"I wish Phyllis knew how many women
admired her. I think she is beautiful.
I still look at all her album covers.
I look in her eyes
to see if I can see the pain..."
-Sherita Martin

Hello again, friends. It is with great joy that Walid and I

welcome you aboard the 21st issue of FANZINE, the Phyllis

Hyman Newsletter. The joy, of course, is based in the

celebration of Phyllis’ 50th Birthday. Our Diva would have

been a half-century old on July 6th. Like you, I plan

to be calling my local radio stations  jazz, pop, r&b and

oldies  to make sure they recognize Phyllis’ work on this

important day.

Also like you, I cannot help but wonder where Phyllis Hyman

would be today had she lived to see her 50th birthday.

There are so many questions; so many what-ifs. For example,

by now would she have been given her due recognition as one

of the truly great voices in recording history? 

How would she have coped with her depression, and having

dealt with it, would she have then sought to help others?

Musically, would she have worked with Babyface, or sang a

duets with the likes of Will Downing. Perhaps an

inspirational  album would have been recorded (as if her

life itself was not inspiration enough).

Would she finally be held in reverence; doing the

honor-circuit dates at hallowed venues like The White House

or the Lincoln Center? Perhaps the future held a Grammy or

an Academy Award for singing the title song of a Hollywood

blockbuster.

Would Phyllis have found more work in films, playing strong

matriarchs. Or, with her wonderful sense of humor and

splendid sense of timing, would she have starred in her own

sitcom?

One thing is certain, our Diva would have remained the

standard by which all other balladeers are measured. And

she would have continued to accompany the rising stars of

the jazz idiom.

In recent years, we have lost Ella, Sarah and Carmen. If

Phyllis were here, she’d no doubt be standing toe-to-toe

with the reigning royalty of song as the elder stateswoman

of popular, jazz and rhythm & blues music.

At 50 Phyllis would not have to be concerned about hit

records, not that she ever was.  She would still fill the

large venues and intimate clubs because her kind of talent

is terribly lacking in today’s fast food entertainers: Here

today, gone ….today.

For this issue, we have included the touching tributes and

memories that you have become accustomed to from FANZINE.

Larry Atello, leader of the rock band Atello, shares his

memories of his friend and the special song he has recorded

in her honor.  S. Anthony brings a heartfelt tribute to the

subliminal music heard during childhood, and tells how it

found its own level as a permanent life-long impression.

Our friend Tom Conroy checks in with a great idea for how

to honor Phyllis by contributing to a local mental health

clinic. Great suggestion, Tom!  A fan in UK, David Turner,

shares with us his special memories and lets us know that,

in his work as a DJ, he is doing his part to keep Ms.

Hyman’s music in the forefront. Gino Monsieur of Belgium

also shares his joy at the discovery of The Lady and

her music.

Then we have Lynn Smith, who passes on her rave review of

David Nathan’s new book, “The Soulful Divas,” which

includes a very special chapter on Phyllis. I, too, love

this book and will be commenting further in a future issue

of this newsletter. In the meantime, rush out and buy it!

(Trust me on this).  Lynn also steps forward in defense of

Phyllis, with regard to her illness and the struggle

she endured. Bravo, Lynn, Bravo!

Byron Malik Wilkerson focuses our attention on a wonderful

poem by Nikki Finney, which was originally published in the

September 1995 issue of Essence Magazine, just a few months

after Ms. Hyman’s death.

Scott Toschlog shares a slice of record producer Ron

Dante’s memories of working with Phyllis on her second

album with Barry Manilow. Sandy McDowell offers a special

note of thanks for the PH Newsletter. Tracie Jay and

Darrell both join in with the praise. I’m sure Walid would

join me in expressing our thanks to Scott, Tracie and

Darrell …as well as everyone of you for being a part of

this ongoing tribute …. particularly on this, the 50th

anniversary of Phyllis Hyman’s birth.

Even with all the speculation, the truth is that we will

never know all that she might have become, given time.  But

that’s all right, we do know all that she was, through

all that she gave us and all that she left us. And as a

result, Phyllis Hyman lives on in our hearts. She sings

endless love songs, conjuring majestic and magical

memories  worn and warm, like a comfortably familiar

chenille robe  …. or the love of an old friend.  Phyllis

left a light with us. And the same light that exposes our

tears is the one she sometimes used to make funny

finger-shadowed puppets against our memory’s wall. No

surprise there; for that is what Love is all about  the

inter-dispersion of smiles and tears.  And much like the

eternal light, Phyllis’ Love is an everlasting, indelible

spirit, lingering just beyond the last chord, of the last

refrain. Just as it comforts us in the sorrow for our loss,

it cheerfully joins in our party to celebrate the Life

honored. A life as rich and raucous, as it was short-lived

and, at times, tragic.

So light the candles, pop the cork, savor this moment and

be thankful that “somewhere in our lifetime” she was here

with us.

Happy 50th Birthday, Phyllis.                  

We Love You.

