JOHNNY MATHIS - MATHIS HONOURED WITH ELLA AWARD

Pop legend JOHNNY MATHIS will become the 15th recipient of the Society of Singers' Ella Award at a ceremony in California in September (06). The prize is named after ELLA FITZGERALD, the first ever winner. It honours entertainers' professional success as well as their work for charities and humanitarian causes. Society of Singers' president JERRY F SHARELL says of 70-year-old Mathis - who this year celebrates his 50th year in showbiz - "Johnny sings from the heart, with one of the most identifiable voices and individual vocal styles of our time. He was also one of the first singers to join SOS - and while he doesn't seek publicity for doing it, Johnny has been hosting and performing at charity events for decades." Previous Ella winners include FRANK SINATRA, SIR ELTON JOHN, PEGGY LEE, ROSEMARY CLOONEY, TONY BENNETT, JULIE ANDREWS, PLACIDO DOMINGO, BARRY MANILOW and CELINE DION.