At the age of 89, legendary crooner Johnny Mathis has decided to step away from live performances, bringing an end to an extraordinary era in music. Due to health challenges, particularly memory issues associated with aging, Mathis has officially announced his retirement.
Despite his retirement, fans will still have a chance to see him perform during the final leg of his Voice of Romance Tour, which will wrap up this spring. His farewell concert is scheduled for May 18 at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, New Jersey.
In a statement released by his team, they confirmed that all shows booked beyond June 2025 have been canceled. “As Johnny approaches his 90th birthday, we want to share that he’s retiring from touring due to age-related memory decline,” the announcement read. “It’s a difficult moment, but one made with gratitude for a remarkable career.”
Born on September 30, 1935, in Gilmer, Texas, and raised in San Francisco, Johnny Mathis began his musical journey with classical training before stepping into the world of professional singing at just 13. His love for music flourished in the culturally rich Bay Area, where he rubbed shoulders with jazz legends—including Duke Ellington, whom Mathis deeply admired. “Ellington was one of my heroes,” Mathis once said. “He had a presence and elegance that was reflected in his music. He was cultured without being arrogant.”
Mathis catapulted to fame in 1957 with the timeless hits “Chances Are” and “It’s Not for Me to Say.” That same year, he released Johnny’s Greatest Hits, which made history by spending 490 weeks on the Billboard charts, a record that launched his enduring career.
Over the decades, Mathis has recorded more than 70 albums and sold over 350 million records worldwide. His romantic ballads like “Wonderful! Wonderful!” and “The Twelfth of Never,” along with his iconic holiday releases, have become musical treasures across generations. His velvety voice earned him the nickname “The Voice of Romance.”
Beyond commercial success, Mathis has been recognized with numerous honors, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammy Awards in 2003, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and induction into the Great American Songbook Hall of Fame.
While the curtain is closing on Johnny Mathis’s live performances, his impact on music—and on the hearts of millions—remains timeless. His voice, his warmth, and his legacy will continue to inspire artists and listeners for generations to come.