Sigmond Galloway: Who was Mahalia Jackson’s Ex-husband?

Sigmond Galloway is the ex-husband of Mahalia Jackson. Sigmond Galloway’s ex-wife was an American gospel singer, widely considered one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century. She was very crucial to the development and spread of gospel blues in black churches throughout the U.S. Dubbed the “Queen of Gospel Song” she had an unexpected success in her career, selling an estimated 22 million records and performing in front of integrated and secular audiences in concert halls around the world during the racial segregation times.

Sigmond Galloway: Bio Summary

Who was Mahalia Jackson’s second husband?

Sigmond Galloway was born on 18 May 1922 in Wetumpka, Elmore, Alabama, United States of America. Per Wikitree, he was the son of  Randolph Galloway and Mary Lee (Williams) Courtney and the brother of Emma (Galloway) Brannon and Sylvia Christine (Galloway) McDonald. Just like her ex-wife Mahalia, Gallaway was a musician. He was a Jazz musician from northern Indiana.

How did Galloway and Jackson meet?

Through friends, singer Mahalia Jackson met his second husband Sigmond Galloway, who was a former musician in the construction business living in Gary, Indiana. According to The New York Times, Galloway was a contracting concern salesman. Despite Jackson’s hectic schedule and the constant companions she had in her entourage of musicians, friends, and family, she expressed loneliness and began courting Galloway when she had free time.

As a complete surprise to her family and friends, Jackson married Galloway in her living room in 1964. It was the second marriage for both. Galloway was married to Celestine Galloway. Jackson was also married to her first husband Isaac Hockenhull.

ALSO, READ; Isaac Hockenhull- Fact About Mahalia Jackson’s ex-husband

A few weeks after the couple tied the knot, Jackson couldn’t stop coughing when driving home after a concert in St. Louis. The singer went for a check-up in a Chicago hospital. Jackson has been experiencing tiredness and shortness of breath since the postponement of her European tour in 1952.

These outbursts became more common as her schedule became busier and more expectations were placed on her. The official diagnosis this time was heart strain and weariness, but the singer’s doctor told her privately that she had suffered a heart attack and that sarcoidosis had spread to her heart.

Mahalia Jackson’s recovery took a full year during which she was unable to tour or record, ultimately losing 50 pounds (23 kg). Jackson was often depressed and frustrated at her fragility.

All this while, Mahalia Jackson’s husband Galloway proved to be unreliable, leaving for long periods during her convalescence, then upon his return, he insisted she was imagining her symptoms. He tried taking over managerial duties from agents and promoters despite being inept.

Jackson and Galloway argued over money; Galloway attempted to strike Jackson on two different occasions, the second one thwarted when Jackson ducked and he ended up breaking his hand when he hit a piece of furniture behind her. The marriage dissolved and she announced her intention to divorce.

Sigmond Galloway responded by requesting a jury trial, rare for divorces, in an attempt to embarrass her by publicizing the details of their marital problems. When Galloway’s infidelities were proven in testimony, the judge declined to award him any of Jackson’s assets or properties. The two later called their marriage a quit in 1967. They were married for just 3 years before things got sour.

What happened to Sigmond Galloway?

Mahalia Jackson’s husband, Sigmond Galloway passed away on 18 May 1972 in Gary, Lake, Indiana, United States, and is buried in Fern Oaks Cemetery in Griffith, Indiana. He was 50 years old at the time of his death. The cause of his death was not made public.