World Premiere: Freda Payne and Johnny Mathis swing on a classic

Share this article

    (December 2, 2020) Each of them has been part of our lives for well more than a half century, and they’re truly living legends in pop, soul and jazz worlds. Freda Payne and Johnny Mathis have had Hall of Fame careers, but they are continuing to add to their historic discographies, and now they’re doing that together.

    Freda Payne is working on her first new album in a half dozen years, and now she gives us a sneak peek on a duet with Mathis that brings an all-time classic forward to 2020.

    If you were picking from the Great American Songbook, you perhaps couldn’t pick a more celebrated song than the George and Ira Gershwin’s 1937 composition “They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” first performed in the movie Shall We Dance, and popularly covered by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong over the years. And Freda and Johnny give it a full, big band cover.

    (December 2, 2020) Each of them has been part of our lives for well more than a half century, and they’re truly living legends in pop, soul and jazz worlds. Freda Payne and Johnny Mathis have had Hall of Fame careers, but they are continuing to add to their historic discographies, and now they’re doing that together.

    Freda Payne is working on her first new album in a half dozen years, and now she gives us a sneak peek on a duet with Mathis that brings an all-time classic forward to 2020.

    If you were picking from the Great American Songbook, you perhaps couldn’t pick a more celebrated song than the George and Ira Gershwin’s 1937 composition “They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” first performed in the movie Shall We Dance, and popularly covered by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong over the years. And Freda and Johnny give it a full, big band cover.

    Freda described her emotion about the legendary Johnny Mathis joining her in song. “I was so happy that he agreed to do it. Many singers request for Johnny to sing duets but he doesn’t grant that wish for everybody. I thought I was more honored to work with him but he was honored, too – tickled and honored. It was lovely recording our vocals perched on stools side by side.”

    Produced by Rodrigo Rios and arranged by Grammy-winner Gordon Goodwin, the song features the Big Phat Band on a fun version that really swings. The two artists sound great together and make this a smile-inducing combination of a couple of our all-time favorites. We're proud to present its World Premiere. Check it out below.

    Freda Payne & Johnny Mathis
    “They Can’t Take That Away From Me”