Richard Kenyada, Co-Editor

Mr. Kenyada's Neighborhood

www.kenyada.com

**********************************************************

Singer Larry Atello was a friend of Phyllis.

His band Atello recently released their debut album "The

Big Payoff" which includes a song called "Hold On" that he

wrote as a dedication to her.

Larry included the lyrics to Hold On in his article for

the newsletter (see below).

                  *********************

 

I think that if I got into a detailed description of my

friendship with Phyllis Hyman, I'd probably be at this

computer for a long, long time. I'm going to do my best to

paint a complete, yet concise portrait of someone who

I loved & miss dearly.

I first met Phyllis at The Blue Note in NY in 1986....right

about the time of the "Living All Alone" album. I was

working at a major music retailer at the time & played the

cassette over & over EVERY DAY! When I saw she was playing

locally, I booked a reservation for two nights (knowing I

would love the show!). On the second night, when she came

down to start the show, she leaned over & whispered in my

ear "Nice to see you again, young man..." Well...needless

to say, from that point on I was HOOKED! Every night, no

matter what venue in NYC I was there! Particularly at The

Blue Note...table seven was called (even by Phyllis

herself), Larry's table. I finally got up the nerve to ask

to speak to her privately one night after the show about

running a fan club for her. I was invited to her apartment

in Philadelphia to iron out the details. At one point,

Phyllis asked me if I wanted to hear a demo of a song that

was going to be on her upcoming album. I naturally

said yes & listened to Phyllis sing along with herself to a

tape of "Whatever Happened To Our Love"....... I was a mess

by the end of it! As a singer myself, what she did with her

voice blew me away....but to have a private audience was

another thing altogether!

Okay...fast forward....we're friends now. Weekly phone

calls.....comps for shows ( I still went to all the shows

with or without a comp). I was in a band that was playing

The Village Gate in NY one night & asked Phyllis if

she would like to come. Much to my surprise she said YES!

(Keep in mind, I'm a singer in a rock band...totally

different genre). Well...when I hit the stage (the same

stage that Phyllis had stood on once for an engagement of

her own) to perform that night I felt 10 feet tall! Phyllis

was ALWAYS very supportive of up & coming talent & never

made you feel like you were beneath her in any way. Years

went on...we always stayed in touch. I took her to The Blue

Note to see a few shows (you can imagine how I felt walking

in with Phyllis Hyman on my arm!!!!), we always got

together for our birthdays...went out together etc.

Okay, now the hard part: in May of 1995 I gave Phyllis a

call to see how she was doing. She was very terse with me &

said "Hold On" & went to answer another call. As I was

holding on (for a long time) I thought to myself that the

past few times that I spoke to her she didn't seem like

herself. At the 15 minute mark I hung up the phone

annoyed....saying to myself that I would call her later in

the week to see what was up. I took off for a Jamaican

vacation & came home on June 30th & turned on the news only

to find that my good friend, my idol & pretty much a woman

who meant so much to so many had ended her life. I attended

the Memorial Service (due to a communication problem I

didn't get the details of the funeral)..and tried to deal

with my grief. The only thing that seemed to help me deal

with her suicide was writing down my feelings...which

became the song "Hold On". Each time I sing it I can see

Phyllis.....

"HOLD ON"

I've heard it said "when you feel good don't"

And when you think that it will it won't

I never thought it would happen to me 'til you vacated my

life so suddenly

After the years of just us two, solitude has taken the

place of you

You left a void so deep in my soul........the anger chokes

me so that I'm losing hold

Where did it all go wrong? Why did you leave me alone?

Hold on were the words that she said

But I couldn't hear what was inside her head

Hold on it seemed so easy to do

Tell me how could not holding on break us in two?

Pieces of dreams go floating by

As I try to understand the "hows" & the "why's"

Your strength was what had drawn me to you

Too bad you couldn't see a reflection of you

You taught me how to be strong...It's for you that I sing

this song

Hold on were the words that she said

But I couldn't hear what was inside her head

Hold on it seemed so easy to do

Tell me how could not holding on break us in two?

How could it break us in two?

Hold on! Hold on!

You taught me how to be strong

Why did you leave me alone?

Hold on were the words that she said

But I couldn't hear what was inside her head

Hold on it seemed so easy to do

Tell me how could not holding on break us in two?

How could it break us in two??

(fade out with whistle............)

**********************************************************

From: Dishmi9194

Greetings to the organizers of the PH Newsletter, and also

to all the fans...

I have not contributed in a while, so I would like to take

the time and share this with you because I know that every

memory we have of her, whether it be a close encounter, a

concert experience, or just the emotional surge of a song

truly keeps her in our hearts and on our minds.

Now has just begun that time of year that occurs between

winter and summer, and along with it brings to my mind

distant memories of a woman named Phyllis Hyman that only a

young girl could have identified with...

