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USA Today
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Riverdale woman, 85, gets to achieve 'golden dream' of dancing after loss of her leg
Shirley Johnson, 85, with a new prosthetic leg, never imagined she'd dance again. She hadn't danced since the 1980s, yet her love of dance never faded. Her home had always been filled with music and movement. She recalled dancing with her husband of 54 years in their kitchen, and nights out on the town, twirling under the lights. Her passion extended to her family. Her three daughters grew up immersed in dance, taking ballet and jazz classes through childhood. '[Dance] means everything to me,' Johnson said. 'I always kept it part of my life. My husband and I just dance around the house, going out to events and dancing. We were always there. There was a dance going on — we were there.' On Wednesday, July 2, RiverSpring Living in Riverdale, where Johnson has lived since 2019, gave her another shot at the dance floor in White Plains. A Golden Dream proves to be 'Unforgettable' Johnson has faced a lot in recent years. For nearly a decade, while living on Manhattan's Upper West Side, she endured surgeries, medications and countless medical appointments in an effort to manage blood dyscrasia, a condition that causes abnormal blood clotting. In June 2019, after exhausting all other options, she underwent a life-altering surgery that led to the amputation of her left leg below the knee. Though devastating, it was her only option. Dancing looked to be a memory. But RiverSpring Living has a new program called "Golden Dreams," the goal of which is to help residents achieve long-delayed dreams — 'bucket list' experiences. One resident recently got to attend college at the age of 97, while another got to meet New York Rangers goaltending legend Mike Richter. Johnson's dream was to regain her strength and return to the dance floor. Johnson was only recently fitted with a prosthetic leg. Thanks to the dedication of her physical therapist, Trini Pateno, Johnson spent two weeks practicing balance, rhythm, and movement, all aimed at the moment she could dance again. That moment arrived on Wednesday at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in White Plains. Wearing a floral top and flowing white pants, Johnson beamed with joy. Studio owner Michael Powers-Innocenzi, dressed in a sharp suit, took her hand and led her in a ballroom slow dance to the classics 'Unforgettable' by Nat King Cole and 'Chances Are' by Johnny Mathis. 'They showed me I can dance again," Johnson said. "The physical therapy there helped me tremendously. "So now, I'm gonna start dancing all over the place." Johnson's husband, William Jackson, died in April 2021, but she said she felt his presence as she danced. RiverSpring Living helps residents achieve bucket list goals Wendy Steinberg, chief communication officer of RiverSpring Living, which offers several forms of senior living, described the Golden Dreams program as an opportunity for residents to prioritize themselves in pursuit of a dream. 'We've created this program to grant their bucket list wish items, because there's so many things that they never had the chance to do,' she said. 'We found that each golden dream is as unique as the person.' David Pomeranz, the CEO of RiverSpring Living, said many of their residents spent their lives providing for their families and not focusing on their own desires and goals. He said that Golden Dreams opens a door for them to put themselves first. 'Sometimes people have sacrificed a lot of their life to raise their children, and they haven't always taken care of their own needs,' he said. 'This gives them a chance at the end of their life to be able to fulfill wishes that they always had that they sacrificed to raise their children.' Powers-Innocenzi expressed deep gratitude for the chance to help fulfill Johnson's dream. He admitted he felt emotional during their dance. Johnson told him, 'I'll never forget you ever in my life.' When he asked if she was tired from dancing, she simply smiled and said, 'I'm dreaming.' 'Our mission is to help people find their joy through dance, one step at a time,' Powers-Innocenzi said. 'They come to the studio and use dance as a vehicle to get something they want, whether it's to find community, to get over the loss of a loved one or to build confidence.' Following their performance, Johnson had one more request: a dance with Pomeranz. Powers-Innocenzi offered him a quick lesson. Then Johnson danced again but this time with the leader of the place she calls home. She grinned ear to ear, grateful for the community that made her dream come true. Pomeranz said his dance with Johnson reaffirmed his purpose in elder care. "To see that there is so much that they can still do and fulfill so many of their dreams, it's a blessing,' he said.
