Introduction
Johnny Mathis performed “Let It Be Me” at the NYCB Theatre at Westbury on July 22, 2023, as part of his summer tour celebrating timeless classics and fan favorites. The NYCB Theatre at Westbury, now known as Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair, is a historic theatre in the round in Jericho, New York, with a seating capacity of 2,870 that offers an intimate atmosphere for live performances. First opened in 1956 and remodeled in subsequent decades, the venue has hosted legends from Frank Sinatra to Aretha Franklin, underscoring its reputation as a landmark on Long Island’s concert circuit.
“Let It Be Me” itself began life in 1955 as the French song “Je t’appartiens,” written and recorded by Gilbert Bécaud with lyrics by Pierre Delanoë. Adapted into English by Manny Curtis, its first charting version was by Jill Corey in 1957, but it was the Everly Brothers’ 1960 recording that cemented its status, reaching number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. Over the decades, star duets by Bobbie Gentry and Glen Campbell, as well as covers by Willie Nelson and Elvis Presley, ensured the song’s enduring emotional pull.
On that summer evening, Mathis’s honeyed tenor filled every corner of the round stage, drawing listeners into the song’s heartfelt plea for lasting love. His phrasing was languid yet precise, allowing each lyric—“I love you, and that’s all I really know”—to resonate deeply with a crowd that spanned generations. When he reached the bridge, the gentle swells of orchestration under his voice created a moment of suspended time, as if the theatre itself were holding its breath. Audience members swayed in unison, hands over hearts, reminding everyone why Mathis’s interpretations of standards feel so personal.
Backstage, Mathis reportedly remarked that revisiting “Let It Be Me” felt like returning to an old friend whose stories only grow richer with time. His connection to the song’s themes of vulnerability and devotion shines through in every nuanced note. For many in attendance, it wasn’t just nostalgia—it was a shared experience of love’s enduring promise. Even those hearing it live for the first time felt that same warmth, transported by the sincerity in Mathis’s delivery.
By the final refrain, the applause was thunderous and heartfelt, a testament to the intimate bond between performer, song, and audience. Walking offstage, Mathis paused to take in the sea of smiling faces, a silent thank-you exchanged through the glow of house lights. That night at Westbury reminded all who were there that some songs—and some voices—are timeless.