From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Phyllis Hyman
Phyllis Hyman
Phyllis Hyman offered her a spot as a vocalist on his album, You Are My
Starship (1976). The duo scored on the R&B charts with a
remake of The Stylistics’ "Betcha by Golly Wow!".
Career
Hyman sang with Pharoah Sanders and the Fatback Band
while working on her first solo album, Phyllis Hyman, re-
leased in 1977 on the Buddah Records label. When Arista
Records bought Buddha, she was transferred to that la-
bel. Her first album for Arista, Somewhere in My Lifetime,
Background information was released in 1978; the title track was produced by
Born July 6, 1949(1949-07-06) then-labelmate Barry Manilow. Her follow-up album, You
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Know How to Love Me, made the R&B Top 20 and also per-
formed well on the club–dance charts. In the late 1970s,
Died June 30, 1995(1995-06-30) (aged 45)
New York City, New York Hyman married her manager Larry Alexander (who is the
brother of Jamaican pianist and melodica player Monty
Genres Jazz, soul, R&B, disco Alexander), but both the personal and professional asso-
Occupations Singer-songwriter, actress ciations ended in divorce. Around this time, Hyman be-
gan using cocaine, which led to a life-long dependency.
Years active 1971–1995
Hyman’s first solo Top Ten hit came in 1981 with
Labels Buddah (1976-1978) "Can’t We Fall In Love Again", a duet with Michael Hen-
Arista (1978-1984) derson. The song was recorded while she was performing
Philadelphia Int’l (1985-1995) in the Broadway musical Sophisticated Ladies, a tribute to
Duke Ellington. She performed in the role for almost two
Phyllis Linda Hyman (July 6, 1949 – June 30, 1995) was an years, receiving a Tony Award nomination for Best Sup-
American soul singer and actress. porting Actress in a Musical and winning a Theatre World
Award for Best Newcomer.
Early years Problems between Hyman and her label, Arista,
caused a pause in her recording career. She used the time
Phyllis Hyman was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to appear on movie soundtracks, television commercials
and grew up in the St. Clair Village, the South Hills sec- and guest vocals, working with Chuck Mangione, The
tion of Pittsburgh. Born to an an African American fami- Whispers and The Four Tops. Hyman provided vocals for
ly,she was the eldest of seven children and a third cousin three tracks on jazz pianist McCoy Tyner’s Looking Out
of Earle Hyman. After leaving Pittsburgh, her music (1982). She toured often and did a college lecture tour.
training started at a music school. On graduation, she In 1983, Hyman recorded the song "Never Say Never
performed on a national tour with the group New Direc- Again" as the title song for the James Bond movie of the
tion in 1971. After the group disbanded, she joined All the same name, written by Stephen Forsyth and Jim Ryan.
People and worked with another local group, The Hondo However, Warner Brothers informed Forsyth that Michel
Beat. At this time, she appeared in the film Lenny (1974). Legrand, who wrote the score for the film, had threat-
She also did a two-year stint leading a band called Phyl- ened to sue them, claiming he contractually had the
lis Hyman and the P/H Factor. Hyman was discovered rights to the title song. An alternate title song composed
in 1975 by internationally known pop artist and music by Legrand was eventually used for the film and per-
industry veteran Sid Maurer, and former Epic Records formed by singer Lani Hall, formerly of Sérgio Mendes
promoter Fred Frank, and signed to their Roadshow and Brasil ’66.
Records/Desert Moon imprint. Free from Arista in 1985, she released the album, Liv-
Hyman moved to New York City to work on her repu- ing All Alone on Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff’s Philadel-
tation. She did background vocals on Jon Lucien’s Premo- phia International label the following year, capitalizing
nition and worked in clubs. It was during one of these per- on the torch songs, "Old Friend" and the melancholy title
formances that she was spotted by Norman Connors, who track, as well as "You Just Don’t Know" and "Screaming at
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Phyllis Hyman
the Moon". In 1987, Phyllis Hyman recorded "Black and showcase Hyman’s’ usual interpretation of heartbreak
Blue" as a duet with Barry Manilow on his 1987 Swing and strife. Hyman was quoted as saying that these songs
Street Arista album. Manilow was a long time admirer of were about "relationships gone bad!"[3] Much of the ma-
Phyllis and her work. Shortly afterwards, she appeared terial on this album was initially intended for her Living
in the films School Daze and The Kill Reflex. She would also All Alone release. The song "Funny How Love Goes" con-
continue to lend her voice to albums for other artists and tains a posthumous "duet" featuring vocalist Damon Wil-
musicians like Grover Washington, Jr. and Lonnie Liston liams. Half of Hyman’s vocals were re-recorded with both
Smith, while at the same time doing international tours. singers alternating vocals and providing Williams with
Her next album, again on Philadelphia International, exposure.
called Prime of My Life, released in 1991, was the biggest In September 2007, an authorized biography was re-
of her career. It included her first number one R&B hit leased. The book entitled Strength of a Woman: the Phyllis
as well as her first Billboard Top 100 hit, "Don’t Wanna Hyman Story, is written by Jason A. Michael in coopera-
Change the World". The album provided two more top 10 tion with the Estate of Phyllis Hyman. The book mentions
R&B singles in "Living in Confusion" and "When You Get Hyman’s relationships with both men and women.[4]
Right Down to It", and the less successful "I Found Love". In 2008, an original version of the James Bond theme
Just over a year later, she appeared one last time on a "Never Say Never Again", which wasn’t used in the film
Norman Connors album, singing the title song, "Remem- due to contractual issues, was released by the track’s co-
ber Who You Are", which became a minor R&B hit. Prime writer Stephen Forsythe. Stephen Forsythe has been
of My Life has sold 454,000 copies to date. The album and quoted as stating:
debut single were both RIAA certified Gold in 1992.
