POP/ROCK - June 20, 1990

Mathis Doesn’t Get ‘Misty’: Johnny Mathis may sing about getting misty, but don’t expect him to come out in the rain. That’s what officials of the new Anderson Civic Center in Anderson, S.C., said Tuesday, referring to a Monday ceremony to name a street after the singer. Civic Center Director Martin Durham said Mathis was to have entered the parking lot in a convertible Rolls-Royce to cut the ribbon for the dedication of Johnny Mathis Boulevard. Two live television broadcasts were scheduled. But when the ceremony started, rain started pouring down on the crowd. Mathis didn’t want to get wet, and the owner of the Rolls-Royce did not want his car driven with the top down. “What are you going to do?” Durham said. “The rain ruined it.” Mathis stayed in his dressing room during the ceremony to prepare for Monday night’s concert, the first at the 4,500-seat civic center.