mˈæθjuːz wʌz bˈɔːɹn ˌɔn dʒˈænjuːˌɛɹi sˈɛvən, nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi fˈoːɹ, ɪn ˈʌplənd, pˌɛnsɪlvˈeɪniə ænd ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾᵻd fɹʌm ɐtlˈæntɪk sˈɪɾi hˈaɪ skˈuːl.
Matthews was born on January 7, 1934, in Upland, Pennsylvania and graduated from Atlantic City High School.