It was a scornfully hot afternoon in 1991, and I remember

walking with my mother trying to scope out some good deals

at a local outdoor market. We had come across a record

stand and I witnessed my mother rummaging through the

stack, picking up a few favorites here and there. She was

on the "grown folk" side of the stand and I was on the

"can't understand what they're saying" side. We paid for

the music and I remember asking to look through her

selections. I recognized some of the performers, but not

one woman in particular. This woman, of course, was Phyllis

Hyman. Her "Prime of My Life" album had just been released

and I recognized it as being one of the first and only

Hyman albums my mother ever owned at that time. Being only

twelve years old, I often tagged along with my mother when

she felt like "running the streets" on any given weekend. I

became well acquainted with Ms. Hyman's music quickly due

to the fact that the cassette was never changed out. The

only other "grown folk" album I can recall listening to

was Stevie Wonder's " Characters" album. That album was and

still is our "traveling out of town" album...

Four years had already passed and I was now sixteen years

old. Phyllis had not come out with anything new and for the

past few years we had been still listening on and off to

her last recording. As the summer of 1995 came stomping in,

and no sign of Phyllis' long awaited album, it seemed as

though a new passion for "Prime of My Life" arose. That

tape was constantly in the tape deck as if it was still a

fresh recording. The only thing that I can testify to is

re-listening over and over to that undeniable voice's

message. Now that I was older and could comprehend much of

the meanings, I remember how we often commented on Phyllis'

music sounding so sad and distant. I hadn't heard any other

recordings, so I wasn't sure if all her music had the same

undertones. During that time, I heavily recall Ms. Hyman

and that tape suddenly standing out like a sore thumb for

three straight weeks... 

It was June 30th, and I remember talking on the phone with

my best friend and watching some music videos on BET. The

next thing I remember is seeing Ed Gordon announce that

"Phyllis Hyman, an R&B/Jazz singer who was to appear at the

Apollo Theater that night was dead at the age of 45." I ran

and told the news to my mother who looked surprised, but

not in shock. The news was truly a heartbreak, but I don't

think it was a total shock because we had been recently

engrossed in her music on a continual basis again and often

felt her sadness all over again. It was too ironic that we

were suddenly heeding the call and feeling the pain of a

woman who's single album was our only familiarity, and

suddenly, as quickly as she reappeared in our minds she

disappeared from our lives. 

Needless to say, I became an avid fan who vowed to herself

that in her memory I would gather some more of her

recordings. My first encounter was her "Legacy" album. Even

though very few titles looked familiar to me, I decided to

buy the album. As I listened, I discovered that many of

these songs I had heard somewhere in my lifetime. I'm

guessing because she was never too "hyped up" that the

music slipped my mind, but I certainly had heard her music

in my younger years. It was a total shock to hear Ms. Hyman

"gettin' down" on some of those tracks. From that point on,

I have become a bigger fan than I expected to be and I try

to hip as many of my friends on to her music as possible. I

do wish that I could sit back and recall memories of seeing

her perform live at such and such a place, but as you can

see that was not possible. I am grateful, however, to read

about those treasurable memories from others. God Bless.

S. Anthony

P.S.

I've often read about singers holding tributes to the late

Ms. Hyman, but I have yet to witness one in my Fort

Lauderdale/ Miami area. I would like to see an event take

place down here too because I'm sure she still has plenty

of fans down south.

*********************************************************

 

From: TOM CONROY

Hello Walid, Richard, and Phyllis fans everywhere...

    Can it be yet another year when we mourn the passing of

Phyllis, then a week later celebrate her birthday?  I found

myself wondering how I could honor her life and the gift of

music that she gave to me. Last year I kicked back

alone (had to be alone) on the patio with a bottle of wine

and that voice lifting me to that 'Phyllis' place,where all

is sweet and passionate and warm.  And for a few hours

under a darkening sky I revisited all the concerts where I

fell so hard for this tall, stunning woman with that

VOICE... the voice that my wife and I danced to, sang with,

made love to, the voice with whom we spent our youth. When

the last song was winding down on the CD player and I had

just a little wine left, I raised the glass to the stars

and thought, "Damn, Phyllis, here you go, again...another

memory for you and me..."

    I'll probably do the same this year, me, Phyllis, and a

good wine. But I've decided to do something else too.  I'm

going to send a check to a local mental health clinic in

Phyllis' name, to help those who battle depression. I'm

going to join the fight against this disease that stole her

from us, that silenced that voice from future concerts that

my wife and I and all of us should have enjoyed into our

golden years.

We all know someone who suffers from it, Phyllis was one of

many.  And after reading Vincent Wolfe's account of what

she was really like, I think she'll be pleased.  You might

think of doing the same, my check cannot be large with lots

of zeros, but it will pass on lots of love and gratitude in

the memory of one incredible woman.

    I hope we hear from Glenda Gracia soon with good news

on the Phyllis Projects, and as I told Walid earlier, there

is a new Norman Connors CD, "Melancholy Fire", (a best-of)

with an unreleased duet of Phyllis and Norman.  And I wrote

Arista Records and let them know about US and asked for

release of her Arista albums and they wrote back to let me

know that Phyllis' Arista music will be on a release this

July, the "Arista Master Hits" series.  Let's hope it's her

un-released stuff!  They were not very clear, I think it

will be a compilation disc.  Buy those CDS up, kiddies, so

those companies are encouraged to give us MORE!

