Blues icon Johnny Mathis retires from performing live due to old age and 'developing' memory issues

Johnny Mathis is retiring from live performances. The legendary singer will not be performing any more concerts, his team announced on March 25 via his Facebook page.

The Grammy Lifetime Achievement award-winning artist will complete a few more shows of his ongoing Voice Of Romance Tour before retiring, reportedly due to age and memory issues. According to Billboard, the statement announcing Mathis’ retirement noted that all of the singer’s shows after June stand cancelled.

Announcing that Mathis’ final live performance will take place on May 18 at the Bergan Performing Arts Center in Englewood, NJ, the statement said:

“As many of you may already be aware, Johnny Mathis is approaching his 90th birthday this year. 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 and live concerts.”

Continuing, the statement thanked Mathis’ fans, supporters and well-wishers, while referencing one of Mathis’ greatest hits “Wonderful! Wonderful!” The statement added:

“Johnny Mathis and his entire staff send their heartfelt gratitude to all Mathis fans worldwide for your continued love and support of his music! It’s truly been ‘Wonderful, Wonderful.’”

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Johnny Mathis’ long-running career explored

Johnny Mathis was born in Texas but grew up in san Francisco, as per the star’s website, which also makes note of the decision Mathis had to make as a young man, when he had to choose between joining the selection trials as a high jumper for the U.S. Olympic team or recording his first album in New York City with Columbia Records.

Mathis decided to work with Columbia Records, and the result was his first studio album, titled Johnny Mathis: A New Sound In Popular Song, which was released in 1956.

“Wonderful! Wonderful!,” released later that same year and produced by Mitch Miller, cemented Mathis’ place in music history as the single climbed to a peak position of No. 27 in the charts, according to Official Charts Company. “It’s Not For Me To Say,” also released in 1956, gained widespread recognition and was also featured on soundtracks of films like Goodfellas and David Fincher's Zodiac.

Over his long career, Mathis produced a total of 79 studio albums, as per People Magazine. His contributions to the music industry were recognised in 2003, when Mathis was given the Grammy Lifetime Achievement award. He was also inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame thrice, first in 1998 for “Chances Are,” then in 2002 for “Misty,” and finally in 2008 for “It’s Not For Me To Say.”

In a 2019 interview with Variety, Johnny Mathis reminisced about his first performance when he arrived in New York. He said:

“I think I played the Vanguard before I played the Blue Angel. I was really on my best behavior. The Blue Angel was a very small room and everything was padded, quilted like the inside of a coffin. I remember I was warned, ‘Don’t sing too loud.’And only a piano for accompaniment.”

Compare that to the reviews of one of Mathis’ latest performances in 2025, in the Twin Cities, where a journalist from The Minnesota Star Tribune noted that Mathis would sometimes belt out songs while keeping the microphone down against his waist.

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As per The Minnesota Star Tribune, the 89-year-old might have definitely aged, but his voice remains strong and passionate as ever.