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PHYLLIS HYMAN INTERNET
NEWSLETTER #16
AUGUST 17, 1998
Hello again, Friends, and Welcome to
Newsletter #16. This is a
milepost because it’s our first issue
since the release of the latest
Phyllis Hyman CD, Forever With You. I
realize that, though the CD was
released on July 28th, there still may be
places in the world that haven't
received it yet. So we have included a
review as an incentive to search
for this sensational treasure.
With the release of the new CD, Walid and I are thrilled that The PH
Newsletter, Fanzine, is receiving
worldwide recognition as the official
publication devoted to Phyllis Hyman. Of
course, I'm equally pleased
that the producers of the CD have shown so
much appreciation for the
tireless effort that Walid Itayim has put
forth on his PH Fan Site.
Walid is much too modest to take a bow,
but I know how very close this
project is to his heart. Though we have produced this newsletter a
half-a-world
apart, approaching two years, it never ceases to amaze me how far we
have come.
For this issue, we share very moving tributes to Phyllis by
producer/writer
Nick Martinelli and our old friend, Tom
Conroy. We are also joined by
new friends Meryl McDuffie, Katrina Jones,
Gena Holle, William Cooper,
S. Anthony and Shawn Gravely, with their
special memories.
So insert a Phyllis Hyman CD into your machine; sit back and relax. Let
her
magic take you to that special place, as
we share once again our memories
and our joy in appreciation of the fact
that she left us so much of herself.
As we celebrate her music and her life on
a regular basis, I
can't help but believe that her soul is
rested and at peace.
Richard
*****************************
*******************************************************************************
Nick Martinelli produced and wrote some of
Phyllis' best work.
His production skills can be heard on
Living All Alone, Prime of
My Life, I Refuse To Be Lonely and even
the new release, Forever
With You. I found Nick's e-mail address at
his website and wrote
to him about the newsletter. He was kind
enough to respond to my
*************************
It was a heartbreaking day when I got the
call about her death. I wish I
could have said it was a surprise but it
wasn't. I had a feeling this was
going to happen at any moment. Phyllis was
a very addictive person
and was generally not happy. She loved
performing on stage. This was the one
thing in her life that she loved and was
able to control. As you know I
worked with Phyllis for about 9 years. She
never much liked recording in the
studio. I decided to take her out of the
vocal booth and make her sing with
me in the control room. She loved not
being
separated from the producer or engineer.
It made her feel more in
control, something she always wanted to
be. I guess the one thing I
will always remember about Phyllis was
that whatever was on her
mind she would state. Most of the times
not taking the time to think
about the consequences. The day we were
writing, "I Refused To Be Lonely" I
remember her crying for many hours.
Talking about how
messed up her life was but that she wanted
to send out a positive message to
people who were going thru what she had.
Her mother
had just recently died and it made her
very depressed. It's a real
shame she never got the recognition she
should have. This was
another reason I think she felt so
defeated in the end. She will be
missed by many people.
Nick Martinelli
******************************************************************************
Review: Phyllis Hyman - Forever With You
(Released July 28 1998)
Phyllis Hyman fans all over the world have anticipated this album, and
it is finally here. The first draft of
this review was mistakenly written in
the present tense, mostly because the
music sounds so fresh. The
first thing you'll notice, of course is
the album’s riveting cover. As you
know, Phyllis Hyman was a strikingly
beautiful woman, and
photographer Phyllis Cuington’s portrait
is haunting in its simplicity
and style. The release of this CD also
confirms what many of us have
believed for a long time: the vaults of
various record companies hold a
treasure trove of un-mined gold.
"Forever With You", the song selected to be the album’s title, by an
overwhelming majority of the subscribers
to the PH Newsletter, is
perhaps a thank you note from Phyllis.
Those who have kept the flame
for Ms. Hyman’s music and memory for the
three years since her
passing, have every reason to feel the
positive vibe emanating from
such lyrics as “I appreciate the respect
and all the consideration you've
given to me….Thank you very much for all
your understanding. The patience
and your kindness; the tender loving care
that you've given to
me”
"Funny How Love Goes" is a bittersweet duet with new singer Damon, whose
voice was mixed in during post production
for the album. As pleasing as the
song sounds, one cannot help but wonder
what the Hyman/Henderson combination
could have done with this material.
"Come Right or Not At All" is a mid-tempo retrospective of a woman’s
life, done with attitude and flair. Just
listening to it, you somehow know
that Phyllis had a hand in writing this
one. "Strength of A Woman" is
another such song, in which she declares,
“I'm not afraid to be alone!”,
but in an I'd-rather-not voice.
"Hurry Up This Way Again" may sound familiar. Taken from The
Stylistics’ songbook, there is a decidedly
betcha-by-golly-wow feel to it.
At this point, not yet halfway through the
album, one is struck by how
truly “tight” this production has been
from the very beginning. The
sound is great! Not a misplaced instrument
or arrangement.
Those of us who have listened to Phyllis for decades, know that she
was equally at home in the grooves of
uptempo stuff as she was with
the ballads, and "How Long" (another
Hyman-penned ditty) takes us
out on the dance floor for some serious
boogeyin’.
Did someone say ballads? "Someone to Love", written by the late
Linda Creed and Michael Masser, is alone
worth the price of admission
to this CD. This song has the feeling of
a Broadway show stopper. It
resonates!! With Phyllis, it was always
the little things she did with a
song; the details. Even here, in full
command of her instrument, she knows
when to let the silences speak for
themselves.
"Tell Me What You're Gonna Do" is a fun romp, with an infectious rhythm.
Difficult to sit still …or keep from
smiling. The mischievous, defiant
Phyllis collaborated on this one,
admonishing her lover to “Treat me
right, and I'll do anything for you.” I
can almost imagine her in the
studio, scatting, playing, and weaving
that magic sweetener in a baby-girl
tease/purr.
If for no other reason than the subject matter, "The Kids", a Gamble &
Huff-produced song, shows us another facet
of this multi-faceted Diva.
