Johnny Mathis Is Retiring From Concerts Due to ‘Age & Memory Issues’

Aww, that's sad.

He's had a fabulous run. That picture at the OP is very old. He's finally started showing his age.

He was glorious in his day. I watched a recent concert where he was clearly struggling, though the crowd was unwaveringly supportive. I’m not surprised by this thread, but it is sad. His albums sold more than his singles for romantic couples staying in for the evening.

In his prime there was no one better. Amazing talent.

He's got my respect for knowing when to hang it up.

It's not Christmas without Johnny.

He's gonna be 90 this year.

He should enjoy what time he has left.

In the words of Barbra Streisand (who adored his music as a teen when all the other kids were into Elvis):

"There are good singers ...and there are great singers.... and there is Johnny Mathis."

My sister (RIP) used to be madly in love with him back in the day. Yes, she knew he was gay.

He turned up on [italic]Criminal Minds[/italic] as Rossi's best man at his umpteenth wedding. It was nice to see him again.

Beautiful voice

I'm imagining Madonna announcing her retirement at 90 and the image in my mind is horrific.

R7 you mean because he could die at any moment?

Homo

Saw him in concert last fall—very glad I did; I knew he couldn't go on touring forever so I took my parents (his generation) when he performed within driving distance. His bubbly effusions to the audience were somewhat repetitive and canned, but he still nailed every note, including that super high one in Misty.

Quitter !!

[quote] Anyone ever see him in concert? I wish I had!

You still can, OP, as long as you can get a ticket for something before he retires in May.

When I was in my 20s, and going to the gay AA meeting every Friday night (often as the only lesbian), I met a young man who was Johnny Mathis' hairdresser. This guy (whose name escapes me, of course) was an extraordinarily beautiful blonde with long, curly hair who was from from my local area, and every time he was home visiting his family, he would come to our meeting.

He dropped a few pearls of wisdom my way that I've never forgotten: 1) everybody needs a houseboy, and 2) any man can be had. Witty and fun!

He didn't tell me much about Mathis -- perhaps he didn't want to be indiscreet. But the hairdresser was a serious coke fiend, and had a hard time staying clean (hence the meetings). I have no idea what ever happened to him.

So many young men at that meeting (I was young too!) who I truly loved who were lost, one way or another. That was back in the 80s when gay men were my very most favorite people in all the world. I miss them.

R8 huh! I never connected it until now but of course. The distinct way Streisand would hold notes so purely and luxuriate in them — she was absolutely influenced by Johnny Mathis.

I wasn't a big fan, but he was amazing. This is sublime, especially the last note. He was a true gentleman with tremendous class.

I was eight years old when I snuck into my sisters' bedroom and played their Johnny Mathis records. I fell in love with that voice and those early songs. especially The Twelfth of Never; Wonderful , Wonderful; and Misty.

Dude has earned his rest. Hope he has loving caretakers.

His mind is misty.

He looks pretty good for 89 (other than what's left of the bad dye job in the link) and still has the chops. Shame on you, R2, for that AI generated crap.

I’ve seen him twice on his regular tour and Christmas tour. He sounded great both times. Still no Kennedy Center honor. Only 4 dates were canceled, touring is hard for most performers I couldn’t imagine what it’s like at 90.

Johnny Mathis, one of the all-time greats.

He was Heavenly...

At least he is realistic. Frankie Valli is still performing at 90. Fans says he Lip Synchs at concerts. Must need to the money.

R17, heard on radio his final performance in May at Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, New Jersey is sold out. We can always watch Johnny when PBS stations run their Beg-A-Thons.

I grew up in Hawaii and always thought he was Tahitian. I was in high school before I realized he was not.

Memory problems? Oh dear. :-(

I hope he enjoys retirement with a bunch of lovely younger male helpers.

Sad news. I always wanted to see him in concert. It is unlikely to happen.

From his final show.

Going out on a high note—quite literally.

I love how he responds to the standing ovation at the end. Hard to believe he'll be 90 in September.

R26 I guess it’s why Dionne and Smokey are still doing shows.

R34 here - maybe not Smokey; allegedly his net worth is $150 million!

My former brother-in-law was a minor act in the early 60s and intersected with Mathis's entourage on tour. He said that the entourage did look for potential "dates". Nothing on what his preference was (it wasn't porky white guys like my brother-in-law).

Johnny Mathis is worth a fortune. He never had kids or ex-wives to bleed him dry.

Thank you, r31.

R36, my mom used to be a hairdresser at a beauty salon on South Street in Philadelphia. It was often frequented by celebrities and their entourage. One backup singer (or assistant?) who sometimes performed with Mathis told Mom that Johnny would make a beeline to South Street and troll for Italian boys. Apparently he’d throw some money around to get what he wanted. He was very discreet.

Queer trailblazer?

Thank you R33 for posting that. I cried after reading it.

*sobs*

My favorite Johnny Mathis song. I'll miss him, but I have his recordings to comfort me.

Johnny Mathis - Wild Is The Wind

One of my favorites, too , r43. Streisand specifically praised it a one of the reasons she wanted to record it.

One of my favorites, that shows the man could SWING.

Chances Are is just so beautiful and dreamy. His voice and that arrangement just transports you back to another place in time.

Barbra sent an adoring message to the singer whom she always names as her favourite when asked.

My sister and I went to see him in Newark, NJ at the Prudential Center a couple of years ago. After finding out he's retiring, I'm so glad we got to see him in concert. It was a true highlight.

He was my Mom's favorite singer. She died in 2016 so my sister and I went for nostalgic reasons. Hard to believe my Dad is 1 year older than Johnny. Dad will be 91 in September.

One of my mother’s big “fancy” dates was getting dolled up to go see Johnny at a swanky supper club in downtown L.A. She still has pictures.

Her big crushes were on Johnny and Nat King Cole. I’ve always wondered if she was the Penny Pingleton of her day.

[quote]At least he is realistic. Frankie Valli is still performing at 90. Fans says he Lip Synchs at concerts.

If only

R48 Was your mother positively, permanently punished?

Friend saw his final performance last weekend at Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, New Jersey. He was wonderful .. can still sing and didn't forget words, at 89. Retiring graciously. Not like Frankie Valli who 's been Lip-Synching for the last five years, he's 90.

He apparently forgot a very few.....not many, and not enough where people were cringing or feeling embarrassed.

Loved Johnny Mathis when I was a kid and finally got to see him in concert a few years ago. It was a bittersweet experience. He was lovely in his patter and he sang well enough f9r his age but sorry I missed him when he was in his prime. Goad I got to see him though and we will always have the recordings. One of our greatest pop singers.

I love Chances Are more than any of his other songs, but I don’t have a breadth of knowledge of his discography. I loved it in Close Encounters when the spaceship’s presence made the record player skip to the middle of Chances Are.