From “Misty” to Memories: Johnny Mathis Takes His Final Bow

June 1, 2025

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Iconic crooner Johnny Mathis has announced his retirement ahead of his 90th birthday.  The singer, known for his velvety voice and elegant ballads, gave a farewell concert on May 18 at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, New Jersey.

Throughout his 70-year career, Mathis has supported union musicians and hired full orchestras for all his shows. “Johnny Mathis always files a union contract,” says Anthony Scally, president Local 16-248 (Newark/Paterson, NJ).

“He performs all over the state, including Atlantic City, and he’s a great supporter of union musicians. Our Secretary-Treasurer Amy Hamilton-Soto, a violinist, has played many of his gigs and was there performing with him for his very last one,” he says, adding, “It’s a bittersweet moment, but we’re grateful for his superb shows over the years, and wish him well in retirement.”

At the height of his fame, Mathis sold 360 million records worldwide, with hits including “Chances Are” and “Misty.” Two years after being signed by Columbia Records, Johnny’s Greatest Hits was released and went on to become one of the most popular albums of all time and spent an unprecedented 490 continuous weeks on Billboard’s top albums chart. 

Rising to fame in the 1950s, Mathis became one of the most enduring voices in American music. He has recorded 73 studio albums and enjoyed the rare distinction of having five albums on the Billboard chart at the same time. He’s graced venues spanning jazz clubs and concert halls to state dinners and The London Palladium.

Born John Royce Mathis in Gilmer, Texas, he was encouraged by his amateur-musician father, who purchased an old upright piano when Mathis was 8 years old, and taught him his first song, “My Blue Heaven.” The family moved to San Francisco, where Mathis studied with a voice teacher.

In his younger years, Mathis was almost as famous for his athletic ability. In track at San Francisco State University, he set a high jump record. In fact, he and future NBA star Bill Russell were featured in the San Francisco Chronicle in 1954 demonstrating their high jumping skills. (Russell came in first.)

Mathis had a chance to compete in the US Olympic team trials, which were being held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956. In the meantime, Columbia Records wanted him in New York to start arrangements for his first recording session. Luckily for fans, Mathis gave up Olympic dreams and signed with Columbia in August 1955.

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