    I love the new photo pages and the chat room, Walid!

I'm really proud of how you have nurtured this into the

great site it has become. Good job from you and Richard, we

appreciate it deeply.

    I hope this finds all of you and yours well.  Till next time...

           

Peace,

Tom

**********************************************************

From: David Turner

Hi Walid,

Thanks for the great news letter and keep up the good work,

I will pass the word within the soul fraternity here in the

UK.

I had the privilege of seeing Phyllis not only perform here

in the UK at our legendary Southport Soul Weekender to a

packed out audience, but along with my good friend and soul

partner Mike we were privileged to actually sit in during

her rehearsals before the gig.

Apart from the sound and light crew Mike & I were the only

ones present and what a special time that was, the most

treasured moment in my musical lifetime!

Phyllis was kind enough to give us both signed photos and

Mike had the forethought to take along all his Phyllis

albums (the full set by the way) Phyllis signed them all

with love.

I first heard Phyllis sing "Betcha By Golly Wow" on the

Norman Connors album "You Are My Starship" in 1976 courtesy

of Mike who is not a soul music fan but a fanatic of may

years standing, since that time I have collected most of

her albums and singles.

What makes Phyllis special to me is hard to put into words

but I can personally say that she has a gifted voice and a

presence like no other I have seen, and to me Phyllis is

one of the best female vocalists of all time.

Just one listen to the likes of " Baby (I'm Gonna Love

You)" or "Loving You -  Losing You" and I was hooked, then

being blessed with the Arista sound for several years, the

music will stay with me for all time.

As a DJ for almost twenty five years you can imagine the

part that Phyllis has played in my music sets, I think that

when Phyllis released the "You Know How To Love Me Track"

here in the UK everybody and their Auntie was dancing to

this and it was the turning point in the UK for Phyllis.

I still turn the wheels of steel occasionally at specialist

Soul Nights and one thing for sure there will always be a

Phyllis Hyman track in the set somewhere.

By 4 Now

Dave Turner (UK Fan).

*********************************************************

 

From: Gino Monsieur

Subject: Phyllis Hyman...I missed something in my life

Hi,

My name is Gino. I live in Belgium. So, if my language

isn't always correct, please forgive me.

I'm 38 years old and a great, great lover of soul music in

general and what I like the most is 'Philly Soul' (PIR). My

all time favorite group is "The Three Degrees". Yes, this

trio, once truly top group of the record-label, is still in

the run; so great for me.

Because I live in Belgium, I never heard here about

Phyllis. But because I have the Internet, I try a lot of

music and what happened: I discovered this great artist. I

REALLY FELL IN LOVE. What a beautiful voice and the

appearance. What I didn't know is that she's dead. I'm sad

about that. I wanted to have all her recordings. So I'm

very busy buying them and searching for them. On one of the

cd's I saw your webpage. So here am I. I can say that this

lady is far above all the others in my collection (I own

about 600 cd's) and I love a lot of other great diva's such

as Deniece Williams,Anita Baker, Donna Summer, Aretha

Franklin, and many, many others but this lady

whaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwww you see I'm in love(again). So

I'll hope to find interesting things about her. She's such

a fantastic lady and I want to collect every piece of

music. It's a big gap in my world of music.

Bye and I hope to hear from you !

Gino Monsieur

Belgium

**********************************************************

 

Most of you know who Vincent Wolfe is from the wonderful

article he wrote about Phyllis in the newsletter a few

months ago. Finally, Vincent's debut CD has been released!

The CD includes a tribute to Phyllis, his own version of

her song "You Just Don't Know" along with several well

known Jazz standards. Here is the press release announcing

the release of the CD:

Vincent Wolfe debut CD release, TRUST THE VIBE, is now

available from Counterpoint Records (Catalogue # CPR-013).

On TRUST THE VIBE, Vincent covers a range of musical bases

with an inspired array of covers, standards and originals,

accompanied by two of today's top jazz-based players: Sean

Bray (guitar) and George Koller (acoustic bass).

Also guesting on the CD is saxophone legend Pat LaBarbera

on 2 of the tracks. The album is co-produced by Bray &

Koller for Bray's own Counterpoint Records label. It's a

collection of richly modulated performances that showcase

Wolfe's warm, charismatic vocals.It's an eclectic, acoustic

blend of jazz, pop and soul, with tunes like Curtis

Mayfield's PEOPLE GET READY, Leon Russell's A SONG FOR YOU,

John Hiatt's LOVER'S WILL, Robbie Nevil's HERE I GO AGAIN,

the Bacharach/David classic THE LOOK OF LOVE and Vincent's

tribute to Phyllis Hyman, a new version of YOU JUST DON'T

KNOW! Also on the CD are updated versions of the standards

GOD BLESS THE CHILD, EVERYTHING HAPPENS TO ME, I FALL IN

LOVE TOO EASILY, MAIS QUE NADA and one of Wolfe's own

compositions ALMOST YOU. Wolfe dedicates the project to the

memory of Phyllis.

