Most people know the voice of Etta James. Far fewer know the man who stood next to her for more than 40 years. Artis Mills was her husband, her caregiver, and in her final years, the person a judge chose to manage her money. His story is not simple, and it is not always happy. But it shows a lot about the real life behind the singer of “At Last.”
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Artis Mills |
| Best known as | Husband of singer Etta James |
| Marriage year | 1969 |
| Length of marriage | About 42 years, until her death in 2012 |
| Stepsons | Donto James and Sametto James |
| Big life event | Took the blame for drugs and went to prison for years |
| Role in 2011 | Conservator of Etta James’ estate |
| Care budget set by the judge | $350,000 (December 2011) |
| Where they lived | Riverside, California |
| Birth date | Not confirmed by reliable sources |
| Current status | No reliable recent reports found |
Who Is Artis Mills?
Artis Mills is known almost only because of his wife. Etta James was born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles in 1938. She became one of the great voices of blues, soul, and R&B. Her song “At Last” made her famous in 1961. She later won six Grammy Awards and entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.
Mills stayed out of the spotlight. News stories describe him as her husband, and in her later years as her conservator. Magazines and papers did not write long profiles about him. That is why many websites fill the gap with guesses. We will look at those wrong claims later in this article.
The Marriage That Lasted 40 Years
According to the Associated Press, Mills married Etta James in 1969. When she died in January 2012, a major newspaper described him as her husband of 42 years. Few music marriages last that long, especially when one person is as famous as she was.
Their life was not calm. Etta James wrote openly about her troubles in her 1995 autobiography, Rage to Survive, which she wrote with David Ritz. She described years of heroin use, painful relationships, and hard times on the road. A newspaper review of the book called the story of her and Mills a great love story inside all that pain. The reviewer also said the fact that they stayed married showed something about Mills’ character.
The Prison Years
The hardest part of Mills’ story is his time in prison. The Associated Press reported that Mills went to prison for years. He took full responsibility for drugs that police found during an arrest, even though Etta James was the one who was at fault.
A 1995 review of her book said he served nearly a decade. Some fan sites give an exact number of years and a release date, but I could not confirm those details in a trusted source. So I will only say “many years.”
Think about what this means. He chose to carry the punishment so that his wife would not. Etta James herself had to go to court-ordered drug treatment in 1973. She spent many years trying to get clean. Her husband, meanwhile, was behind bars. Later, she did beat her addiction and went back to a strong career.
A Stepfather to Two Sons
Etta James had two sons, Donto and Sametto James. They were Mills’ stepsons. Reports from the Associated Press and the Los Angeles Times use the word “stepfather” for Mills. Both sons later played music with their mother. Donto played drums, and Sametto played bass.
For many years, the family seemed close. That changed when Etta became very ill.
Caring for Etta in Her Last Years
By 2010, Etta James was seriously ill. Doctors said she had leukemia, dementia, and kidney problems. According to the Associated Press, she had lived and received care at her home in the Riverside area since March 2010.
Mills said he spent about $30,000 each month on her care. That money paid for a private doctor and nurses at their home in Woodcrest, a neighborhood of Riverside. Reports also said Mills was with her around the clock, while her sons visited often.
He believed home care was the best choice. Her sons were not so sure.
The Court Fight Over Her Money
This part of the story made headlines, so it is the best documented. Here is the timeline.
2008: Etta James gave power of attorney to her sons, Donto and Sametto, and to Donto’s wife, Christy. This gave them legal power over her money.
Early 2011: Mills went to court. He asked for control of about $1 million in her bank accounts. He said Etta was too sick to handle her money. He also said she was not of sound mind when she signed the power of attorney in 2008. In January 2011, a Riverside County judge let him use $60,000 for her care for a short time. Donto did not fight the idea of using her money for care. He asked for a neutral third party to watch the spending, so the family could avoid future arguments.
December 2011: Her doctor said she was terminally ill. In the same month, the case reached a deal. Judge Thomas Cahraman ruled that Mills would stay as conservator of her estate. Mills had asked for $500,000 for her care. Her sons wanted a limit of $100,000. The judge picked the middle: $350,000.
