At 87 years of age, chances are that Johnny Mathis, a millionaire many times over, is playing shuffleboard at his Florida mansion.
Not so.
Last Sunday night, Johnny Mathis performed in Charlottesville at the Paramount Theater, and Nancy and I joined a packed house of devoted fans who marveled at his still-amazing voice. Johnny Mathis is a living legend.
There were a few young people in the crowd (sixty-somethings), but most of us were older, old enough to remember that when a Johnny Mathis record dropped from the spindle of a 45-record player, we made a bee line to our special lady for a slow dance. We also remember when parked on a lonely country road with our girlfriend, that if “Chances Are” came on the radio, a truly romantic moment had arrived. Johnny and Baby Boomers grew up together. We remember him on the Ed Sullivan Show, we remember him on American Bandstand. We know most every word to every song he sang. That butter smooth voice produced mega-hits such as: It’s Not for Me to Say; Misty; The Twelfth of Never; A Certain Smile; Wonderful, Wonderful; and, of course, Chances Are.
Last Sunday, Johnny sang all those songs and more. He did a medley of Henry Mancini hits; he sang Beatles songs, and some Everly Brothers tunes. In all, he did around 50 numbers in an hour and a half performance with only a short intermission, and his Velvet Voice never faltered.
87 years old?
As Johnny Mathis fed off the energy of the electric crowd, he seemingly grew stronger, not weaker. He performed because he was born to perform, and he was magnificent.
His was perhaps the best concert I’ve ever attended. If he does another when he turns 97, I’ll do my best to be there, and Chances Are, he will be as good as ever.