***********************************************************

From: lynn smith

Hi Walid,

I just had to e-mail regarding the book "Soulful

Divas",there is a chapter in the book on our favorite

lady,PH. Let me tell you this is truly some very, very

informative reading on PH.  It is basically a sort of a

short biography  & at times it gets into some pretty frank

details & I do mean some pretty frank details that PH

herself had stated. I enjoyed reading this information on

her of course because it again gave me some more insight

into the lady herself as well as the singer. Phyllis as we

all know was a talented lady & she was a smart business

lady also. I just wish like others that she could still be

here to share all the love that we all still have for

her. So I am telling everyone that is a PH fan to buy the

book "Soulful Divas". I know you will enjoy the chapter on

PH.

There are a lot of other talented ladies in there also but

I have not had an opportunity to read those chapters yet

but I will. But I must confess I really bought the

book strictly because of PH . I am not going to give any

specific details so that when you read the book you can

fully enjoy reading it as much as I did. Also before I go I

would also like to make mention of something I read on the

Internet concerning ph'illness(bi-polar) or as most of us

know  it as depression. According to someone that wrote

this information,Phyllis was taking prozac(hopefully I

spelled it right) but according to the person who wrote

this,this medication made her gain a lot of weight.As a

matter of fact the article said she went up to 230

pounds!!!! Obviously that upset phyllis as it would anyone

so she stopped taking the medication. I just wanted to

relay this information & share it with everyone so that it

will be known that phyllis did try.But just like all of us

when it seems like you do the best you can & to you it

appears you have tried everything, this can tragically

sometimes lead to something as drastic as what Phyllis did.

All i am saying is that don't be so quick to judge someone

else until you have experienced the same thing or as the

old saying goes "walk a mile in my shoes" then you can

advise me. I will always admire & love Phyllis, & the more

I learn about her, it just increases the love I have for

her even more.She will always be one of the most talented

people that I have encountered in my lifetime.Well that's

it for now. I enjoyed the last newsletter greatly & will be

looking forward to the next one, & remember you & Richard

keep up the good work. I really & truly love you guys for

what you are doing & I really mean it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See ya next time & take care.

lynn smith  

*********************************************************

 

From: Scott Toschlog

Subject: Ron Dante

Hi Walid,

I asked Ron Dante (lead singer of the 60's cartoon band,

The Archies, who produced music on Phyllis' second album

with Barry Manilow) what it was like to work with Phyllis

and thought you and the newsletter readers might like to

read the response:

"Phyllis Hyman was easy to produce. I remember her coming

to the studio with her then boyfriend and sometimes

producer [Larry Alexander] who kind of hovered over her. He

watched our every move trying to get some tips on making

good records I think. Phyllis was very charming and a

piece of cake to direct. She wanted to sing "Somewhere In

My Lifetime" a little bigger than Barry and I wanted her to

but she went along with us and sang a beautiful vocal that

day. I remember thinking that if she continued to sing

these kind of songs she would be a huge pop star but

she didn't go in that direction. She never ever got bored

that day working with Manilow and myself. She seemed to be

very up and very happy with the session."

A little different from the image we often hear about of

Phyllis hating recording. Also, the sound on that song is

so big, I can't imagine her doing it "bigger", can you?

Scott

**********************************************************

From: Catiosca

Subject: The Most Beautiful Newsletter I have ever read.

Never have I ever heard so many beautiful things in all my

life. But its a wonderful thing to know that so many have

not forgotten Phyllis Hyman. Beautiful, Statuesque,

Sophisticated, like calming waves in the ocean after a

storm within all of us Phyllis Hyman. Always Phyllis Hyman,

she knew how to touch all our hearts in a way that no other

singer has been able to do. She could interpret our

feelings in all her songs. Why? Why? did she have to go

away and leave us. We loved/love her still. I want to

thank you so much for everything. Its wonderful to know

that so many still remember and miss her so much. In her

songs she would take you to a place that you haven't been

to in over 25 years remembering how you met your first

love, how you felt deep inside your being, what was going

on at the time, those wonderful feelings that put wings

within your heart allowing you to explore those romantic

feelings that you thought were gone. Reminiscing always

reminiscing and  can put your relationship back on track

where it should be. I am a romantic and so I know and can

tell you about such things. Again thank you sooooooo much

for everything on behalf of Sandy McDowell in NJ aka

Catiosca God Bless You now and always and may he

also keep you out of harms way.

***********************************************************

 

From: BYRON MALIK WILKERSON

Subject: POEM

MAY 11, 1999

Walid, I was wondering if you have heard of a poem that was

published in the September 1995 issue of ESSENCE on our

beloved diva, Phyllis Hyman.  The poem was done by Nikki

Finney and I would like to include that if I could.

