Lucky for San Francisco Bay Area Johnny Mathis fans who were there to see the ‘ voice of romance’ in his second from Final concert of his long, illustrious career Saturday night May 10 at the Luther Burbank theater in Santa Rosa California. Unlike most concerts today, there was no recording of Photography allowed this night but we were lucky to find you above video on youtube, hopefully produced by the Mathis people and not a illegal bootleg
Johnny Mathis’ last local concert and second to last of all was in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mathis was in his usual stellar voice. He did get confused a bit but the crowd was behind him , regardless of any minor lapses , declaring ‘we love you Johnny.’ He may have thanked his long time touring orchestra several more times than was necessary but no big deal. But even if he was not in good voice and there’s no guarantees for a man nearly 90, the audience would have probably given him multiple Ovations anyway , rewarding him for not just this night but for nearly 70 years of bringing great j o y f u l music to their lives.
Johnny Mathis total releases part 1- he had so many we have to separated into two parts. His first three releases stayed on the billboard charts over 28 weeks each and his first album was on the billboard album charts for over a year
He sang from his musical portfolio encompassing all genres… and he even did his doo-wop cover of Little Anthony( I’m on the outside looking in ) to country-pop originally dome by Everly Bros (LET IT BE ME) to soul ‘ Bet you by Golly Wow’ . Interestingly Mathis appeared to employ a vocal track on a few of the songs like the aforementioned As there were no visible background singers.
I liked his updated version of ‘Gina’ with a kind of a Rumba rhythm.
Mathis releases part 2. Mathis had two number ones and 18 top 40 hits spanning three decades
The comedian before intermission I started to like -there’s not the usual Gary mule Deer this night- but instead a 69-year-old guy from Seattle and he acted like it . He didn’t talk politics but he came pretty close and talking about getting old and 69 isn’t really that old but it was funny at first but i got tiring and kind of gross, to be honest, in our opinion. Johnny could have done a little bit better with his choice of intermission comics. Gary mule Deer may be a little crazy but he’s funny with good old school, clean humor . Surpringly intermission followed in this nice oldish retro -looking theater.
A couple of big 45s for Johnny including ‘chances are,’ his first number 1 Billboard hit, from 1956
Johnny came out after intermission in tuxedo and performed another 45 minutes – -almost two hours total-with highlights being ‘A certain smile ‘ and ‘Wonderful wonderful ‘ and ‘Misty’ , a real crowd pleaser. Then ‘ Brazil’ and a Frank Sinatra tune and then he acknowledged some people in the band who had been with him 40 years. And Mathis endedof the show with what was probably a new competition for him but very apropos for this night and to close the show with ‘How do you keep the music playing’ referring both to romance and friendship and , yeah, he’s going away so it was an interesting s Choice. Mathis hadn’t yet mastered the lyrics so he read lyrics.
More Greatest Hits and math is had a lot
Frankly I wish Mathis a good retirement . he deserves it . I think now is a good time to bow out as he looks good in his long hair and happy but a little tired . he’s put in 70 years in the business and we’ll have his music around and know that he’s still with us enjoying his retirement.
. I noticed many of his songs were very poignant and very introspective and deeply romantic, about relationships – thr very touching ‘a certain smile’ comes to mind and ‘wonderful wonderful- a lot of Bittersweet messages between the lines. Just very special and great songs that he came up with over the years- didnt write but was a good vehicle for songs with his signature o. them.. So it was good to see Johnny one more time and I don’t feel really bad because I’ve seen him many times and I can still see him on video and hear music on the car radio or Internet and I hope he has some good years left and retirement or semi retirement whatever he decides to do.
Approx set list
Setlist:
When I Fall in Love
It’s Not for Me to Say
Chances Are
GINA
i’m on the Outside (Looking In)
(Little Anthony & the Imperials cover)
Wild Is the Wind
Oh Shenandoah
([traditional] cover)
Let It Be Me
(Gilbert Bécaud , Everlys cover)
Let Go
It Had Better Be Tonight (Meglio Stasera)
(Henry Mancini cover)
Two for the Road
(Henry Mancini cover)
Charade
(Henry Mancini cover)
Days of Wine and Roses
(Henry Mancini cover)
Moment to Moment
(Henry Mancini cover)
Moon River
(Henry Mancini cover)
Second set following intermission with comedian Johnny changed suits.
Pure Imagination
(Gene Wilder cover)
Sands of Time
(George Forrest & Robert Wright cover)
Baubles, Bangles and Beads
(George Forrest & Robert Wright cover)
Stranger in Paradise
(George Forrest & Robert Wright cover)
Secret Love
(Doris Day cover)
A Certain Smile
(Sammy Fain & Paul Francis Webster cover)
Wonderful! Wonderful!
Betcha by Golly, Wow
(The Stylistics cover)
Misty
(Erroll Garner cover)
Yesterday
(The Beatles cover)
You and Me Against the World
(Paul Williams cover)
My Foolish Heart
(Victor Young cover)
99 Miles From L.A.
(Albert Hammond cover)
The Twelfth of Never
Mas que nada
(Jorge Ben Jor cover)
Brazil
Who’s going to keep the music playing
A couple selections from other Johnny Mathis concerts via Facebook:
Click here for final concert video Lucky for San Francisco Bay Area Johnny Mathis fans who were there to see the ‘ voice of romance’ in his second from Final concert of his long, illustrious career Saturday night May 10 at the Luther Burbank theater in Santa Rosa California. Unlike most concerts today, there […]
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