“Gotta make it better for the kids ….show
them how to be independent, and
stand up on their own.” Though she sings
from a personal prospective, those
familiar with her life know this is a plea
for
us to do a better job of raising our own.
"Set A Little Trap" is a playful, skip-along love (with a wink) song.
Pleasant, with enough jazzy riffs to make
it qualify as worthwhile by
fans, and a primer for today’s wannabe
Divas. But lest the new
contenders for the throne become over
confident, "No One But You"
stands as a formidable obstacle course for
the vocally-challenged.
A wee bit heavy-handed on the bass, the
song is nevertheless one that will
get a lot of Repeat action on the CD
player.
"Souvenirs" fittingly caps off this sensational journey, with Phyllis
sifting
through memories, her “collection of the
triumphs and the fears.”
Ballads are Phyllis’ stock in trade, and
Souvenirs stands up beside her best
work. Silky smooth, and just enough
thought-provoking lyrics to
warrant the audience’s attentive
listening, the song is a prelude to the
good-bye we never heard before.
Suffice it to say that Forever With You is a Must for all Phyllis Hyman
fans.
Moreover, it is the kind of project that
new listeners will quickly grow
attached to. In many ways this album is so
much …fun. If you think
you'll need someone to comfort you through
this, given the tragic ending
of her life, you couldn't be more
incorrect. It’s not sad or maudlin; it’s
so full of life, hope and inspiration.
Trust me, this is an instant
Collector’s Item. A 5-Star Triumph!
Since this isn't a traditional CD release, it stands to reason that its
review might depart from the usual. With
that in mind, I'd like to thank
everyone who took part in creating this
album. It is very clear that care
was taken to "get it right." and, in every
respect, you have certainly
succeeded. A special thanks goes to
Phyllis' manager and friend. Ms. Glenda
Gracia for all her hard work on this
project, and for keeping Ms. Hyman's
fans in her thoughts.
And finally, to Phyllis's family: Thank you for sharing, as Glenda says,
"the light and love."
Richard Kenyada
******************************************************************************
From: TOM CONROY
Subject: The Starship Tour
Hello Walid,
Sorry it's been so long since I contacted the newsletter...life gets
in the way of the fun stuff much too
often. Anyway, I would like to
report on a concert I attended on June
13th for the newsletter if you
please...
The "Starship Tour" came into
Pittsburgh on a perfect summer
evening at an intimate outdoor
amphitheater directly across the river
from the glittering skyline of the
downtown area. Norman Connors,
Marion Meadows, Tom Browne, and the one
and only Miss Angela
Bofill. This was jazz/R&B at it's best and
we were lucky enough to get
front row center seats. Connors dedicated
the evening to Phyllis and
received a roar of approval from the
crowd. After a few songs he introduced
Nathan East(Jean Carne's musical
director), and he did a
killer version of "Meet Me On The Moon",
sounding very much like
Freddie Jackson or Luther Van Dross. The
entire band was excellent, Marion
Meadows(who was new to me), is a an
extraordinary sax player. Tom Browne
then delighted the crowd with a young
vocalist (whose
name escapes me) and had the place rocking
to "Jamaica Funk".
Then it was time for Angela. She entered looking gorgeous and fit
in a tailored white suit, leading the
crowd in a spirited mambo-type
song. She did a few of her standards,
then got quiet and asked how
she could come to Pittsburgh and not do a
memorial to her friend,
Phyllis. She did a stunning, passionate "Betcha
By Golly Wow"
that pleased even the most hard core
Phyllis fan(like me). When she
finished the song she blew a kiss into the
heavens and told us that
Phyllis talks to her often, whispering
"Angie, hey Angie..." I knew
exactly what she meant. She capped the
evening off with "I Try", and
we were lucky enough to obtain an
autograph from her and Mr.
Meadows (who was a really nice guy). All
told, an evening that I am
sure pleased Phyllis, who was on the
receiving end of a lot of love and respect.
To those of our newsletter readers that are in their teens and
twenties and enjoy the uniqueness of
Phyllis, I urge you to check out
Angela Bofill and to all who may have the
opportunity, get tickets to
"The Starship Tour", if it comes to your
city.
Yesterday was a bittersweet day, the
birthday of our much-missed
Phyllis. My family scattered in their
various pursuits during the
evening, so I poured some wine, put every
one of her CDS on the player,
and sat alone on the patio, listening to
the voice and watching the
purple/orange sky grow dark, and the stars
begin to twinkle. Their were
a few tears, hey, the wine, the VOICE, the
beauty of the evening, but it
wasn't just sadness. We'll always have
her, won't we, at the touch of
the play button? Happy Birthday, Phyllis!
Tom Conroy
July 7, 1998
******************************************************************************
From: SoftShawn
I previously sent an email asking to subscribe to your Phyllis Hyman
newsletter. I visited the site and read
some really great stories from
other subscribers and it made me recall
the pain I felt with her passing.
I loved her. Her songs put a hold on you like nothing else anyone could
ever imagine. I could always feel the
strength and power she had in her
songs. When I listened to her, I felt so
much energy. It was like I was in a
trance. I truly admired her. I just
wonder why did she want to give up on
life so easily. I personally couldn't
accept her death. When I heard it, I
did not want to believe it. I thought was
someone's sick idea of a joke.
When I read about it in the Phila. Daily
News, I cried like it was my best
friend. The only memory I had of her was
her song "Living All Alone" on
a tape that I recorded off The Quiet Storm
on the radio a few years
before. I had already played it so much
that I thought the tape would
pop.
For fear of not having a keepsake to
remember her, I went out and
bought all of her music I could find. I
couldn't let her go. In the
beginning, I cried every time I played her
CDs. Now my daughter (she's
eight) and I sing along and the feeling I
get is so uplifting. The
sadness of her passing is still with me
but her music will live on forever.
I'm just sorry that she did not know that
I loved her.
