Johnny Mathis, 89, announces retirement due to ‘memory issues’ ahead of milestone birthday
Legendary singer Johnny Mathis has announced his retirement from touring due to memory issues as he approaches his 90th birthday.
The 89-year-old crooner will perform his final concert on May 18, at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, New Jersey.
The announcement brings an end to a remarkable career spanning nearly seven decades.
Mathis, known for hits including Wonderful, Wonderful and It’s Not For Me To Say, has been forced to make the difficult decision as his memory issues have “accelerated” in recent months.
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The iconic vocalist has been on his Voice of Romance tour since September last year.
A statement shared on Mathis’s Facebook page explained the difficult decision to cancel all concerts from June 2025 onwards.
“As many of you may already be aware, Johnny Mathis is approaching his 90th birthday this year,” the statement read.
“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 & live concerts.”
The post expressed gratitude to fans worldwide for their continued support.
“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,'” the statement concluded.
Despite retiring from touring, Mathis’s team has indicated that new music may still be on the horizon.
“Johnny is just retiring from touring and concerts, so the good news is there is potentially new music in the works,” his team stated in a follow-up message on social media.
Throughout his illustrious career, Mathis has sold over 360 million records worldwide, making him the third best-selling artist of the 20th century.
At the height of his fame, he was widely compared to other iconic easy listening greats such as Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett.
Despite being primarily known as a romantic singer since his 1956 debut, his catalogue spans multiple genres including pop, Latin American, soul, R&B, show tunes, soft rock, blues and country.
Mathis has achieved the rare feat of having five albums on the Billboard charts simultaneously, an achievement equalled by only three other singers – Sinatra, Barry Manilow and Prince.
The 89-year-old has recorded a staggering 73 studio albums, with his most recent, Johnny Mathis Sings the Great New American Songbook, released in 2017.
He holds the record for being Columbia Records’ longest-signed recording artist.
Mathis has four remaining concerts before his final performance in New Jersey.