Veteran singer-songwriter Johnny Mathis, renowned for his timeless romantic ballads, such as “Wonderful! Wonderful!” and “It’s Not for Me to Say,” is stepping away from the stage after a nearly 70-year career.
The multi-platinum selling artist is currently on his Voice of Romance Tour, which is expected to continue through May.
Mathis’s next show is slated for April 10 at the Luhrs Performing Arts Center in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, followed by concerts in Shipshewana, Indiana, and Santa Rosa, California. His final performance will take place on May 18 at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, New Jersey.
“While there are still some exciting concerts coming up, regrettably, all Johnny Mathis concerts from June 2025 onwards are now cancelled,” the statement reads.
“Johnny Mathis & his entire staff send their heartfelt gratitude to all Mathis Fans worldwide for your continued love & support of his music! It’s truly been ‘Wonderful, Wonderful!’”
Mathis was forced to cancel four upcoming tour dates, including a July 25 show at the Beau Rivage Resort in Biloxi, Mississippi, and a Nov. 8 performance at the historic Academy of Music opera house in Philadelphia.
Despite the cancellations, Mathis’s team hinted that he may release new music down the road, even if he can no longer perform live in concert.
The singer’s retirement announcement prompted an outpouring of support from his followers, with one Facebook user hailing him as “a national treasure.”
“Thank you for the years of beautiful music,” the fan said. “You’re wonderful, so wonderful.”
“Enjoy your retirement my dear John,” commented a second follower. “Thank you for all the wonderful times and wonderful songs. You are 1 in a million.”
70 Years of Music Magic
Born on Sept. 30, 1935, in Gilmer, Texas, Mathis was raised in San Francisco, where his passion for music first emerged.Mathis reflected on his musical upbringing while speaking to The Oregonian in November 2015, describing his father as being “a wonderful singer.”
“Of course, he had seven kids, so he never had a chance to turn professional,” Mathis said. “He sang an awful lot at the house, and those were the first songs I learned.”
Mathis began taking formal singing lessons at the age of 13 before becoming a standout athlete in track and field at his local high school.
In 1954, Mathis enrolled at San Francisco State College, now known as San Francisco State University. There, he was invited to join the U.S. Olympic team as a high jumper to compete at the Summer 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia.
However, around the same time, he began performing at a local club, which was visited by the late record producer George Avakian, who was then an executive at Columbia Records.
“The lady who was very prominent in my being recognized by Columbia Records owned a jazz club in San Francisco, and this wonderful man, his name was George Avakian, came through to promote his jazz musicians,” Mathis told The Orange County Register in December 2021, recalling the meeting.
“He happened to hear me sing one day, I think I was rehearsing with one of my buddies. ... And he said that he thought I might have a career as a singer.”
Mathis went on to sign a contract with Columbia in August 1955, deciding to pursue a music career instead of a future as an Olympic athlete. The following summer, he launched his self-titled debut album, “Johnny Mathis.”
“Before I knew it, I was traveling around the world singing,” he told the publication. “I kept my jazz fundamentals, but I started having my success singing popular songs.”
Since then, Mathis has put out more than 75 albums throughout his career, including his 1958 hit compilation record “Johnny’s Greatest Hits.”
Most recently, the five-time Grammy-nominated artist released a holiday record, titled “Christmas Time Is Here,” which debuted in October 2023.
