--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started off as a kid singing with my…" description: "\"I started off as a kid singing with my dad. My dad was my best pal. But he had seven kids, and I was the only one who was kind of interested in what he..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d33/johnny-mathis-3833_best_i-started-off-as-a-kid-singing-with-my-d_534297.png" --- # I started off as a kid singing with my dad. My dad was my… ![“I started off as a kid singing with my dad. My dad was my best pal. But he had seven kids, and I was the only one who was kind of interested in what he was playing and singing at the piano. And he was not only my dad, but he was my best pal, and I was interested in doing whatever he wanted to.” quote by Johnny Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d33/johnny-mathis-3833_best_i-started-off-as-a-kid-singing-with-my-d_534297.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d33/johnny-mathis-3833_best_i-started-off-as-a-kid-singing-with-my-d_534297.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d33/johnny-mathis-3833_best_i-started-off-as-a-kid-singing-with-my-d_534297.png) > “I started off as a kid singing with my dad. My dad was my best pal. But he had seven kids, and I was the only one who was kind of interested in what he was playing and singing at the piano. And he was not only my dad, but he was my best pal, and I was interested in doing whatever he wanted to.” [Johnny Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-mathis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early family bonds shaped his musical path, highlighting the influence of close relationships on artistic growth. **In simple terms:** Family bonds shaped his music. Key Takeaway Value supportive relationships for creative growth. Themes family music mentorship growth Mood nostalgic warm Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - family gatherings - music lessons - career decisions Key Concepts emotional support creative inspiration Questions to Reflect On - How did your dad influence your choices? - What other mentors could you seek? A Different Perspective Relying solely on family may limit broader perspectives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [I basically am the only musician in my family. My aunt plays a little piano, but that's about it. My dad's mother painted and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coy-bowles/i-basically-am-the-only-musician-in-my-family-my-aunt-plays-a-little/) [Coy Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coy-bowles/) > [I started as a kid on my own as an actor because I was into dance, drama, theatres during college and I got into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-cassandra/i-started-as-a-kid-on-my-own-as-an-actor-because-i-was-into-dance/) [Regina Cassandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-cassandra/) > [I started off as a kid who didn't care what my education was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-abloh/i-started-off-as-a-kid-who-didn-t-care-what-my-education-was/) [Virgil Abloh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-abloh/) > [After I started singing, I'd go to my dad's records I grew up with in his house listening to: Gordon Lightfoot, John Denver, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-gutt/after-i-started-singing-i-d-go-to-my-dad-s-records-i-grew-up-with-in/) [Jeff Gutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-gutt/) > [I have a very young brother and sister, and if you can get a kid singing the words to a song after they heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-levine/i-have-a-very-young-brother-and-sister-and-if-you-can-get-a-kid/) [Adam Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-levine/) > [I was a really camp child! In the 70s, an age of all these amazing musical subcultures, I was sitting in my living room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-ball/i-was-a-really-camp-child-in-the-70s-an-age-of-all-these-amazing/) [Zoe Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-ball/) > [Everyone around me was super-cool and laid back and skinny and tan and volleyball-y, and I was just this neurotic kid who was singing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-bloom/everyone-around-me-was-super-cool-and-laid-back-and-skinny-and-tan/) [Rachel Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-bloom/) > [In my living room, I was always playing guitar and writing songs and singing them. My dad and I would always sing together -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/in-my-living-room-i-was-always-playing-guitar-and-writing-songs-and/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [I was more of a dancing kid than a singing kid. I mean, I sang in school choirs and I sang in school musicals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-was-more-of-a-dancing-kid-than-a-singing-kid-i-mean-i-sang-in/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [Within our culture, every school has a swimming pool. We lived on the coast. People swam in the surf. It's a very sporty nation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-rush/within-our-culture-every-school-has-a-swimming-pool-we-lived-on-the/) [Geoffrey Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-rush/) > [One day you will come to Montauk and see your dad playing the piano And see your other dad wearing glasses Hope that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/one-day-you-will-come-to-montauk-and-see-your-dad-playing-the-piano/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [My brother and I grew up in a musical family. We have an older sister who sings and plays the piano. Our dad is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-allen/my-brother-and-i-grew-up-in-a-musical-family-we-have-an-older-sister/) [Laura Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-allen/) > [“Whenever anyone finds out there are seven kids in my family, the imagine my mom and dad having sex.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-dewoskin/whenever-anyone-finds-out-there-are-seven-kids-in-my-family-the/) [Rachel DeWoskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-dewoskin/) > [As a father of seven kids, and been a kid myself at one point, I realize you don't always make the best decisions every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/as-a-father-of-seven-kids-and-been-a-kid-myself-at-one-point-i/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) > [I'm the youngest of seven kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-the-youngest-of-seven-kids/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Johnny Mathis > [The world changes. The world is completely different now from when I was growing up. Back then, you didn't say things like they say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-mathis/the-world-changes-the-world-is-completely-different-now-from-when-i/) [Johnny Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-mathis/) > [I've paid the price over the years, though: a lot of injuries and surgeries related to my sports career; my hips and knees took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-mathis/i-ve-paid-the-price-over-the-years-though-a-lot-of-injuries-and/) [Johnny Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-mathis/) > [When you do interviews, you have to talk about yourself - and I like to find out about other people. I am so familiar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-mathis/when-you-do-interviews-you-have-to-talk-about-yourself-and-i-like-to/) [Johnny Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-mathis/) > [I've found that if I limit my talking, just everyday talking, a couple of days before I have to sing, my voice is stronger.