(March 27, 2025) Most of us don’t know a world where legendary singer Johnny Mathis is not a star, touring and recording regularly. But, sadly, those days are ending for the 89 year old. Mathis’s team has announced the following on his social media page:
As many of you may already be aware, Johnny Mathis is approaching his 90th birthday this year. So it’s with sincere regret that due to Mr. Mathis’ age and memory issues which have accelerated, we are announcing his retirement from touring and live concerts.
The notice indicates that Mathis’s final performance will likely be May 18 in New Jersey.
Few vocalists have defined romantic pop and soul across generations like Johnny Mathis. With a voice as smooth as satin and a style rooted in elegance, Mathis built a career on delivering heartfelt ballads that stood the test of time.
Born in Texas and raised in San Francisco, Mathis got his start in the mid-1950s and wasted no time making an impact. His early hits— including “Wonderful! Wonderful!,” “It’s Not for Me to Say,” and the iconic “Chances Are”—established him as a dominant force on the charts. “The Twelfth of Never” and “Misty” followed, each showcasing his warm tenor and effortless phrasing that made every lyric feel personal.
Mathis became a concert staple around the world, touring endlessly to full audiences often filled with women. His hitmaking days appeared to be slowing down by the mid-70s, but his 1978 duet with Deniece Williams, “Too Much, Too Little, Too Late,” gave him a surprise comeback, hitting #1 on the pop, R&B, and adult contemporary charts and introducing him to a whole new generation.
He continued to score charting singles into the ‘80s with tracks like “Friends in Love” (with Dionne Warwick) and “You’re All I Need to Get By.” Mathis even touched the dancefloor with “Begin the Beguine” and flirted with soft R&B grooves along the way.
Though musical trends changed, Mathis never lost his core appeal. He remained the same, a peerless singer of romantic songs, and continued, year after year, to be a steadying musical force in our lives. We will miss him come concert season, and we hope that his retirement will be one of great health and happiness. Thank you, Mr. Mathis, for seven decades of love.