For Phyllis

Phyllis Hyman 1949-1995

REMEMBERING

Whenever I played Phyllis I knew it wouldn't be some simple

jingle sing-along I knew water was about to break knew I

was about to feel some phantom of love pain shoot back

through me that would make me a willful rider on her quiet

storm Oh Yes I would be led to the river i could hear the

sensual baptism coming

No such thing as playing accidentally I could never reach

for her starship voice without remembering how she had this

way of melting my resolve into a pool of some old sweet

reckoning for something or someone no good for me

but that I wanted anyway at least until her final note had

slowdragged all through my throat

I only played phyllis when I was still in it or wanted to

feel it undiluted and spoken melancholy plain as only a

six-foot two-inch Pittsburgh diva could Oh I knew I had to

get back to my strong self eventually

But there were these sometimes when I wanted to dunk myself

down one final time that's when I reach for Phyllis and

together we would Hymanize about the friendship slipping

away or the sweet swayback of the lover leaving kicking up

a code blue dust of broken promises in my heart one last

time

Phyllis took me back with no guilt or shame I would fumble

for the knob grip my fingers around the steering wheel

stare through the speaker in search of her piercing eyes

and lift to her dark swirling octave currents wondering how

she could read all my broken hearts from there

Phyllis and I would talk back to each other I'd start

looking for my tissue while touching up volume

If it was her symphonic mouth reeling in tight of emotion

then I was gonna feel it without a chaser and the raw pure

notes she sang straight of my most private self were gonna

sting

Phyllis was the black woman's mass choir voice of her

albums started coming in the days before warning labels

when we didn't want or need to be warned not with her kind

of singing please sneak up on me again we begged memories

through the trembling curvacious sweep of her voice that

chased the spirit in us all around the village of our

loneliness was singing when she Hymanized

WE thought her sweet voice microphoned the lonely out

leaving it there onstage but really she was taking it back

home

There are too many reasons why black women sit in the dark

with secrets without old friends and disappear into their

privacies too many black women who sing about the haunted

who relish the sky and bet their last breath on all things

celestial

At our dusk dark day tomorrow look outside see if you see

this black woman tell her by her lips tell her by her

down-home ways dangerously strolling in the middle of the

street singing her honest mind prophesying through her

lyrics telling us her sadness is still for sale if you see

her before I do if you get to her before I can somebody

take it off her hands this time

You will know when you see her by now she should be

gospelizing on the road with Bessie and Miss Sarah

Billie's got her arm now in Chicago out on Daufuskie Island

Nana Peazant is helping her carry her things into the guest

house Time to rest singing woman

 

Best Regards,

Byron

***********************************************************

From: TRACIE JAY

Let me add my thanks to Vincent Wolfe for his article on

The Lady.  His love for her shone through, even as he told

about her later dark days.  She was truly a tortured soul

-- especially the last few years.  How ironic that The

Powers That Be can give us immense talent on one hand and

immense insecurity on the other.

Anyhow, thank you once again for providing much desired

insight about this breathtakingly beautiful and talented

lady that we all still miss so much!!!   

And thank you for the newsletter!!

**********************************************************

 

From: DA4806

Wow! I haven't been on AOL in quite a while and I was

delighted to find the PH newsletter. I, like you I am sure,

cannot explain the connection and bond that I have with

Phyllis. The idea of an event to celebrate her 50th

birthday sounds exciting. Please keep me posted on any and

all developments.

Cheers!

Darrell

***********************************************************

That's all we have for this issue.

I would like to thank Larry Atello for sharing with us

his memories of Phyllis. Also, S. Anthony, Tom, Dave, Gino,

Lynn, Scott, Sandy, Byron, Tracie and Darrell for your

contributions!

Last year, reader Ian Wonnacott in the UK suggested the

idea of holding a 50th. Birthday celebration for Phyllis

in Pittsburgh where readers of the newsletter and other

PH fans could get together. As a result, I got many

e-mails from other readers endorsing the idea.

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like anything of the sort

has been organized. However, I just received an e-mail from

Glenda Gracia, PH's manager, in which she wrote:

>I've been reviewing the fans desire to promote and

>remember Phyllis in some special way for her 50th birthday

>this year.  Although there are some great plans in

>development for the promotion of her Legacy, none of them

>will debut in time for her 50th Birthday...

>However, I have been able to develop a NATIONAL RADIO

>TRIBUTE to her that will occur from July 1 to July 7

>throughout the United States.  It's going to be very cool.

>Within the next week or so, I should be able to confirm

>the stations in each of the major markets that have signed

>on to honor her and wish her a great celebration for her

>birthday week.

>Please tell everyone I send my love and that I am always

>grateful for the continued love and support of Phyllis!

Glenda's radio tribute to Phyllis sounds great ! I will

inform you of any details as soon as I get them from her.

Finally, I want to thank the 132 people who replied to

my e-mail of June 4 letting me know that they received

it ok. The response to the new photos in the gallery

was very good. As soon as I find more pictures, I will

update the gallery.

I will now sign off. I welcome your e-mails, be they

posts about Phyllis or any comments/questions.

Happy 50th. Birthday , Phyllis!!!!!!

Walid

---

Hello again, friends. Walid and I are happy to welcome

you to the 22nd issue of FANZINE, the Phyllis Hyman

Newsletter. Some of you may have wondered where we were,

but we’re still here. The great thing about this

newsletter is that we publish when we have something to

say, and that “something” is heavily dependent upon your

responses. That is what has allowed this newsletter

remain focused and relevant to the celebration of Phyllis

Hyman’s life.

From the very beginning, we have sought to provide a

platform for Phyllis’ fans to share their memories and

information. It’s no surprise that during the summer your

responses slacken off a little. All of us are out and

about taking vacations, three-day weekends, celebrating

etc. doing what most folks do in their quest to cram

every minute of fun possible into the longer daylight

hours. And then ….partying well into the night :^) We

think Phyllis, of all people, would understand.

As we all wind down towards the end of summer, this

month’s FANZINE brings us more special recollections and

tributes to Ms. Hyman. Gitau Githinji and Arnetta Scott

have both shared wonderful in-depth memories of how

Phyllis’ music changed their lives. New friends like

Lizan Pendergrass, PW Green and Paula Johnson have

expressed their feelings about her music that, though

unique in every respect, are profoundly universal in

this forum. Jerome Spears, “The Fight Doctor,” shares

with us his heartfelt dedication to our Diva with his

song, “Rest in Peace (Phyllis Hyman Tribute).” And Tracie

Jay checks in with some thoughts triggered by David

Nathan's hot new book,"The Soulful Divas."

While reviewing this issue, it suddenly dawned on me how

sensational it would be to compile a book of the memories

of Phyllis Hyman’s fans that would include rare photos

from family and friends. In twenty-two issues, spanning

nearly three years, certainly we have touched many hearts

and tasted many tears on the edges of our smiles. Maybe

Phyllis’ Manager, Glenda Gracia could look into the

possibility of such a venture.

We’ve heard from the professionals who knew her behind

the scenes. They’ve analyzed and dissected each and every

moment offstage. We know that Phyllis was at times

unhappy and lonely. Aren’t we all,at times? We know that

she struggled with inner conflicts and fought demons of

depression at times. There were layers upon layers of

happiness/sadness before the lights went on, before the

tape started rolling. But what about those of us who were

seated at our cocktail tables, or at the concert? We saw

the Phyllis Hyman we came to see, and she touched us

someplace beyond The Lyric and The Melody. She was so much

more than The Song, as evidenced by the fact that no one

has yet been able to sing her songs as well. She brought

something to those recording studios that no one has ever

been able to duplicate with the same feeling or presence.

A singer? Phyllis was a painter of song; an artist -

somewhere between van Gogh and Picasso who set her own

standards. She did not follow the route of a Talent

treasure map. She’s the original who hid the treasure

that all the divas-for-the-moment are trying to find.

Let this book record our experiences with Phyllis Hyman

from the other side of the microphone and the stereo

speakers. Let it end forever the sad cerebral portrait of

Phyllis’s death, done in gray-stroked muted tones.

Replaced instead by a celebration of her life, in brash

red-violet, feathery boas and broad seismic-thunder

laughter. Maybe such a book will go so far as to suggest

that her life was not tragic, but triumphant. It did not

end on a whimper, but a chuckle without any backward

glances of regret.

Such a book, while paying tribute to a truly gifted

woman, would at the same time allow her the same foibles

and digressions that make us all delightfully human. If

her voice did nothing else, it made us listen …beyond

the music. And once having listened, some of us

understood.

Sometimes it’s just that basic.

Richard Kenyada, Co-Editor

Mr. Kenyada’s Neighborhood

www.kenyada.com

*********************************************************

 

From: Gitau Githinji

I only discovered this newsletter a couple of months ago

while surfing the Net. Many thanks Walid and Richard for

the marvelous job you are doing of allowing genuine fans

of the incomparable Phyllis Hyman to reminisce about

her and communicate with each other.

Like many youngsters growing up in Nairobi in the

seventies and eighties, while in my teens I held a

fascination for American music and American musicians.

 

I maintained a subscription to an American magazine

called Right On! which often introduced me to the names

and faces of people for whom I would subsequently acquire

a fondness (by listening to their music or seeing them on

the screen). This was how I came to know about Phyllis

Hyman. I forget the exact date of the particular issue of

the magazine but it would have been round about 1982 or

1983. Little was said in the article save that Phyllis

Hyman was very tall and had a powerfully seductive voice.

Accompanying the brief article was a lovely full page

color photograph of Phyllis in a hat which I cut out and

stuck to my bedroom wall.

Not long after that, I learned that my friend and

schoolmate, Alan, had some Phyllis Hyman music. He

compiled a tape for me which included “Loving You Losing

You”, a true gem of a track. Phyllis’ entry after that

long musical introduction always causes the hairs on the

back of my neck to rise. A few years later, I acquired a

copy of “Living All Alone”. It was this album that

confirmed me as a diehard Phyllis Hyman devotee. This,

probably her greatest, was also the album which

reinforced my belief that she ranks among the century’s

all time greatest female vocalists.