Hyman’s last album, I Refuse to Be Lonely, was a journey During the filming of the James Bond movie Never
into her personal life. Both the title track and the single Say Never Again, I co-wrote the title song for the
"I’m Truly Yours" became minor R&B hits. movie with Jim Ryan. Warner Brothers informed
our attorney that the song was to be used as the
title song in the picture. However, shortly before
Death its release, Warner Bros informed us that the song
On the afternoon of June 30, 1995, Hyman committed sui- could not be used because Michel Legrand, who
cide by overdosing on pentobarbital and secobarbital in wrote the score, threatened to sue them, claiming
her New York City apartment.[1] She was found uncon- that contractually he had the right to the title song.
scious hours before she was scheduled to perform at the So my song was never released. The legendary
Apollo Theater and died 3 hours later at St. Luke’s-Roo- Phyllis Hyman was my first choice to sing the song
sevelt Hospital.[2] Her suicide note read in part: and working with her is one of the highlights of my
musical career. I personally auditioned and sang
"I’m tired. I’m tired. Those of you that I love know the song to her while she was having breakfast in
who you are. May God bless you."[2] her manager’s office. After agreeing to sing the
song, she arrived at the studio and, without any re-
She was 45 years old. A memorial service was held at hearsal and only having heard the song sung once
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Manhattan. The following at the breakfast audition, sang the song in one per-
week would have been her 46th birthday.[2] fect take. Phyllis sadly took her own life in the early
nineties. The year before she died, she called me
Posthumous releases late one night and told me she felt that "Never Say
Never Again" was her best and favorite record-
In November 1995, Hyman’s posthumous album I Refuse to ing.[5]
Be Lonely, was released. Although the project had an over-
drawn gestation, to combat the delay in its commercial
release, Hyman started performing the tracks, "This Too Discography
Shall Pass" and "I Refuse To Be Lonely" in concert. The Main article: Phyllis Hyman discography
delay in the album’s release adversely affected Hyman
both emotionally & financially and the delay was said to
be cited over "cost negotiations". Filmography
Three years after her death, a second posthumous • Lenny (1974)
album of previously unreleased material was released. • Too Scared to Scream (1985)
Songs were culled from various recording sessions from • School Daze (1988)
the mid 1980s into the early 1990s. Forever With You (1998) • The Kill Reflex (1989)
contains love songs, torch songs, bittersweet ballads,
smooth jazz offerings and uptempo tracks, most of which
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Phyllis Hyman
References film-revealed-after-25-years-86908-20407169/.
Retrieved 2008-07-25.
[1] "Coroner says Phyllis Hyman used sleeping pills to
commit suicide; new LP due out soon". Jet.
1995-08-14. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/
External links
mi_m1355/is_n14_v88/ai_17210261. Retrieved • Phyllis Hyman at the Internet Movie Database
2008-07-25. • Phyllis Hyman at the Internet Broadway Database
[2] ^ "Fans and friends mourn the death of singer • Phyllis Hyman at Allmusic
Phyllis Hyman". Jet. 1995-07-24. • Phyllis Hyman at Discogs
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/ • Phyllis Hyman at Soultracks
is_n11_v88/ai_17361614. Retrieved 2008-07-25. • Strength of a Woman - Official site of Hyman’s
[3] Arsenio Hall Show biography
[4] Armstrong, Jenice (November 7, 2007). "Hyman’s • Phyllis Hyman at Find a Grave
demons" (– Scholar search). Philadelphia Daily News. • The New Pittsburgh Courier Online Carrick Honors
Archived from the original on 2008-01-01. Alumni Phyllis Hyman
http://web.archive.org/web/20080101220558/ Persondata
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/features/
Name Hyman, Phyllis
20071107_Jenice_Armstrong___Hymans_demons.html.
Retrieved 2008-01-08 Alternative names
[5] "Lost theme tune to Sean Connery’s final Bond film Short description Singer-songwriter, actress
revealed after 25 years". dailyrecord.co.uk. Date of birth July 6, 1949
2008-05-06. Archived from the original on May 10,
Place of birth Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
2008. http://web.archive.org/web/
20080510170839/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/ Date of death June 30, 1995
entertainment/entertainment-news/2008/05/06/ Place of death New York City, New York, USA
lost-theme-tune-to-sean-connery-s-final-bond-
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Phyllis_Hyman&oldid=474154405"
Categories:
• 1949 births
• 1995 deaths
• Actors from Pennsylvania
• Actors who committed suicide
• African American singers
• American film actors
• American musical theatre actors
• American soul singers
• Drug-related suicides in New York
• Musicians from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Musicians from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Musicians who committed suicide
• People with bipolar disorder
• Philadelphia International Records artists
• Northern soul musicians
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