National Honor Medal from The Veterans of Foreign Wars, and numerous citations from The American Legion. Mann appeared twice as Guest Conductor of the world famous United States Air Force Band and Singing Sergeants in Constitution Hall, Washington, D.C.

Johnny composed, arranged and produced hundreds of radio and TV product commercials, and is well-known for his original radio station I.D. Jingle Packages such as 93 KHJ “Boss Radio,” KFWB Channel 98, K-EARTH 101 (KRTH) in Los Angeles, and a multitude of other stations in cities around the United States, as well as Canada, Taiwan, Honolulu, Hamburg, Germany, and Australia. He created and produced jingles for The ABC Radio Network and the 145 affiliated “Oldies” format stations.

Active in many charities, Mann hosted eight celebrity golf tournaments. He resided in Anderson, SC with his wife, Betty. In 2000, he produced a CD for The National Senior Olympics Games, “Let The Games Begin.” and in 2008, he composed his latest patriotic song entitled, “One Nation Under God” which led to the new CD by the same name, a compilation of well-known patriotic songs along with four original titles.

Mann worked closely with Anderson University (SC), and in 2011, he was selected to compose Anderson University’s Centennial Alma Mater, “The Sounds of Anderson”. The University presented him an honorary Doctor of Humanities Degree in 2013.

On June 18, 2014, Johnny Mann peacefully passed away at his home in Anderson, South Carolina at the age of 85.

On August 18, 2014, Dr. Evans Whitaker, president of Anderson University (SC) announced the creation of the “Johnny Mann Center for Commercial Music” at Anderson University in his memory where students can earn a Bachelor of Music with a Concentration in Commercial Music.