S. Gravely
Philadelphia, PA
*******************************************************************************
From: S. Anthony
Subject: Remembering Phyllis
The week of June 30th -July 6th is indeed a shallow, gloomy, and
empty week for many of us to bare. It is
the week that we not only
celebrate this incredible singer's
birthday (July 6th), but we are forced
to also recognize that June 30th marks the
3rd year anniversary of Ms.
Hyman's death by suicide.
As I remember Phyllis, I am not moved to heavy tears because I simply
did not know this woman on a personal
level. I was not even fortunate enough
to rejoice with many as they marvel at the
recollection of seeing her in
person or on stage. No, that is not my
memory of Phyllis. Instead, my memory
of Ms. Hyman is embedded in the music that
she sang
about; the soft moods and the loud cries
that creep though each recording.
Going through any situation was made
better after a heart-felt talk with The
Father and listening to an old Phyllis
favorite. Her words reminded me that
I was not the only person going through
changes. Her message was one of pain
and then hope: the way my life had always
been orchestrated. Yes, it's true
that I do shed a tear or two for the
woman and her life apart from her music:
all life is precious and I am
sorry that she is not able to one day reap
in the oldness of her age. Still,
there is a heaviness in me that I can not
put into words. All I know is that
one of the greatest singers (in my
opinion) to ever have lived is no
longer with us. Although I did not know
the woman named Phyllis and
vice versa, her music has touched and
influenced my life in so many
ways. This is why I miss and will always
cherish the memory and legacy
of Phyllis Hyman. God Bless.
June 30th has also been a difficult day to deal with because I had a
sister who was born two years before me on
this day. She passed away one
month after she was born. Still, I
celebrate her 21st birthday.
Submitted with love,
S. Anthony
*******************************************************************************
From: William Cooper
Subject: Forever with me- Phyllis is.....
As I sit here at my job listening to FOREVER WITH YOU, the
posthumous release, chills run through my
body. Phyllis never
sounded better. I am so glad they released
this compilation of songs.
I REFUSE TO BE LONELY left me wanting.
To say this woman's legacy affected me is an understatement. Her
music served as inspiration to me. As one
of the fans alluded to, her
vulnerability put me in touch with my own.
This past January, I completed my first novel entitled SIX DAYS IN
JANUARY. (I'm still attempting to get
published.) Completing it in about
twenty months, Phyllis was my companion
through all my nights of
loneliness sitting at this very desk. She
was my OLD FRIEND it when it
seemed as if my whole life was collapsing
around me, (I Came Home one night
to my clothes outside-the product of
another failed
relationship.) my lover during those wee
hours when I had no one. You don't
know how many times tears flowed as I
repeatedly played LIVING
IN CONFUSION and I'M CALLING YOU. It was
like I was living her pain,
her cries for help, her fight for the one
thing everyone wants in life-
TO BE LOVED. I'm praying my book makes it
out there, for it is the best way
I can thank her family for bestowing her
with such a wondrous instrument.
The honor would be mines to keep this
woman's spirit alive...
FROM THE HEART,
WILLIAM F. COOPER
******************************************************************************
From: Gena Holle
As far as my own PH experience goes, it's mostly images associated
with her music. I was never lucky enough
to see her in person. During
her peak performing years I was working
nights at a local venue that
saw the likes of the L.A. Philharmonic,
stage shows and acts like Three Dog
Night, the Carpenters and Sonny and Cher;
hardly the intimate settings that
Ms. Hyman seemed to thrive in. While I
soaked in a wealth
of music at my job, the schedule didn't
allow much time to explore San
Diego's club scene.
My Phyllis Hyman fixes came from listening to her recordings. I about
wore out my 12-inch singles of "You Know
How to Love Me" and "Riding the
Tiger." Both hold many memories of the
courtship of the man I
ended up marrying. Other songs bring back
memories of our travels abroad and
to Mexico. I take music with me wherever I
go, and Phyllis' grooves have
accompanied me on many trips. I especially
enjoy
listening to my favorite artists while
riding the rails. It's very
inspiring! There's nothing like Phyllis'
dulcet tones mixed with images
glimpsed from train windows of glassy
lakes, mammoth mountains,
peach-colored skies and rows of tree
flitting by, their trailing leaves
like waterfalls. Nirvana!
Then there was the fellow who once told me some of Phyllis Hyman's songs
depressed him. After talking with him, he
admitted that her
interpretation of these melancholy works
was so vivid, so real, that it
struck a chord too close to home; he felt
uncomfortable and vulnerable.
To me, it seemed as if she was personally
experiencing the emotions
of her lyrics, and maybe she was. Most of
us at one time or another
have felt lost and abandoned; Phyllis
Hyman's music makes us feel
we're not the only one's in the world
experiencing these emotions. It's
too bad she couldn't overcome her demons
and make it over the
mountain to happiness.
Well, that's about the extent of my PH experience. Feel free to use all
or part in the newsletter.
Keep up the good work!
Gena Holle
******************************************************************************
From: Katrina I Jones
thank you for the information included in this brief biography of
Phyllis
Hyman. I am 27 yrs old and became
introduced to the "diva" when I was
about 14 or 16 yrs old via her song, "Old
Friend." Immediately, I admired
the warmth, style, grace, and dignity
that, in my mind, was her hallmark.
As I got older, I longed to find out more about this earthy, statuesque
woman whose music was around but never
around. In other words,
she had always been there but with a low
profile. So from a record company,
I purchased a "collection" of her songs.
But with the help of
this biography, I see that my collection
is nothing less than inadequate.
Thank you again for providing this insight!
*******************************************************************************
From: Meryl McDuffie
picked up newly released Phyllis Hyman album yesterday. spent the whole
day
listening to her sultry, sexy, melodic...
