report that Hyman was a back-up singer at the Steel City Records studio in East It won't be until the end of this week that authorities inNew York will have an answer on the cause of PhyllisHyman's death last week. Together. 1986. Phyllis Linda She was six days shy of her 46th birthday. It was aired on Pittsburgh radio. Or when she sabotaged what could have been a huge career boost by being overbearing during a read-through for the role of Shug Avery in the movie version of "The Color Purple.". fifth album Goddess of Love Arista in its infinite wisdom hired an odd ball google_ad_width=120; did a college lecture tour. weakest album due to the poor song selection, uneven quality, and contrasting went from exuberant highs to deep depression and loneliness. March 3, 1976: Phyllis Hyman photographed in her apartment in New York City. Amber makeup, and Fashion Fair Cosmetics. Phyllis soon found herself working. Her suicide note read in part:."I'm tired. F. Promis of Allmusic Guide describes the album: Phyllis Hyman, despite all Just a record they spray-painted gold. Her A year later she was signed to Arista Records. benefit concerts, spent time with AIDS patients, and advocated for woman But we didnt make a decision on the spot.. Ms. Hyman's manager and attorney, Glenda Gracia, said thenote read simply, ''I'm tired. charted at number 11 in R&B and 57 on the Billboard Phyllis was at the peak of her career at this point, and was widely recognized as a New York celebrity. Through musicians that she met on the New Directions tour she moved to Miami to join All Nesmith phyllis, Child dillers phyllis, Newkirk phyllis, The breakable vow, Catawba worm, Catawba county humane society. released his album You Are My Starship and the single We Both Need Each When the major publishers he contacted passed on a book about Hyman, he decided to do it himself. hearing Phyllis sing at a Pittsburgh club jazz pianist Dick Morgan asked her to It hasnt taken long for the word to get around. She was found unconscious hours before she was scheduled to perform at the Apollo Theater, and died three hours later at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital (now Mount Sinai West). swings. of 1983 Mayor Caliguri declared Phyllis Hyman Week" in Pittsburgh when she returned home for an appearance at the Heaven Club. An ongoing battle with alcohol and weight gain, combined with career and financial woes, were making life difficult for her and those around her. Frank Rich in his New York Times review wrote: The show was a smash hit. Happy because it finds Hyman at a moment when she was not tortured by her inner demons and tragic because it provides an undeniable glimpse into Hyman's tortured soul and the pending suicide which would materialize four years later. the R&B charts for 21 weeks climaxing at number 12. Producer Me). the all female trio the Souls of Ebony. Buddha bought out her her one-of-a-kind, brutally raw and honest voice., Philadelphia Itold her, anytime we're anywhere in the vicinity and shewanted to sing with us, please be my guest.''. Often she would go onstage to sing with the Last Tear to Fall, This Too Shall Pass, and Its Not About You (Its About bi-polar disease in 1985 Phyllis was prescribed Lithium to control her mood Included in there was The Night Bird Gets The Love which is a pretty unique example of racial harmony it was written by a Muslim and a Jew!. 21:30. Her mother was manic depressive. The album was number 11 on the R&B charts and 78 overall. want to be cast as a trendy Donna Summers / Gloria Gaynor dance diva. was mentored by her music teacher David Tamburi a jazz pianist. Good, In a Sentimental Mood and It Dont Mean a Thing if It Aint Got That With husband Larry Alexander (a talented gentleman in his own right having worked with both B.T. Nathan Davis, head of the University of Pittsburgh's jazz program, said google_ad_format="120x600_as"; He was so impressed that he returned every the Allmusic Guide wrote of the album: . George Harrison, Ashford and Simpson, Al Jarreau, and Main Ingredient vocalist Whoa Oh I can't stand this living all alone. "I know it was something on her mind. R&B charts. Spinners, the O'jays, Billy Paul, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Teddy disease from her mother who suffered from chronic depression. Phyllis co wrote with Kenny Gamble reached number 9 and "When You Get Michael didn't believe it when they told him that she'd been gone too long. Revlon named her Ambassador of their "PolishedAmbers" product line, Clairol tabbed her for their "BornBeautiful" products and Fashion Fair Cosmetics engagedher in a national promotion for their complete line ofproducts. Back in Miami Alexander Stretch Film Division. Her irrational, self-destructive behavior was becoming common knowledge to those inside the music industry, her friends and also her fans. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. her creativity she went off the medications. The album placed at number 10 on the R&B chart with sales of 454,000 copies. Pittsburgh (1979); Too Scared to Scream (1985); School Daze (1988); Norman the "It made the songs difficult to record, but the results were fabulous," Phyllis conceded. classic bittersweet ballad "You Just Don't Know" and First Time . Then I Dont Wanna Lose You was John Davis suggestion he felt that the song [previously recorded by The Spinners] could use a strong interpretation. Kennedy Center along with Stevie Wonder , Patti LaBelle, Rosemary Clooney, and Cab Phyllis Linda Hyman (July 6, 1949 - June 30, 1995) was an American singer, songwriter, and actress. At that point, Phyllis was already signed with Desert Moon Productions had had one single out on Private Stock. Her husband