Johnny Mathis Announces Retirement From Touring: ‘It’s Time to Call It a Day’
The music icon is stepping away from the stage after 69 years—see how to catch him before May 18
If you’ve ever wanted to see “Chances Are” singer Johnny Mathis perform live, now is the time. The beloved crooner, who has been dazzling audiences for nearly 70 years, just announced that he will retire from live performances this spring. The 89-year-old icon, known for his timeless voice and romantic ballads, shared the news in an emotional update to fans. Here’s everything to know about his health, his final tour dates, and what’s next.
Mathis’s team revealed Wednesday in a statement on his official Facebook page that the iconic singer will end his live concert career in the coming months. While he will continue to perform on his ongoing Voice of Romance Tour through his final performance on May 18, all concerts scheduled for June onwards have been canceled.
“Johnny Mathis and his entire staff send their heartfelt gratitude to all Mathis fans worldwide for your continued love and support of his music!,” the statement concludes. “It’s truly been ‘Wonderful, Wonderful.’”
In a follow-up comment on the post in response to a slew of comments from fans, Mathis’s people wrote:
“Wow. Thank you so very much on Johnny’s behalf for your kind messages! To answer a couple repeat questions. It’s a lovely idea, but unfortunately filming or streaming the final concerts is not going to be possible. We’re sorry for any disappointment. Johnny is just retiring from touring and concerts, so the good news is there is potentially new music in the works. Check back for news on this.”
Why Johnny Mathis is retiring from touring
“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’s age and memory issues, which have accelerated, we are announcing his retirement from touring and live concerts.”
Mathis will turn 90 years old on September 30.
The good news is that Mathis’s memory issues are not currently significantly hindering his daily life, the musician’s representative Robert Scott told USA TODAY. However, Scott told the outlet that Mathis’s demanding travel schedule has “taken a toll on his body.”
Mathis is finishing on a high note
“His voice is still wonderful, and it’s a shame that he won’t be able to share that with his audiences after May 18,” Scott continued in his statement. “He knows deep down that it’s time to call it a day. He’s performed 69 consecutive years now (1956) without ever missing a beat.”
Echoing Scott’s sentiment, critic Jon Bream wrote in a recent review in the Minneapolis Star Tribune that while performing at the Mystic Lake Casino showroom, “Although he mentioned that he hadn’t sung in a while, you could have closed your eyes and imagined it was 1960-something. Mathis’ voice was remarkably pristine, a little richer with less quivering, fewer low notes and startling power. He often sang with the microphone away from his mouth—even down to his waist a couple of times—and his voice was strong, clear and ideally emotive.”
Even after he “lost his focus briefly,” during a song, Mathis quickly recovered with his next tune, wrote Bream, adding that Mathis “mentioned he had a gimpy knee. Hunched over, the singer, who now looks like Lorne Greene’s kid brother with collarbone-length silver and rust hair, moved gingerly throughout his 75 minutes onstage. But we should all summon so much passion and purpose at age 89.”
What happens if your Johnny Mathis show is canceled?
Mathis is still set to perform his final shows in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, Shipshewana, Indiana, Santa Rosa, California, as well as his last stop in Englewood, New Jersey, and limited tickets are still on sale. According to Mathis’s team, refunds for the performances that have been called off in Biloxi, Mississippi, Worcester, Massachusetts, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, will be made through the original point of purchase.
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