Johnny Mathis Turns 91: The Voice Of “Chances Are” Enjoys A Quiet Birthday After Seven Decades On Stage

Johnny Mathis turns 91 on September 30, and the voice behind ‘Chances Are’ has earned a quiet birthday. He was born in Gilmer, Texas, in 1935. According to his official site, he signed with Columbia Records in August 1955, a month before he turned 20. What followed was a career that Fox News measures at more than seven decades. Few singers have been the sound of so many first dances and anniversary dinners.

The numbers behind the romance are remarkable. According to Billboard, his 1958 collection ‘Johnny’s Greatest Hits’ spent 490 weeks on the album chart, a record that stood until Pink Floyd’s ‘The Dark Side Of The Moon’ passed it in 1983. Three of his recordings are in the Grammy Hall Of Fame: ‘Chances Are,’ ‘Misty’ and ‘It’s Not For Me To Say.’ The Recording Academy gave him its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003. He also reached the top of the Hot 100 in 1978 with ‘Too Much, Too Little, Too Late,’ his duet with Deniece Williams.

Johnny Mathis Said Goodbye To The Road In 2025

Mathis’s final concert turned into a star-studded farewell. Performing before a sold-out audience with a 30-piece orchestra, he welcomed fellow entertainers including Darlene Love, Regina Belle, and Dee Dee Bridgewater. A video featured well-wishes from Barbra Streisand, Barry Manilow, Lionel Richie, and others. Mathis closed the evening with “How Do You Keep the Music Playing?” before receiving a standing ovation. He returned to thank the audience and musicians, telling them, “We love you, love you, love you!”

His touring days ended last year. In March 2025 his team announced his retirement from live concerts. “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 statement read, as reported by Fox News. He sang his last show on May 18, 2025, in Englewood, New Jersey, and DYR covered the night he bid farewell with that final performance. His official site reports that he joined Instagram and TikTok this month and that a new vinyl Christmas collection is on the way. The stage lights are off now, but the records keep spinning.

Johnny Mathis Nearly Became An Olympic Athlete

Long before he became known as the Voice of Romance, Mathis was an accomplished athlete. While attending San Francisco State College, he set records as a high jumper and earned an invitation to try out for the 1956 U.S. Olympic team. But just as the opportunity arose, Columbia Records asked him to travel to New York to begin recording his first album. Mathis chose music instead, passing up the chance to compete for a place at the Melbourne Olympics. The decision ultimately launched one of the longest recording careers in American popular music.

Although his performing days are behind him, Mathis is still giving fans reasons to celebrate. In September 2026, his team announced that he had joined Instagram and TikTok, opening new ways for listeners to follow his legacy. A new vinyl collection, Johnny Mathis: Christmas Essentials, is also scheduled for release on October 23, featuring 16 holiday favorites, including “Sleigh Ride” and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” For generations who have made Mathis’s recordings part of their holiday traditions, his music remains a familiar part of the season.