(i'm getting depressed again)
voice. i cried through the first run
because the reality hit me once again
that i'd never see her again. the reason
why i know i am blessed
is because i have had the opporunity the
meet and receive such a wonderful
spirit in the first place. i am mainly
writing you at this time to
find out how i may subcribe to your
internet newsletter. i just saw your
email address in the liner notes of the cd.
i need to dash now... please
send me info asap.
i pray to the universe that you have peace.......
meryl l. mcduffie
(aka lambda)
******************************************************************************
I want to thank co-editor Richard for the
kind words he had to
say in the introduction. As he mentioned,
the liner notes of the new
CD "Forever With You" list both the URL
for the PH website as well as
the e-mail address for the newsletter. Our
efforts to keep Phyllis'
memory alive on the internet have paid
off. Thank you, Glenda!!!
Also, I would like to thank Bill Shultz
without whom I would have
not gotten back in contact with Glenda
after she was no longer on-line.
Since July 28, the number of newsletter
subscribers has risen
significantly thanks to the listing in the
new CD.
If you have not yet bought the CD, I recommend you do so asap!
For those of you who have been unable to
find it at your local CD
store, I suggest you use one of the CD
suppliers on the web.
Those of you who sent in your quotes a couple of months ago will
be interested to know that out of the 30
or so submitted by the
readers of the newsletter, 4 were chosen
and used in the liner
notes of the CD. The lucky 4 are: Tracy
Grant, Miles Bell, Alice
Roxanne and Richard Kenyada.
Finally, I want to thank Nick Martinelli for e-mailing me back so
promptly with his thoughts on Phyllis.
Also, thanks Tom, S. Anthony,
William, Shawn, Gena, Katrina and Meryl
for contributing to this
issue! Don't forget to send in your
reviews of Forever With You
so we can include them in the next issue.
Best Regards,
Walid
PHYLLIS HYMAN INTERNET
NEWSLETTER #17
SEPTEMBER 28, 1998
Welcome to the 17th issue of Fanzine, the
Phyllis Hyman newsletter.
Amazing!! Seventeen issues. Had the
recording industry given Phyllis
this kind of respect and admiration during
her career, perhaps Ms.
Hyman would be here with us, celebrating
our 17th issue.
But perhaps she is …. anyway.
The recent release of the “Forever With You” CD, with the Internet
address of our newsletter and website has
contributed immensely
to the activity in our E-Mail boxes, and
we are most grateful. Not only
has it enabled us to connect with Phyllis’
“old” fans who were always
out there, but hadn’t heard about us. With
all the attention the new CD
is generating, new friends are emerging
from the CD bins of media
stores around the world.
We are beginning to receive a steady flow of heartfelt tributes from
all over the world. This month Tracie
Johnson, S. Anthony, William F.
Cooper, Blaine Gaffney III, Thomas
Schindlbeck, Abiola Sinclair,
Phil Perry and Lee Dixon, share with us
their thoughts about Phyllis’ music,
and the woman herself. Our heroine.
It’s not at all surprising that many of those whom we consider our
heroes and heroines, have heroes and
heroines of their own. Such
was certainly the case with Phyllis Hyman
who, in a television interview
with Essence Magazine editor, Susan
Taylor, once intimated that her
professional career would have started
much sooner were it not for the fact
that her vocal heroine was none other than
the legendary Miss
Nancy Wilson. Phyllis considered Miss
Wilson to be the
quintessential song stylist and, having
swooned over the music of
Nancy for well over three decades myself,
I can certainly understand
Phyllis’ initial reservations.
We have a special treat in this issue: Miss Nancy Wilson shares with
us a few thoughts about Phyllis. She
responded to a note from Walid,
and I am so jealous I cannot contain
myself You see, Nancy’s music
kept me sane through two years in Vietnam
during the 1960’s. The
most sensual album ever recorded was
Nancy’s “Tender Loving Care.” And if
you want to experience the kind of music
that was a bit
intimidating for a young Phyllis Hyman,
pick up Miss Wilson’s 3-CD
box set “Ballads, Blues & Big Bands: The
Best of Nancy Wilson.”
Of course Nancy Wilson’s music is as fresh and sensational today as
ever,
and I’m sure that if Phyllis were here
today, she’d be as anxiously awaiting
the next Nancy Wilson release as the rest
of Nancy’s legion of fans. And it
makes some of us feel even closer to
Phyllis to know that
even our Diva had, in a very real sense, a
Diva of her own to cherish
and honor. There is, indeed, a lineage in
The Music.
Richard Kenyada
Co-Editor
******************************************************************************
Besides being one of her main influences, singer Nancy Wilson
was a close friend of Phyllis. I e-mailed
Nancy after I found her
web page and I was surprised to get her
reply on the same day!
Here is what she wrote:
Dear Walid,
Very happy to see a Webpage on Phyllis. This can keep her
many fans up on the life and times of
Phyllis. One of the finest
natural talents I have ever heard. She
was also a very gifted
performer, I thought the stage play she
was in, Sophisticated
Lady, was one of the finest I have ever
seen. I still miss not
hearing from her, but every so often when
I get a moment I put
on a CD or tape of hers and think about
the great moments of
time we spent together and smile to myself
at some of the private
jokes shared. When I have time, maybe
there will be a few of the
moments we'll share.
Good luck!
******************************************************************************
Abiola Sinclair is a
writer/journalist/poet/musician. She tried to contact
Phyllis on the night she died to give her
a song she had written
especially for her. But it was too late.
Back then, she was media editor
for the New York Amsterdam News. Today,
she is publisher and editor
of Black History Magazine. I contacted her
and asked her if she could
write something for the newsletter. Here
is what she wrote:
Dear Walid,
Thank you for contacting me. I met Ms. Hyman on but one occasion,
she was in Sophisticated Ladies and I went
backstage. I wrote her a letter
and to my surprise she wrote me back. I
wrote a song for her
but never gave it to her.
A few days before her death a feeling came over me that was so
strong that I went to my piano bench and
pulled out the song and
began to fiddle around with it. I had
had a female singer I knew
record it and I found the tape and played
that.
Finally I resolved to contact Ms. Hyman and present her with the tape.
I called the Apollo and spoke to someone
- the woman who was sponsoring her
appearance, her name escapes me now. I
was told
the show was delayed, I called back an
hour later to be told the show
was cancelled. Ms Hyman had not shown,
was the reason. I was worried, I
didn't like the sound of it, but suicide
was not on my mind,
at all.
when I found out she was dead I could not believe it. She must have
been in a deep depression. I kept feeling
perhaps a new song would have
brought her out of it. I don't know why
she killed herself except
she was a very proud person, vain also.
She perhaps felt she was
not where she should be at that point in
her career. She did not realize
that had she held on, she could and would
have been one of the immortals
because - whose left?
All of the old heads have passed on. The
mantle would have passed
to her just by the course of time. Plus
there is always a need for her type
of style and song delivery. Her smooth
and sultry sound is timeless.
She had the voice, the looks, the style.
In thinking of her, I believe
what I'm saying is true. She perhaps felt
washed up, but that was just
a bad feeling, that's all.
It helps to study the lives of artists, be they painters, dancers,
singers, writers, what have you. Then you
realize in the lives of many
great people that there are periods of
numbing stillness and inactivity
when you wonder what the hell is going
on?
When these periods occur, take time to rest, and then initiate a
project yourself. It doesn't have to be
big. She should have had a
relationship with a small club somewhere.
Billie Holiday did, even
Woody Allen, had a club on the East side
he played at. She should
have agreed to sing there X number of
times a year. Talented people
need the public; a Cafe Carlyle if you
will.
The song I wrote for her still remains unsung. You have reminded me.
I guess I'll try to contact Luther
Vandross and ask him to dedicate it to
Ms Hyman.
Abiola Sinclair
******************************************************************************
I remember Phyllis performing after the
release of the "Prime Of My Life"
album at the Southport Soul & Dance
Weekender in the UK. Not so familiar
with us European`s fans sense of
"tradition", she did not expect the high
demand in the audience for all her classic
recordings from
the 70ies and the 80ies. So neither the
band nor the background
singers were familiar with this material.
Obviously someone had told
her right before the show how much her
earlier recordings were appreciated
in the UK - so in the middle of an already
breathtaking,
totally mesmerizing show, she interrupted
the band, took out a sheet of
paper with a list of songs on it and
explained that she had not been
aware of us knowing and loving these old
songs and as there was no such
interest in the US, she would be unable to
perform them with her band. BUT:
She suggested that the audience would act
as background singers and rhythm
section and that we would decide together
what songs we would do - she
started to read out the list and every
time we cheered especially loud, it
was "ok, let's do that" time. The whole
segment of the show was full of humor with
Phyllis making comments such as
"You sure look good to me?" ... mild
applause ... "All right,
let's skip this one, it was not that good
anyway" or "You want me to do
this? ... Then we have to go through the
lyrics first, I cannot remember".
It was incredible ... we performed
"together" for around 45 minutes while
the band and the background singers had a
break. Everyone, including
Phyllis, seemed to have the time of their
life. And I still cannot believe
how excellent some of those acappella
versions turned out to be. I
never felt such an intense relationship
between an artist and the
audience again. At first I was as
shocked and saddened as everyone
else contributing to this page when I
heard about her suicide. However, with
all those fond memories and special
moments related to her, every time I
think of Phyllis now I cannot help but
feeling happy keeping
in mind everything she has achieved, the
timeless value of her records and
her wonderful personality.
Thank you all for keeping her memory alive,
Thomas Schindlbeck
Germany
****************************************************************************
From: Henry Gaffney III
Thank you for devoting a web site to Phyllis Hyman. I have been
searching the web for such a site for over
a year. I am a loyal "died
in the wool" Hyman fan. I became
acquainted with this "regal artist"
when she released her first album. A very
dear person who was the
love of my life played it for me and I
immediately became possessed
and under her spell and influence. I have
all her albums and all the
CD's that are currently available. I have
a screen saver I made that
contains various photos of Phyllis.
I have asked myself a thousand times "Why Phyllis? You don't know
how much you are loved and missed". I
anxiously awaited each new release,
knowing that I would enjoy the tracks.
Waiting for Phyllis was
like waiting for Christmas...it would come
and then you couldn't wait
until the next and the next.
Her death doubled my pain. I lost my love a few years earlier and the
only connection left was our love of
Phyllis Hyman. "Loving You, Losing You"
became an anthem for me, also "You Know
How To Love Me" and "Some Where In
My Lifetime". It's as though life had
knocked me down
a second time when she passed. I was just
beginning to get up again.
At least I still had Phyllis and my
memories.
I introduced my current girlfriend to Phyllis' music when we started
dating and she too became an instant fan.
I loved.. Love Phyllis Hyman.
I wish there could be more releases I want
every note she ever sang...
Obsessed?...yes who could not help but
become obsessed by such a
powerful encompassing voice. Listening to
the lyrics and identifying
with the pain loving each delicate, sultry
nuance in a magnificent voice
that could suddenly become a powerful
siren. Musical phrasing of
uttermost ability. There is no match or
equal available. Phyllis' voice
and style was so distinct and the world
has lost a treasure. For those
who don't know her they are missing the
ultimate musical experience.
Please do all in your power to see that the legacy lives on... I am
available to help in any way possible.
Ideas suggestions etc.
Again thank you and God Bless you. I'm not ready to let go yet...she
will remain with me "Forever" in my heart
and soul.
Blaine Gaffney III
******************************************************************************
Subject: Re: Phyllis Hyman - FOREVER WITH
YOU.... A review.
Thank you very much for including me in Newsletter # 16. I've shown
it to a few people and hopefully you'll be
hearing from them soon.
Yo, this album is 'da' bomb!!! It's a good thing I work down the street
from a Virgin Megastore, because I'm
wearing out my tape. (Smile)
Seriously, FOREVER WITH YOU is filled with so much optimism; so
much positive energy. Right from the
beginning, with its vibrant title
track. I found myself doing a little samba
step listening to it. Perhaps
she's telling us that she'll be forever
with us.
'Funny How Loves Goes' is a marvelous duet. Though the lyrics express
regret of paths crossing, the harmony of
Damon and Phyllis wash away
the sadness.
'Come Right Or Not at All'? Typical Phyllis. A little sad, but not too
much.
You can feel the power of this woman's
voice here.
'Strength Of A Woman' was really cool.
Phyllis did the Stylistics proud when she remade 'Hurry Up this Way
Again..' She glides through this song
effortlessly.
I LOVED 'How Long'!!!! When I first heard it, I was like "What? Not
Phyllis
going house." (Smile) This may be her
funkiest dance track since 'You
Know How To Love Me'...
The only time I felt pain is was when I listened to 'Someone to Love".
Again she left me identifying her pain.
All she wanted both professionally
and emotionally was 'Someone to Love'
her. Someone to appreciate her
music, Someone to make her feel like the
queen she was... Pretty telling
song.
'Tell Me What You're Gonna Do' matches Phyllis' extraordinary range
with a simple groove. Love the heavy beat
here. Also enjoy hearing her
"Heh-hey" ad-lib.
'The Kids' was a pretty mellow tune.
'Set A Little Trap' brought some creativity out of her. I loved the way
she
played with the lyrics with style only she
had.
'No One But You' was my favorite song on the tape. It sounds
mysterious, yet definitive as she
announces "I'm committed to you." The
groove , The background and lead voice are
all in spectacular form. A
Four-Star special here.
And Lastly, 'Souvenirs' left me with the same feeling "Give me One Good
Reason To Stay." did. Wanting. But not as
much this time. I felt the song
was a triumphant, positive way to close to
the album. She left us with
not only a lasting legacy, but with this
album, a few souvenirs. With
tears in my eyes as I now listen to this
song, I only wish she would have
just as victorious in her fight with her
own vulnerabilities and fears.
You're going to have to put a box set
together with Some of her Greatest
hits, as well as some more selections you
selfishly have in your vault.
(Smile). God, I miss this woman so....
William F. Cooper
****************************************************************************
From: Dishmi9194
Subject: Forever With You
I would like to respond to the new release of Ms.Hyman's "Forever with
You"
album.
Still gloating over Phyllis' "One on One" album that was previously
released
in March of this year, awaiting this album
was made a little
more easier.
When I first learned that a Phyllis Hyman album with unreleased tracks
was to hit the stores, I honestly did not
know what to expect. Sure, I
always expect the magnificent voice and
sensational vibe that the music
of Phyllis Hyman has been known for, but
the direction in the style of her
music that would later breathe through my
stereo's speakers left me clueless.
First Of all...
Walid, thanks for letting your PH
Subscribers have an opportunity to even
be considered in the decision making to
the title of the mysterious
Hyman album at the time. It was exciting
to know that my title choice for
one of the next biggest Phyllis Hyman
projects would be valued by someone!
The reason I chose the "Forever With You"
title as opposed
to "Souvenirs" was because that simple
expression reminded me of Phyllis
always being with us. And although my
two-sentenced statement did not make
it into the introduction, it was a thrill
to submit it anyway! I
am overjoyed for those that did make it -
Tracy, Miles, Richard, and Alice!
Congratulations!
Listening to my very own approved title
track for the album was a true
treasure. It is clearly evident that Ms.
Hyman was expressing a heart-felt
gratitude towards the many cherished
people in and around her life. That day
I typed in my selection choice for this
title was undoubtedly no mistake!
The song is uplifting, refreshing and very
vibrant.
After the introductory song, I could sense this was an album unlike any
other Phyllis album ever produced. Each
song took me through new and higher
levels of excitement and fulfillment. And
to add even more to the hyping of
the album, by me being a young person
myself, I can
guarantee that if such tracks as "How
Long," "Tell Me What You're
Gonna Do," "Come Right Or Not At All" and
"No One But You," were released
by tomorrow, these groovy, twistful, and
danceable songs
would really make waves among the youth.
Three of my personal favorites include: "The Kids," "Hurry Up This Way
Again," and "Set A Little Trap" The kids
is not really a sing-a-long or
danceable type song, but the song is
purely meant for listening and
learning purposes. Hurry Up... really has
that singable melody that is
so different and unique for Phyllis and
her fans. And finally Set A Little
Trap is just that kind of a moody and
sensuous (Nancy Wilson -You
Don't Know How Glad I Am) happy jazzy song
that just has me
constantly pressing the rewind button
because that song is just that
damn good to me!
To conclude, I am extremely excited about this project and will gladly
await the release of the next batch of
unreleased tracks. This album is
by far most my favorite, and not for the
simple fact that I feel connected
with this album because my opinion was
considered for the title, but because
this album seems to express a side of
Phyllis that I knew
always existed musically. Some of these
last recordings really showed her
aging as an interpreter of words and
music.
S. Anthony
***************************************************************************
From: Leeedy
Subject: Forever With You
I want to commend everyone, especially the Gamble-Huff folks for
putting this CD together and making it
available for all of us out here
thirsting for more Phyllis.
I was waiting at Tower Records in Hollywood when they went on the
shelf...but had one hell of a time finding
the thing...it seems Phyllis is
getting more and more buried...and the
weird categorizations the
record stores are doing to her work does
not help at all.
In any event, if that CD were vinyl, I would have played it thru to the
other
side by now...it is constantly on...and I
keep it in my car...and I think I've
learned each song by heart. Phyllis did
some interesting phrasing with
the old Stylistic's tune, "Hurry Up This
Way Again"...as usual...she owns
it now!
Thank you so much!!
Best,
Lee Dixon
******************************************************************************
I really enjoyed reading this edition of the newsletter (and all
previous
editions, of course). I remember stopping
to remember The Diva on
June 30th this year, and then to remember
that a week or so later was
her birthday.
I listened to Forever With You and I loved it! I grew to love I Refuse
To Be
Lonely after first being unable to listen
to it, knowing that it was her last
studio release. Months and months went by
before I could actually turn
on the CD player and listen to the songs
on that CD. When I was finally
able to, I was happy to have done so --
even though Give Me One Good Reason
To Stay still moves me to tears. If only
someone could have
done that for The Lady.
Anyhow, Forever With You is wonderful and I thank Glenda Gracia from
the bottom of my heart for the care that
she took in putting it together.
I'm sure that Ms. Hyman would have
approved!
As an aside, I was strolling on Second Avenue here in New York the
other day, when I came upon someone with
their photographs displayed at a
stand on the sidewalk. I saw beautiful
black and white prints of various
people and I was immediately drawn to the
stand. And then, as
I approached, I was struck by this
stunning color photograph of a statuesque
lady in a black dress with a red coat and
red shoes and I recognized it as
one of the pictures on the website. I
spoke with Mr. Samey B. Williams and
told him that his pictures of her are
wonderful.
I even bought 2 prints of The Diva from
him and they are even more
lovely than they appear on the website!
Let's always keep The Lady's memory alive. As she continues to touch
us with her wonderful voice and the power
of her soul, let us continue to
reach out to her with our memories, our
loyalty, and our love!
Tracie Johnson
****************************************************************
From: Jthpkp
Subject: Re: The Starship Tour
I had to honor of attending the Starship Tour, featuring Norman
Connors, Angela Bofill, and Nathan
Eastman( not East) at a Jazz club
in Boston, MA called Scullers.
The Show was incredible.... Norman opened the show, with the Starship
Crew,
ended his set, but dedicating the show to
an forever member of
his STARSHIP, the unforgettable Phyllis
Hyman. He introduced Nathan
Eastman, as being a new member of the
Starship, and as being the former
keyboard player of Phyllis's. He said
some beautiful words of working and
about Phyllis, and dedicated his next two
numbers to her
(who he says is close in spirit to him).
He did a GREAT rendition of
Meet Me On The Moon. Then went into What
You Won't Do for Love,
(which he said the band had just learned
the night before). His voice
was a true compliment to Phyllis's music.
He ended his set with You
Are My Starship, and blew a kiss to
Phyllis in the air. EVERYONE in the
audience gave a breath taking applause,
and seem to feel Phyllis's
spirit as well as showing appreciation for
her music.
Nathan then introduced Angela Bofill, who said wonderful words of
"her friend", she dedicated her set to
Phyllis, and said she often hears
Phyllis' voice and feels her presence.....
She looked stunning in a purple
dress, accented with a Phyllis type hat.
Her voice truly exploded a version
of Betcha By Golly Wow, that I am sure
Phyllis would have applauded if she
were there..... She sang several of her
big songs which sounded
like a conversation to Phyllis...........
I believe Phyllis was there
spiritually enjoying the
tribute................ Anyone who has the
opportunity to see the Starship Tour, show
run out a buy tickets........ It
was phenomenal.....
Since being Friends with Michael from Toronto, I had called him the
night before and he had left a message
with Angela that myself and friends
would be there for the show( he does
promotion and writing
work for Angela)... Our name was left on
the guest list, we were invited
up to Angela' room, and had open hearted
conversation with her and
Nathan.,.. The both are truly wonderful
people.... The share our great
love for Phyllis..... They signed
autographs, and took pictures with us....
Angela told me she hopes to portray
Phyllis in a biography movie....
She has a burden that Phyllis did not know
how much she meant to Angela, and
she had never tried to convey her
feelings..... But knowing
and feeling Phyllis's spirit, Phyllis
appreciates her as a close friend..
She said if there were any way to bring
Phyllis back, she would.........
She shares a lot of good qualities that
Phyllis was known
for........Nathan expressed, how wonderful
it was working with Phyllis
for 4 years, and how friendly and sincere
she was..... He has a CD
coming out this year, but would not share
the tracks with us,( possibly
his rendition of Meet Me On the Moon),
that was his favorite to hear
Phyllis perform......
Phil Perry
*****************************************************************************
Well, that's it for this issue!
Before we sign off , I'd like to thank all the contributors to this
issue.
A special thank you should go to Nancy
Wilson who very promptly
replied to my e-mail. To Abiola Sinclair
for writing back to me. And
of course, Phil, S. Anthony, Blaine,
William, Tracie, Lee and Thomas
for sharing their thoughts with us.
Keep sending your reviews for the new CD Forever With You.
The Phyllis Hyman estate would like
everybody to know that the
"Forever With You" CD is the only official
new PH release. This
month, a CD called Phyllis Hyman
Remembered was released
on the Roadshow label. It is a collection
of demos that has been
released against the wishes of the estate.
The estate is concerned
that its release on the market at this
time might hurt the sales of
Forever With You. I think that we PH fans
are so hungry for PH
material that we will all end up buying
both and any other CDs
released in the future that feature
Phyllis' voice. If you have already
bought the "Remembered" CD, let us know
your impressions.
Finally, I would like you to know that October 26 is the second
anniversary of the PH Newsletter. On that
that day, it will be 2
years since I put together the first
issue. I never imagined at
that time that the newsletter will still
be around two years later
so I want to thank all of you for all the
support you have given
during that time.
Keep the e-mails coming and take care!
Walid
PHYLLIS HYMAN INTERNET NEWSLETTER # 18
NOVEMBER 4, 1998
Welcome to the 18th issue of FANZINE, the
Phyllis Hyman Newsletter.
October 26th marked our 2nd Anniversary, a
milestone when you consider
the fact that World Wide Web sites and
Internet publications come and go
with very little fanfare. But the PH
Newsletter is two years old. Two years
of keeping the torch burning. Two years of
understanding and believing in
the old adage, “If we don’t do it, no one
will.” Two years that included
doubts, fears, reservation and
trepidation; all resoundingly defeated by
the driving force behind this endeavor:
the Lady herself, Phyllis Hyman.
We knew that we could not fail by moving forward, no matter what the
future
held in store. As it turned out, we were
right - if we were good and we kept
our focus on Phyllis and The Music, our
audience would find
and appreciate us for what we are doing.
Once again we come to you with an issue cock full of memories and
dedications to Ms. Hyman. Thank you; thank
you so much for sharing
what surely must be sorrowful journeys
mixed in with the smiles. Walid and
I certainly understand because this labor
of love has taken us on a roller
coaster ride of emotion.
I’d like to touch upon a subject that I’m sure is on the minds of many
of
Phyllis’ fans. There is a release entitled
“Phyllis Hyman Remembered”
that is not sanctioned by the Estate. The
Estate has asked that we not
purchase this material, and I believe
there is a very valid reason for this
request. Like Walid and me, the Estate is
interested in protecting Phyllis’
professional integrity, because she can no
longer protect herself. Listen
to her music. Surely you must realize that
Phyllis was indeed a
perfectionist. She’d rehearse in a studio,
sometimes doing several
takes until she got it just right. Yes,
she had a powerful voice with
perfect pitch. But she also had a terrific
“ear.” She knew when it was
right! And she had gained enough stature
in the industry to allow her the
freedom to decide what material was good
enough for release.
We’ve all gotten back photos from processing that we swore would never
see the light of day, haven’t we? How
would you feel if someone found your
rejects and printed them publicly for the
world to see, just to make a buck?
If you truly love this Diva’s best work,
you must not support the
effort to rip her off. The excuse, “any
Phyllis is better than no Phyllis” is
no justification. This woman opened up
veins of emotion for us on stage and
in a recording studio, when she was
alive. She always gave us her best
effort, even while she was hurting inside.
She was, above all else, a pro; a
singer’s singer. Don’t ever let your need
to hear more of her, tempt you to
purchase her “rejects.” I ask you to trust
the judgment of Glenda Gracia,
as Phyllis’ best friend, manager and
executrix of the Hyman
estate. I ask you, on behalf of the PH
Newsletter, to hold fast your
memories and appreciation of a talent that
soared above and beyond the range
of lesser performers.
The word has apparently gotten out that there is a market for any
material
by Phyllis Hyman. The next thing we’ll
probably see is a 3-minute CD with
the sounds of Phyllis gargling mouthwash.
But we won’t buy it, will we?
We won’t let them defame and cheapen our
memory of Phyllis.
Please; please join Walid and me in our effort to promote and protect
the
excellence of Phyllis Hyman. She is
watching, you know; she is watching
us watch over her. It is in this way that
we remain connected.
Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone.
Richard Kenyada
Co-Editor
*******************************************************************************
Singer/Songwriter/Actor Douglas Edward Powell sang back-up vocals
in Phyllis' band in 1991. He is now
forming his own label EdenDust
Records on which his first solo album
"Just Listen" will be released
on December 14th. of this year. I asked
Douglas if he could write something
remembering Phyllis for the newsletter.
Here is what he wrote:
*******************************
I've never spoken publicly about my feelings for Phyllis. I find it
hardest to tell the truth of her pain and
remain respectful to her
memory. There are many of us who "know"
much about the private
life of Phyllis and all, like myself, feel
the need to honor her, even in
death. What I miss most (aside from the
incredible instrument) is her wicked
sense of humor! At her best, she was
funnier than any stand-up! But as you
well know, most humor is borne out of
pain. I wish I could
tell you of her generosity to others
without telling you of her equally
generous display of displeasure when
wronged or misunderstood...
alas, the paradox of the many emotions
that made Phyllis, ...PHYLLIS. Listen
to her music, Love the God-given voice
that truly comes along
"once in a lifetime", Let her touch you as
only she can and smile for
being "touched" by God, the giver of that
talent. My two favorite songs
of the entire catalogue are, "But, I Love
You" and "The Answer, Boy, is
You". (A close second is "No One Can Love
You More Than I Do").
Phyllis was notorious for forgetting lyrics and would often put us (her
back-up singers) through the ringer to
throw her lost lines in the
middle of performances, never missing a
beat with the audience
being none the wiser! That's the Phyllis I
grew to love and long to see
and hear, again. Once, in a performance in
Long Beach, CA...we had a very
difficult show. Sometimes there was so
much drama going on off stage, that
we weren't always sure that she would make
an appearance.
I remember praying in the wings with Kirk
Whalum that somehow, someway, the
storm would pass and we would give the
people the
show that they anticipated....At that
time, we did a tribute to Sarah
Vaughn, opening with "Old Black Magic" and
ending with "Body and
Soul". For weeks, Phyllis had refused to
learn the lyric to B & S, and
was still depending on us to help her
through the song when the lyric sheets
would inevitably blow off stage! With the
tension before the
show, we didn't even have time to create a
set list, so we were on stage
winging it! (Quite well, I might add!!) It
came time for the Vaughn medley
and in the mood she had been in, we knew
this wasn't going to be one
of her "better performances". But, Never
Count Phyllis Out! Not only did
she sing every note and nuance, she sang
the lyric like she had never before
and I remember how I cried that night on
stage, marveling at the genius of
Phyllis that under duress, she was often
better than most in perfect conditions!
My friend is gone now, her music is still with me and her laughter
reverberates in my spirit. I miss her
terribly as do us all. Just the
other night, I spoke with Dexter Wansel
and we shared some private
memories of Phyllis. It's still too
painful at times to think that no
new music will ever exist...but that's not
totally true. For years to
come, Phyllis' voice will stand as the
standard of excellence and that
makes everything she ever touched, "new".
Thank you for loving her as
you do and giving her such a fitting
tribute....she would have been
honored. Believe that.
I am, Douglas Edward Powell.
Union City, New Jersey
Music for the Soul. Amen.
*****************************************************************************
Smooth Jazz/R&B vocalist Khani Cole's
second CD "Places" was
released this summer and it went into the
Jazz charts. Phyllis Hyman
is one of her influences and currently,
Khani performs 2 PH songs
in her live show. When I found her
official website at
| 