Fox News
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Johnny Mathis, 89, retires from touring due to 'accelerated' memory issues after seven-decade career
Legendary singer Johnny Mathis is officially stepping away from the stage. The 89-year-old announced his retirement from touring and live concerts due to age and declining health. "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," a statement read on Mathis' Facebook account. The sudden news comes on the heels of Mathis preparing to celebrate his 90th birthday this year. After a career spanning more than seven decades, Mathis has made the difficult decision to cancel upcoming performances, marking the end of his long and storied presence on the road. "While there are still some exciting concerts coming up, regrettably all Johnny Mathis concerts from June 2025 onwards are now cancelled." Mathis is scheduled to perform for the remainder of his 2025 Voice of Romance Tour, with the final concert scheduled on May 18 in Englewood, New Jersey, at the Bergen Performing Arts Center. "Johnny Mathis & his entire staff send their heartfelt gratitude to all Mathis Fans worldwide for your continued love & support of his music," the statement concluded. "It's truly been 'Wonderful, Wonderful.'" Reps for Mathis did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Mathis is famously known for his timeless classics, including hits like "Chances Are," "Misty" and "It's Not for Me to Say." He launched his Voice of Romance Tour in September 2024. After a show at Mystic Lake Casino in Minnesota earlier this month, his fans were in awe over his performance, with one fan writing on social media, "My favorite all time Romance Singer Ever! At the fine age of 89…" "Mr Mathis is amazing and still singing beautifully, never disappoints, thanks for your continued work and music contribution!" another fan said. Mathis' classic songs such as "Wonderful, Wonderful" and "It's Not for Me to Say," climbed up the Billboard pop charts in the '50s, followed by his single "Chances Are," which became a No. 1 hit. Mathis has received five Grammy nominations, with the first for his single "Misty" in 1960. He's been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame three times. His site claims that he is Columbia Records' longest-signed recording artist.
The Guardian
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Johnny Mathis, 89, retires from performing due to ‘age and memory issues'
Johnny Mathis, the US pop singer whose career stretches back to 1956, has announced his retirement from performing live. A statement posted to Facebook reads: 'As many of you may already be aware, Johnny Mathis is approaching his 90th birthday this year. So, it's with sincere regret that due to Mr Mathis's age and memory issues which have accelerated, we are announcing his retirement from touring and live concerts.' 'Johnny Mathis and his entire staff send their heartfelt gratitude to all Mathis fans worldwide for your continued love and support of his music! It's truly been 'Wonderful, Wonderful.'' Mathis, 89, had a number of concerts booked for 2025 but will only perform four more scheduled dates, ending in Englewood, New Jersey, on 18 May. That show will bring a remarkable performing career to an end. Mathis is regarded as one of America's great romantic balladeers, whose rich, sincere voice lit up hits such as Misty, Chances Are, and his 1976 UK Christmas No 1 When a Child Is Born. The last is one of Mathis's many festive classics which remain popular today, including versions of Sleigh Ride and It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas. Mathis was once the record holder for the album with the most weeks spent on the US chart: his compilation Johnny's Greatest Hits, which was on the chart for 490 weeks between 1958 and 1968. Six of his albums became platinum sellers and he had 10 Top 10 albums in a row during the late 1950s and early 60s. Pop fashions changed and his crooning style fell out of favour come the middle of the 60s, but Mathis's core fans stood by him while he maintained an extraordinary work rate, recording 53 studio albums between 1960 and 1990. The mid to late 70s were another successful phase for him, with his Christmas No 1 plus a US chart-topping duet with Deniece Williams – Too Much, Too Little, Too Late – and a deft embrace of the era's disco sound. A lost album from this period made with Nile Rodgers, I Love My Lady, was eventually released in 2017. Mathis's most recent studio album is Christmas Time Is Here, released in 2023. In 2018, he spoke about how the quality of his health would influence the length of his career. 'It revolves around whether or not you're physically able and in good health,' he said. 'That's the most important thing because you won't feel like doing anything if you're not healthy. And being a vocalist, you have another thing to worry about. The vocals cords are flesh and blood so anything can happen to them … You take care of the thing that got you to the dance.'
