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Johnny Mathis, the legendary jazz and pop vocalist known for his romantic ballads, announced this week that he will retire because of his advancing age and memory loss.
The 89-year-old “Chances Are" singer made the announcement via his official Facebook page.
“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.”
The Texas-born Mathis is currently performing his "The Voice of Romance" tour, but all tour stops beyond May have been canceled. He'll perform his final show on May 18 at the Bergen PAC in Englewood, New Jersey.
Refunds will be issued for all canceled shows, according to the announcement.
Mathis’ career spans more than seven decades and includes five Grammy nominations. His first album, 1956’s Johnny Mathis: A New Sound in Popular Song, introduced him to the world. A year later, his singles “Wonderful! Wonderful!” and “It’s Not for Me to Say” became Billboard chart hits, according to his website.
Three of Mathis’ songs—“It’s Not for Me to Say,” “Misty,” and “Chances Are”—have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003.
It's been a "Wonderful, Wonderful" career for Mathis.
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