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-mathis/i-ve-found-that-if-i-limit-my-talking-just-everyday-talking-a-couple/) [Johnny Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-mathis/) > [In other words, the celebrity gets out of hand, and if youre not careful, you will forget what you are about - and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-mathis/in-other-words-the-celebrity-gets-out-of-hand-and-if-youre-not/) [Johnny Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-mathis/) > [As a child, all I knew was that people kept asking me to sing, and because I liked to please, I would sing. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-mathis/as-a-child-all-i-knew-was-that-people-kept-asking-me-to-sing-and/) [Johnny Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-mathis/) > [The light dims a little bit as you get older and new generations come along. But it's around the holidays when I am remembered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-mathis/the-light-dims-a-little-bit-as-you-get-older-and-new-generations-come/) [Johnny Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-mathis/) > [I think most people don't understand: I have nothing to do with that. I just open my mouth, and it comes out that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-mathis/i-think-most-people-don-t-understand-i-have-nothing-to-do-with-that-i/) [Johnny Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-mathis/) > [My mom loved my Christmas music, so I did an awful lot of it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-mathis/my-mom-loved-my-christmas-music-so-i-did-an-awful-lot-of-it/) [Johnny Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-mathis/) > [I love the house that I've been living in for over 40 years. I really am a homebody and I still love to play golf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-mathis/i-love-the-house-that-i-ve-been-living-in-for-over-40-years-i-really/) [Johnny Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-mathis/) > [I'm really pretty much a regular person who just got very lucky. I got involved early on in my life with a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-mathis/i-m-really-pretty-much-a-regular-person-who-just-got-very-lucky-i-got/) [Johnny Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-mathis/) > [There are not so many songs written about love today like there were in the past. It's all changed, but that's why my songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-mathis/there-are-not-so-many-songs-written-about-love-today-like-there-were/) [Johnny Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-mathis/) > [It's the most personal thing that I do is sing. Because I can't tell a lie. I want them to know exactly what I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-mathis/it-s-the-most-personal-thing-that-i-do-is-sing-because-i-can-t-tell-a/) [Johnny Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-mathis/) > [I was really active athletically, definitely. I was a hurdler, a sprinter. I played basketball for years. I was a serious athlete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-mathis/i-was-really-active-athletically-definitely-i-was-a-hurdler-a/) [Johnny Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-mathis/) > [It's always nice to hear people say, 'You sound the same,' when I know I don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-mathis/it-s-always-nice-to-hear-people-say-you-sound-the-same-when-i-know-i/) [Johnny Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-mathis/) [Explore all 121 Johnny Mathis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-mathis/) ## More Best quotes > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [Scepticism and cynicism about politics is so great that one of the best counters to it is what you can do at a local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/scepticism-and-cynicism-about-politics-is-so-great-that-one-of-the/) [Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [It's no wonder Pep is one of the best coaches in the world. When I knew I could work with him I was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ederson/it-s-no-wonder-pep-is-one-of-the-best-coaches-in-the-world-when-i/) [Ederson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ederson/) > [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [Life is where you love people and use things not use people and love things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/life-is-where-you-love-people-and-use-things-not-use-people-and-love/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [With every product, the delta between the brand and the reality determines its power over the minds of consumers, and with Trump, that delta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/with-every-product-the-delta-between-the-brand-and-the-reality/) [Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/) > [The human element should be the two players on the court, not the officials. The best officials are the ones you never notice. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-scott/the-human-element-should-be-the-two-players-on-the-court-not-the/) Gene Scott > [I'm looking to fight the best guys in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-rodriguez/i-m-looking-to-fight-the-best-guys-in-the-world/) [Yair Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-rodriguez/) > [Batley and Spen has a high proportion of people working in manufacturing, and we can boast the full range of industries, including high-skilled, precision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/batley-and-spen-has-a-high-proportion-of-people-working-in/) [Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/) > [It is no secret that I have read 'The Da Vinci Code' several times. I genuinely believe that 'The Da Vinci Code' and 'Angels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/it-is-no-secret-that-i-have-read-the-da-vinci-code-several-times-i/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) > [Any position I was going to be in, I was going to make the best of it. I always do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/any-position-i-was-going-to-be-in-i-was-going-to-make-the-best-of-it/) [Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/) Browse all 21,674 Best quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started off as a kid singing with my dad. My dad was my best pal. But he had seven kids, and I was the only one who was kind of interested in what he was playing and singing at the piano. And he was not only my dad, but he was my best pal, and I was interested in doing whatever he wanted to.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Johnny Mathis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-mathis/i-started-off-as-a-kid-singing-with-my-dad-my-dad-was-my-best-pal-but/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Best" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-mathis/i-started-off-as-a-kid-singing-with-my-dad-my-dad-was-my-best-pal-but/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d33/johnny-mathis-3833_best_i-started-off-as-a-kid-singing-with-my-d_534297.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d33/johnny-mathis-3833_best_i-started-off-as-a-kid-singing-with-my-d_534297.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d33/johnny-mathis-3833_best_i-started-off-as-a-kid-singing-with-my-d_534297.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I started off as a kid singing with my dad. My dad was my best pal. But he had seven kids, and I was the…” — Johnny Mathis", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Johnny Mathis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-mathis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I started off as a kid...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-mathis/i-started-off-as-a-kid-singing-with-my-dad-my-dad-was-my-best-pal-but/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-mathis/i-started-off-as-a-kid-singing-with-my-dad-my-dad-was-my-best-pal-but/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```