Johnny Mathis in 2006 (photo: Dwight McCann/Wikipedia)

Johnny Mathis, 89, the legendary pop and jazz singer known for his smooth, romantic voice and timeless ballads, is giving his last performances. Mathis, who is warmly appreciated for hiring full orchestras and numerous union musicians over the years, is performing a grand farewell on May 18, 2025, at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, New Jersey.

Rising to fame in the 1950s, he became a household name with hits like “Chances Are,” “Misty,” and “It’s Not for Me to Say.” With a career spanning over six decades, Mathis has sold millions of records worldwide and remains one of the most enduring voices in American music, celebrated for his elegance, warmth and emotional depth.

Allegro recently sat down with Local 802 President Bob Suttmann and Local 802 member Ed Shea, both of whom performed with Mathis. In fact, Ed is performing on Johnny’s final gig in Englewood.

Ed Shea and Local 802 President Bob Suttmann reminisce about playing with Johnny Mathis

Bob first played for Johnny Mathis a couple of times in Atlantic City after being hired by a local contractor. “Hearing that voice was iconic,” remembers Bob. Even recently, “he hasn’t lost his voice…he hasn’t lost anything,” says Bob. One of his favorite Mathis stories involves a local Philly legend in the band named Bill Zaccagni. “I remember Mathis at one point just came up to Bill, give him a big hug and a big kiss full on the lips. Bill was a really South Philly kind of guy. Even the picture of it in my head makes me smile right now.”

Ed’s musical relationship with Johnny goes back over 55 years to the Valley Forge Music Fair in 1969, where Ed hit the ground running by playing with Johnny seven days a week! Later he played with Johnny in Atlantic City and on tour all over. Johnny would tell the band all kinds of stories about playing with the Ed Sullivan Show or playing with Michael Jackson, among other legends. “You know, 50 percent of playing a gig is the music, and 50 percent is the hang,” remembers Ed.

Johnny Mathis signing autographs in 1959. Photo: Wikipedia

One of the most telling aspects of touring with Mathis was the fact that when he would do a few tunes just with the rhythm session, the entire band would just stay in their seats to listen. “We were all pretty jaded,” remembers Ed. “We worked with everyone. But we would stay put to hear Johnny sing.”

As Johnny got older and forgot some of the lyrics, Ed remembers that “he would make fun of himself and the people ate it up. They loved it — he would make up words to a tune and he never took it personally. It was always a joke to him. But now it’s time, and I think Johnny realizes it. He is the last of his era.”

Ed says his blessing to Johnny is what he tells him in person all the time: “I love him as a human being and I appreciate him so much. Johnny, thank you for sharing your gift, and thank you for using live music. Johnny is just a sweetheart of a guy. Thank you for the great memories, the great music, and just for being Johnny Mathis, a wonderful human being.”

And Bob says, “Between the songs, the voice, the orchestra and the audience, there was so much love generated on a Johnny Mathis gig. It was just incredible. He brought tears to my eyes to hear the songs that I grew up with. It’s all about human beings making music together. Machines don’t do that. It’s humans interacting. There’s the love. It just grows. It’s beautiful.”

Ed ends the interview by remembering when he was a child vacationing on the Jersey Shore with his parents. “My dad had a Sears Silvertone transistor radio, and I can remember listening to Pat Boone and Johnny Mathis. Decades later, I can’t tell you how many times I’m sitting next to John, having dinner with him, and I’m thinking, oh, my God! I can remember being on the beach with my mother and father and listening to Johnny. We grew up with him. He’s an amazing, unbelievable star.”

For more reminiscences of Johnny Mathis, listen to this radio interview with Ed Shea on the James Golden Show. And see photos below of Ed with Johnny Mathis and fellow Local 802 members in the band: