mike sugerman on how singer johnny mathis is singing the praises of a new bay area exhibit celebrating that cross culturallization. >> reporter: the history of jews and blacks in america have not always been harmonious but there is lots to sing about. ♪[ music ] >> reporter: san francisco's own johnny mathis is back home to sing the praises of an exhibit at the contemporary jewish museum called black sabbath. >> the music was all around me growing up in san francisco. synagogues all over the place. catholic churches. lots of baptist, methodist churches. and i went to all of them. ♪[ music ] >> reporter: more than 50 years ago he recorded a prayer for jews on the holiest day of the year. >> we found a single of johnny mathis from the 1950s and were completely blown away by it and that started a conversation about what is this cross culturallization that's happening. >> reporter: they looked harder and found a lot more examples which today make up the black sabbath exhibit set in a space meant to feel like a nightclub from that era. ♪[ music ] >> reporter: this is one thing, but yo

johnny mathis was the local singing star who went on to international fame and fortune. arts entertainment reporter don sanchez explains why he came back. >> contrary jewish museum looking at exhibit called black sabbath. history of jaw issue relation. how jewish song writer transform them into hit sojs. he grew up here. track star in washington high school and san francisco state but always wanted to sing is. >> something that my fat taught me an every time i sing i think of dad. >>reporter: he left in 1957. >> i had a hit record. first record that i had was called wonderful wonderful. i had had another one called chances are. >> reporter: his success singing he then tried something else. he recorded an album of relimb us music in 1958. he says he was inspired by the music he heard in churches and synagogue in san francisco. it is johnny sing ago hebrew song. part of the surprising collection. also a chance to address issues that have separated jew and black. >> if we could talk to one another and be close and have communication that is the thing that will breakdown all

>> and johnny mathis. a museum opening that brought him back home. it's coming up at 6:00 now back to dan and cheryl. >> what a voice, thank you very much. >> can't wait to see that. >> today is the start of the lunar new year kicking off two weeks of festivities to celebrate the year of the rabite that is right. people born in the year of the rabbit said to lead a tranquil life, good judgment and they're lucky in business. >> chinese new year parade dating back to just after the

. >> coming up next a serenade from johnny mathis. >>@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o@o throne for the tv... room for movies... your workout gear... non-stop football... it's a man cave! the boys next door will never leave. who says we want them to? >>> a music legend returned home today. the local high school singing star went on to international stardom. and why he came back. >> johnny mathis looking at an exhibit called black sabbath. it's about how jewish song writers trance form spirituals and blues into hit songs. he was a track star in san francisco state but wanted to sing. >> this is something my father taught me. i think of dad. >> he left in 1957. >> i had the first hit record called "wonderful wonderful". i had another one called "chances are". >> his succes