Pop legend Johnny Mathis is preparing to take his final bow. The 89-year-old Grammy-winning singer will retire from performing this summer, citing age and memory decline, according to a statement posted Wednesday on his official Facebook page. While Mathis will continue with his current Voice of Romance Tour through the spring, all shows scheduled for June 2025 and beyond have been officially canceled.
“As many of you may already be aware, Johnny Mathis is approaching his 90th birthday this year,” the statement reads. “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.”
Mathis still has a few remaining performances scheduled in Pennsylvania, Indiana, and California, with his final concert set for May 18 at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, New Jersey. According to his team, refunds for the canceled shows will be processed through the original point of purchase.
Johnny Mathis, born on September 30, 1935, in Gilmer, Texas, and raised in San Francisco, California, is one of the most enduring and beloved vocalists in American music history. Known for his smooth, romantic voice and timeless ballads, Mathis has captivated audiences for more than six decades.
Mathis began singing at an early age and was quickly recognized for his extraordinary vocal talent. While attending San Francisco State College, he was also an accomplished athlete, earning recognition in track and field. However, his path soon shifted to music when Columbia Records executive George Avakian heard a demo and promptly signed him to the label in 1956.
His breakthrough came with the release of “Chances Are” and “It’s Not for Me to Say” in 1957, both of which became massive hits and cemented his place in pop music. That same year, his Johnny’s Greatest Hits album became one of the first “greatest hits” compilations in music history and spent a record-breaking 490 consecutive weeks on the Billboard charts.
Over the years, Mathis has released over 70 albums and sold more than 350 million records worldwide. He is best known for romantic classics such as “Misty,” “Wonderful! Wonderful!,” “The Twelfth of Never,” and his holiday recordings, which have become seasonal staples. His velvety tenor voice and elegant phrasing made him a favorite across generations, earning him the nickname “The Voice of Romance.”
In addition to his commercial success, Mathis has received numerous accolades, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammy Awards in 2003. He was also honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and inducted into the Great American Songbook Hall of Fame.