Larry Alexander produced her second album titled Somewhere Robert Morris College in Pittsburgh. and respected her talent. show led to her national television appearances on the Broadway Plays For a time, Rev. I've been in the business google_color_text="333333"; Pendergrass and many more. Rock Hall of Fame Phyllis sang during her high school years with the All-City choir that was comprised of students across Pittsburgh. In 1993 she was dealt another blow when both her mother and grandmother died within a month of one another. Many of her songs from this period deal with the theme of the Allmusic Guide wrote of the album: This is the case of an album that told record producer George Kerr about Phyllis convincing him to see her The album with strong sales reached number 15 on the R&B album But Hyman continued to write and record new songs She was attractive, but she also had a presence about guest singer on the albums of other artists, performing in movies and on movie She recorded eight songs working with Kerr her unique and rich talents. sophisticated fusion jazz ballad "Complete Me", "Some Way" and On her second album "Somewhere In MyLifetime" she collaborated with jazz legend HerbieHancock who was on the cut "Gonna Make Changes"and Barry Manilow who arranged much of the album. top-15 hits Somewhere in My Lifetime, You Know How to Love Me, and Can't We and the Top 50 in Pop. 0:59. music's most emotional and loved singers.. music's most emotional and loved singers. Jason Elias Allmusic Guide, The husky-voiced Hyman was a timeless song Now I live a single life and I find it's another world. Clive Davis, it ain't even real. Again." She didn't record for four years due to contractual discrepancies with Arista, and since she was still legally bound to the Clive Davis-owned company, signing with another label wasn't possible. Hymans supervisor at Neighborhood Legal Leaving college she worked The visits took a heavier toll on Phyllis than she realized. Much lesser singers with Her husband is Larry Alexander (28 March1979 - 26 September1988)( divorced)( 3 children). / manager Larry Alexander in 1978. dance track, scored number 22 on the R&B charts in the fall of 1981. Im tired. regrettably takes Hyman away from jazz and often puts her knee-deep in pabulum Despite the goofy lyrics and misuse of her great talent Hymans loyal fans But their voices and Loneliness became the theme of her album I No One Could Love You More was sent by Skip Scarborough, the guy whos written for Earth, Wind & Fire and L.T.D. Eager executives from several labels Hyman spoke openly about her emotional highs and lows in an interview with EbonyJet.com. Her named Phyllis the Best New R&B Vocalist of 1977. "There were some nice records, but I'd say I was pretty much overlooked and ignored. " Hyman separated The husky-voiced Hyman was a timeless song nightspots. Love Me. Heavily in Jose F. Promis of Allmusic Guide praises the album: Forever in 1989 and in June of 1990 taking overdoes of sleeping pills. View Buy/Sell Events by Individual, Organization, or Property Address. mental health problems began to affect her career in 1985. depression and substance abuse she was a no show at some concert dates and Amber makeup, and Fashion Fair Cosmetics. Left a suicide note before swallowing an overdose of sleeping pills on Memorial Day Weekend, 1995. Liberty where sang backup on the Flora Wilson single Dancing On A Daydream. In 1981 Phyllis co-starred (with Gregory Hines and Judith Jamison) in the hit Broadway tribute to Duke Ellington "Sophisticated Ladies" and continued in the role for 2-1/2 years, garnering a Tony Award nomination and a Theatre World Award for Best newcomer (the original cast recording was released by RCA and the CD is now out of print). Her premiere album for the label, "Somewhere In My Lifetime", was released in 1978 (it included many tracks that she recorded for a second album at Buddah titled "Sing A Song", which is now available on CD!). Numerous anthologies have summarized Hyman's career to varying extents, but it wasn't until 2021 that the singer was the subject of a comprehensive boxed set. She made suicide attempts Or that she hadn't been a big enough star to warrant a book deal. She made suicide attempts Swing. label. ''She said she was a very good singer, and I gave her thechance to sing that night,'' Harper said. In 1977 Buddah Records released her self-titled debut LP, which featured the hits "Loving You/Losing You" and "I Don't Wanna Lose You". dexterous contralto voice. So I didn't have much choice in the matter," she recalled. International Records released Forever With You a collection of 12 unreleased pointed out the she did not choose to sign with Arista. So I didn't have much choice in the matter," she recalled. authorities to initially think her death was a probable. Again." Graduating But that's diva superstars. The so-called genius Clive Davis opposed Hyamns participation in the show, but she defied N/A. Hyman sang commercial jingles for Bain de Yesterday I was somebody's baby. Phyllis was subject of those word of mouth recommendations from all and sundry as a result of her success via her work with Norman Connors it was her vocals on the old Stylistics hit, Betcha By Golly Wow that help catapult the You Are My Starship album into the best sellers in the States for Mr. Connors and it was the combination of Phyllis and Michael Henderson on We Both Need Each Other which gave the album another boost when it was released as a single during 1976. This album is a true gem and proves She was best known for her singles from the late 1970s through the early 1990s including: You Know How to Love Me, Living All Alone, and Don't Wanna Change the World.