Phyllis Hyman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Phyllis Hyman
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Hyman in 1994
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Phyllis Linda Hyman
July 6, 1949 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Died | June 30, 1995 (aged 45) New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Years active | 1971–1995 |
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Larry Alexander
(m. 1977; div. 1982) |
| Relatives | Earle Hyman (cousin) |
| Awards | 1981 Theatre World Award for her performance in Sophisticated Ladies |
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Phyllis Linda Hyman (born July 6, 1949 – died June 30, 1995) was a talented American singer, songwriter, and actress. She was famous for her music from the late 1970s to the early 1990s. Some of her most well-known songs include "You Know How to Love Me" (1979), "Living All Alone" (1986), and "Don't Wanna Change the World" (1991).
Phyllis also starred on Broadway in the musical Sophisticated Ladies (1981). This show featured the music of Duke Ellington. Her performance earned her a Theatre World Award and a nomination for a Tony Award.
Contents
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Phyllis Hyman was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 6, 1949. She was the oldest of seven children. She grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her music training began at a music school.
In 1971, after graduating, she toured nationally with a group called New Direction. When that group ended, she joined All the People. She also worked with another local group, The Hondo Beat. Phyllis appeared in the film Lenny in 1974. She also led her own band, "Phyllis Hyman and the P/H Factor," for two years.
In 1975, music industry experts Sid Maurer and Fred Frank discovered Phyllis. They signed her to their record label.
Moving to New York and First Successes
Phyllis Hyman moved to New York City. There, she sang background vocals for other artists and performed in clubs. In 1975, jazz musician Norman Connors was looking for a female singer for his album You Are My Starship. He heard about Phyllis and saw her perform.
He offered her a spot on his album. The title song, "You Are My Starship," became popular on jazz radio. This helped launch the careers of Phyllis Hyman, Norman Connors, and Michael Henderson. They also had a hit on R&B radio with their remake of The Stylistics' song "Betcha by Golly Wow!"
Later Career and Broadway Success
Phyllis Hyman sang with Pharoah Sanders and the Fatback Band. She also worked on her first solo album, Phyllis Hyman, which came out in 1977. Later, she moved to Arista Records. Her first album with Arista, Somewhere in My Lifetime, was released in 1978. The title song was produced by Barry Manilow.
Her next album, You Know How to Love Me, was a hit on the R&B charts and dance charts. In the late 1970s, Phyllis married her manager, Larry Alexander. They later divorced.
In 1981, Phyllis had her first solo R&B Top Ten hit with "Can't We Fall in Love Again?" This was a duet with Michael Henderson. She recorded this song while performing in the Broadway musical Sophisticated Ladies. This musical honored the music of Duke Ellington. She performed in the show for almost two years. Her role earned her a Tony Award nomination and a Theatre World Award.
Due to issues with her record label, Phyllis took a break from recording her own music. During this time, she sang on movie soundtracks and television commercials. She also provided guest vocals for artists like Chuck Mangione, The Whispers, and The Four Tops. She sang on three songs for jazz pianist McCoy Tyner's album Looking Out (1982). Phyllis also toured often and gave lectures at colleges.
In 1983, Phyllis Hyman recorded a song called "Never Say Never Again." It was meant to be the title song for the James Bond movie of the same name. However, another song was used for the film instead.
In 1985, Phyllis was free from her contract with Arista. In 1986, she released the album Living All Alone on the Philadelphia International Records label. This album featured popular songs like "Old Friend," the title track "Living All Alone," and "You Just Don't Know." In 1987, she recorded "Black and Blue" as a duet with Barry Manilow for his album Swing Street. Barry Manilow greatly admired Phyllis and her work.
Soon after, she appeared in the films School Daze (1988) and The Kill Reflex (1989). She continued to lend her voice to albums for other artists, including Grover Washington Jr. and Lonnie Liston Smith. She also continued to tour internationally.
Phyllis Hyman's next album, Prime of My Life, came out in 1991. It was released on Philadelphia International and became the biggest album of her career. It included her first number-one R&B hit, "Don't Wanna Change the World." The album also had two more top 10 R&B singles: "Living in Confusion" and "When You Get Right Down to It." In 1992, the album and its first single were certified Gold.
Later Years and Legacy
Just over a year after Prime of My Life, Phyllis appeared on another Norman Connors album. She sang the title song, "Remember Who You Are," which became a minor R&B hit.
Phyllis Hyman passed away on June 30, 1995, a few days before her 46th birthday. A memorial service was held for her in Manhattan.
Personal Life
Phyllis Hyman was married once, to Larry Alexander. He was her music arranger from 1977 until their divorce in 1982. She did not have any children.
Phyllis was also the cousin of actor Earle Hyman. He was known for his role as Cliff's father, Russell Huxtable, on The Cosby Show.
Music Released After Her Death
After Phyllis Hyman's passing, several albums of her music were released.
- In November 1995, five months after her death, the album I Refuse to Be Lonely was released. This album explored her personal feelings. The title track and the song "I'm Truly Yours" became minor R&B hits.
- In April 1998, a collection of her songs called One on One was released. It included some of her earliest solo songs and nine collaborations. These included "Take the 'A' Train" with Gregory Hines and "Maybe Tomorrow" with the Four Tops.
- Three years after her death, another album of unreleased songs came out. Forever with You (1998) featured love songs, ballads, and jazz tracks. Many of these songs were originally planned for her Living All Alone album.
- In 2003, a jazz-soul compilation called In Between the Heartaches was released. It included songs from her collaborations with Norman Connors, McCoy Tyner, and others. It also had five songs that had never been released before from her time with Arista records.
In September 2007, an authorized biography about Phyllis Hyman was released. It was called Strength of a Woman: The Phyllis Hyman Story.
Discography
- Phyllis Hyman (1977)
- Sing a Song (1978)
- Somewhere in My Lifetime (1978)
- You Know How to Love Me (1979)
- Can't We Fall in Love Again? (1981)
- Goddess of Love (1983)
- Living All Alone (1986)
- Prime of My Life (1991)
- I Refuse to Be Lonely (1995)
- Forever with You (1998)
Filmography
- Lenny (1974)
- Too Scared to Scream (1985)
- School Daze (1988)
- Soda Cracker (1989)
See also
In Spanish: Phyllis Hyman para niños