The sons also asked the judge to move their mother to a hospital for a full check-up. According to the Los Angeles Times, the judge left treatment decisions to her doctors.
Two Sides of One Story
It would be unfair to name one side as the “good” side. Both sides said they wanted the best for Etta James.
Mills’ side: He said he was keeping her alive and comfortable at home, and he needed enough money to pay for it. His lawyer defended the live-in doctor and her high pay. She was paid about $30,000 a month, which the sons questioned.
The sons’ side: They worried that so much money was going out and that their mother might need hospital care. Donto said Mills wanted to keep his mother alive as long as possible, and that he wanted the same thing.
In the end, the judge kept Mills in charge but set a limit. Many news reports described the final deal as a truce. It is not the full picture of a private family, but it is what the public record shows.
Etta James’ Death in 2012
Etta James died on January 20, 2012, at Riverside Community Hospital. She was 73. Her manager, Lupe De Leon, said that Mills and her sons were at her side. Leukemia complications were the cause of death.
In the news reports of her death, Mills was named as her husband and survivor. Her career, her awards, and the story of “At Last” got most of the attention. But those reports also made it clear that he had been part of her life for more than four decades.
Wrong Information You May See Online
When I searched for Mills, I found many websites with false or mixed-up claims. Here are the main ones to watch out for.
- “They divorced in 1973.” This is not true. Major news reports say they stayed married until her death.
- “Mills died in 2010.” This is also false. News stories from 2011 and 2012 show him taking part in the court case and being at her bedside.
- “He was born in 1979.” This cannot be right. He was married in 1969.
- “He was a bassist in her band” or “a Vietnam veteran.” I could not find these claims in reliable news sources. Some sites say them, but they do not give proof.
- “He is still alive.” I found no trusted recent report about his health or location. It is best not to claim anything.
If you plan to quote a fact about Mills, check it against a source like the AP, a large newspaper, or Etta James’ own book.
Why His Story Matters
Artis Mills is not a celebrity in his own right. Still, his story adds something to the story of Etta James. It shows that her life was not only songs and awards. She faced addiction, prison, illness, and family conflict. Through much of it, one man stayed in her life.
His story also shows how hard it can be to care for a loved one who is very ill. Families often disagree about money, medical care, and who should decide. Mills and the sons were in that situation, with a famous name and a lot of public attention.
Final Thoughts
Artis Mills never wanted the spotlight, but his name is part of Etta James’ history. He loved her through hard years, paid a heavy price for her mistakes, and cared for her until the end. Not every detail of his life is public, and that is fine. What we do know, from reliable sources, is enough to see why many people remember him as the man who stayed.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Artis Mills?
He is the husband of blues and soul singer Etta James. They married in 1969 and stayed together until she died in 2012.
2. When did Artis Mills marry Etta James?
They married in 1969, according to the Associated Press and the Los Angeles Times.
3. How long were they married?
About 42 years. A major newspaper called him her husband of 42 years when she died.
4. Did Artis Mills go to prison?
Yes. He took the blame for drugs found during an arrest, even though they belonged to Etta James. Reports say he served several years. A 1995 book review said it was nearly a decade.
5. Did Artis Mills and Etta James have children?
Not together, according to the reports I found. Etta had two sons, Donto and Sametto James. Mills was their stepfather.
6. Why did Artis Mills go to court in 2011?
He wanted control of Etta’s money to pay for her medical care. He said she was too ill to manage it herself.
7. How much money did the judge allow for her care?
In December 2011, the judge set the amount at $350,000. Mills had asked for $500,000, and her sons wanted $100,000.
8. Was Artis Mills with Etta James when she died?
Yes. Her manager said that Mills and her two sons were at her side at Riverside Community Hospital.
9. Is Artis Mills still alive?
I could not find a reliable recent report. Be careful with websites that give a clear answer without a source.
10. Where can I learn more about the couple?
Read Etta James’ autobiography, Rage to Survive (1995), and the news reports from 2011 and 2012 listed below.
