JEREMY SMITH FOR BERGENPAC
Johnny Mathis performs at BergenPAC in Englewood, May 18.
Johnny Mathis, who is 89, announced in March that his May 18 concert at BergenPAC in Englewood would be his last. And he wrapped up his long career on a high note, singing more than 30 songs — including hits such as “Chances Are,” “The Twelfth of Never,” “Wonderful! Wonderful!” and “Misty” — to a sold-out crowd. He was backed by a 30-piece orchestra, and sang with his trademark charm and power.
Check out videos of the show’s final song, “How Do You Keep the Music Playing?,” and of “Misty,” below.
Concert attendees included Darlene Love, Valerie Simpson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Norm Lewis and Regina Belle, and a video was shown of these artists and others — including Barbra Streisand (who said Mathis is her favorite singer), Whoopi Goldberg, Chaka Khan, Lionel Richie and Barry Manilow — wishing Mathis well. That video can be seen below as well.
BergenPAC has presented Mathis — who has performed there more than 10 times — with a plaque on its Walk of Fame, and its BergenPAC Performing Arts School has established a scholarship in his name, to be given annually to a student pursuing a career in the performing arts.
In his retirement announcement in March, Mathis cited “age and memory issues” as the reason for his decision.
JEREMY SMITH FOR BERGENPAC
From left, Dee Dee Bridewater, Regina Belle and Darlene Love at Johnny Mathis’ May 18 show at BergenPAC in Englewood.
Here is the show’s setlist, according to setlist.fm:
FIRST SET:
“When I Fall in Love”
“Morning of My Life”
“It’s Not for Me to Say”/”Chances Are”
“Gina”
“Wild Is the Wind”
“I’m on the Outside (Looking In)”
“Oh Shenandoah”
“Let It Be Me”
“Let Go”
“It Had Better Be Tonight (Meglio Stasera)”
“Two for the Road”
“Charade”
“Days of Wine and Roses”
“Moment to Moment”
“Moon River”
SECOND SET
“Sands of Time”
“Baubles, Bangles and Beads”
“Stranger in Paradise”
“Secret Love”
“A Certain Smile”
“Wonderful! Wonderful!”
“Betcha by Golly, Wow”
“Misty”
“Yesterday”
“You and Me Against the World”
“My Foolish Heart”
“99 Miles From L.A.”
“The Twelfth of Never”
“Mas que nada”
“Manhã de carnaval”
“Brazil (Aquarela do Brasil)”
ENCORE
“How Do You Keep the Music Playing?”
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