Veteran crooner Johnny Mathis has returned to Los Angeles to find his long-time Hollywood Hills home destroyed in a fire.

A vegetation fire spread to the 80-year-old star's hillside estate, Brian Humphrey, a spokesman for Los Angeles' fire service, said.

KTTV-TV said the singer had just flown back to the city to learn that his house caught fire on Monday evening.

Mathis, known for hits such as When A Child Is Born,  Chances Are, It's Not For Me to Say and Too Much, Too Little, Too Late, told the station his house of more than 50 years was a total loss.

He had launched a tour this year to commemorate his 60th year in the music industry. According to his website, Mathis performed in Cleveland, Ohio, on Sunday.