Fans across the nation have been left devastated after music legend Johnny Mathis revealed he was bidding a final farewell to his remarkable 70-year career.
The iconic voice behind hits like “Wonderful, Wonderful” has announced his retirement at age 89.
Mathis cited memory concerns that make touring increasingly difficult, ending a career that spanned America’s golden age of popular music.
Due to his declining health, Mathis declared in 2018:
“It revolves around whether or not you’re physically able and in good health. That’s the most important thing because you won’t feel like doing anything if you’re not healthy. And being a vocalist, you have another thing to worry about. The vocals cords are flesh and blood so anything can happen to them…You take care of the thing that got you to the dance.”
Mathis will perform his final concert on May 18, 2025, at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in New Jersey.
His retirement marks the end of a remarkable 69-year run that began in 1956, showcasing a talent that has sold over 360 million records worldwide and earned him six Grammy Awards.
Mathis built his legacy on his extraordinary voice and professionalism, connecting with fans across generations.
The retirement announcement came via a heartfelt message on Mathis’s social media.
His team explained that the difficult decision was made due to “age and memory issues which have accelerated” as he approached his 90th birthday.
The statement concluded with sincere gratitude to fans worldwide: “Johnny Mathis and his entire staff send their heartfelt gratitude to all Mathis fans worldwide for your continued love and support of his music! It’s truly been ‘Wonderful, Wonderful.'”
Born in Gilmer, Texas, on September 30, 1935, before moving to San Francisco with his family, Mathis’s path to stardom showed the American Dream at its finest.
He faced a key moment in his early career when he chose music over athletics, declining an opportunity to participate in the U.S. Olympic team trials as a high jumper.
That decision led to one of the most enduring careers in American music history.
Mathis became Columbia Records’ longest-signed recording artist and produced over 70 albums featuring timeless classics like “Chances Are” and “It’s Not For Me To Say.”
Regarding his shows, Mathis once said:
“But what I can do is entertain them. Sometimes you have to go on pure professionalism…If you do what I do, there’s no way you can sleepwalk [through a show]. I would say three-quarters of what I do depends on the sincerity of it. You can croak, but if you croak good, they’ll still listen.”
Mathis’s commitment to his craft and respect for his audience remained intact for nearly seven decades.
His career peaked during the late 1950s and early 1960s, when he released an unprecedented ten consecutive Top 10 albums.
“Johnny’s Greatest Hits” once held the record for most weeks on the U.S. charts, a testament to his widespread appeal.
Despite his advancing age, Mathis continued releasing new music into his late 80s. His Christmas album, “Christmas Time is Here,” dropped in October 2023.
His remarkable longevity in the music industry earned him the Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003 and induction into the Great American Songbook Hall of Fame in 2014.
The final concert of Mathis’s “Voice of Romance Tour” is already sold out. Tickets command at least $474 on third-party websites as fans scramble for one last chance to witness this American treasure perform.
Although Mathis is retiring from live performances, his team has hinted at possible new music, giving fans hope.
