Well folks, it’s the end of an era. A truly golden voice is saying goodbye to the road after nearly seventy years of serenading audiences coast to coast.
That’s right—Johnny Mathis, the velvet-voiced crooner whose name has been synonymous with romance since the Eisenhower era, is officially hanging up his touring shoes. And I mean, come on… what a run!
At 89 years old, Mathis is still doing what most performers half his age can’t—selling out theaters and bringing grown adults to tears with just a few bars of “Chances Are.” But as he approaches his 90th birthday, he and his team made the bittersweet announcement: the curtain will come down for the last time on May 18 at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, New Jersey. After that? No more live shows, no more spotlights, no more “Wonderful, Wonderful” in person.
Now, let’s pause for a second here. This guy *started* performing live in the mid-1950s. Elvis had just burst onto the scene. The Beatles weren’t even a thing yet. And Mathis? He just kept going.
Through disco, grunge, and whatever Gen Z is listening to now—he kept that smooth, elegant sound alive. Between 1960 and 1990, the man recorded “53” studio albums. That’s not a career—that’s a cultural institution.
Of course, the decision to retire doesn’t come out of nowhere. A statement posted to Facebook shared that Mathis is dealing with memory issues that have been accelerating.
The tone was heartfelt and grateful, thanking fans for a lifetime of support and love. And for anyone who already bought tickets for shows scheduled past May, don’t worry—you’ll be able to get a refund.
But let’s talk about the music for a second, shall we? Just “weeks” ago, Mathis was still bringing down the house. A reviewer from the “Minneapolis Star Tribune” called his show “the most beautifully romantic concert in a theater in recent memory.” That’s not nostalgia talking—that’s raw talent, still shining through. The guy sang with the mic down at his waist, and his voice still filled the room. Now that’s magic.
And Mathis has always understood the fragility of that magic. Back in 2018, he said something that hits even harder today: “You take care of the thing that got you to the dance.” That “thing,” of course, being that golden voice. And after nearly 70 years, he’s finally ready to take a bow.
So here’s to Johnny Mathis: the man who gave the world soundtracks to its first kisses, its slow dances, and its memories. He’s leaving the stage, yes—but his music? That’s never going anywhere.