Alan and I became sort of closet Phyllis Hyman fans.

Knowing and enjoying her music put us in a different

class from everybody else ­ especially as hardly anyone

we knew in Nairobi had ever even heard of the name

Phyllis Hyman.

Later, while Alan and I both lived and worked in England,

we each acquired a small collection of Phyllis Hyman CDs.

By then we had each earned ourselves a reputation as

ardent collectors of black music. We often found that

people would ask us to record compilation tapes for them

to play in their cars. I would often include the odd

Phyllis Hyman track in these compilations and

deliberately fail to list the song or the name of the

artist and then wait for the reaction. If the recipient

of the tape came back and asked whose amazing voice was

featured on, say, “When I Give My Love This Time,” he or

she would be inducted into the informal Phyllis Hyman

appreciation club. Alan would often do the same thing and

we both thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a great way of

getting new girlfriends! Many of the readers of this

newsletter will, I am certain, attest to the fact that

there is nothing comparable to seducing a lady with the

sultry sound of Phyllis filling the room. This “informal”

fan club set us apart from everybody else: we were

special - we knew about Phyllis Hyman and the rest of the

world didn’t. It gave one something of a warm feeling, a

sense of exclusivity. This would not have been possible

with a big name like Aretha Franklin.

While I lived in London, Alan lived in Birmingham. He

would sometimes visit me in London and we would often

throw a party at my flat in Brixton. These parties would

invariably result in people sleeping off their

drunkenness at various corners of the flat. Jazz FM, a

London radio station, had a special session on Sunday

mornings hosted by an excellent DJ called Robbie Vincent,

who seemed to have an encyclopedic knowledge of black

music. The show was a wonderful hangover cure.

One Sunday morning after a raucous party in my flat, Alan

went into the kitchen (where I kept a radio) to make some

coffee for the various bodies littered about my living

room floor. He came back to the living room and

announced “guess what, another Phyllis Hyman fan!” Robbie

Vincent was, clearly, waxing lyrical about Phyllis while

Alan was in the kitchen. Somebody in the room piped up

“who is Phyllis Hyman?” Alan and I smiled wryly to

ourselves.

On a late evening in early July of 1995, I arrived home

from work to find a curt message from Alan on my

answering machine. It simply said: “Alan here. Ring me

when you get this message. It’s about Phyllis Hyman.” I

thought perhaps that there was a new album out or that

somebody had purloined his set of CDs ­ anything but what

I was about to learn. I telephoned him.“ I was driving

home from work today listening, as usual, to Buzz FM.

Remember the Birmingham radio station I mentioned to you

which sometimes plays Phyllis Hyman tracks?” “Yes,” said

I, a little perplexed as to where the conversation was

leading. “Well, the DJ played ‘Ain’t You Had Enough

Love’ and I was singing along to it as I drove when he

said, at the end of it, ‘the unmistakable voice of the

late Phyllis Hyman who, tragically, took her own life a

few days ago’.” I did not say anything for nearly a

minute. Eventually, I said “I didn’t hear that, Alan,

you’re having me on.” “No, Gitau, Phyllis Hyman is dead.”

I put the phone down and sat down. I felt ill. This was

not happening. A thousand thoughts went through my mind.

I probably sat still for about an hour. Almost in a

trance, I got up and played “Slow Dancing”. Then I

began to cry.

On the following weekend my fiance threatened to leave me

after the umpteenth repeat of “Loving You Losing You” and

“Old Friend”. It seemed, she said, that I cared more about

mourning the death of Phyllis Hyman than being with her.

At the time she was probably right.

I left England two years ago and now live and work in

Johannesburg. A local radio station called Kaya FM does a

wonderful job of keeping the memory of Phyllis alive.

Hardly a day goes by without one or more of the Kaya DJs

playing one or more Phyllis Hyman track.

I have bought every posthumous release of the great

woman’s music ­ including the unsanctioned “Phyllis Hyman

Remembered”. It is largely forgettable but there is a

half decent track on it called "“Hold Me”.

She may not be alive to carry on entertaining us but we

will always have the beautiful music and the wonderful

memories which Phyllis Hyman left us.

Gitau Githinji

*******************************************************

From: Arnetta Scott

I just spent the last two hours reading and viewing the

articles and pictures on the website. This is a great

site. This might sound strange, but I believe Phyllis

Hyman saved my life.

I was not a long time fan nor did I know anything about

her music before the night she touched my life. I saw her

once in 1991 in a club in Philadelphia named "Zanzibar

Blue" downtown on 12th and Pine. It was after a show she

performed at the Valley Forge Music Fair. I had been in

Philly for a couple of years, at the time, I was having a

drink with my sister as I was preparing to move to

Seattle.

Phyllis and her entourage drove up to the front of the

club and we saw them getting out of the limo as we were

sitting by the window. My sister commented that it was

"Phyllis Hyman" who I had vaguely heard of. Mind

you, I had been living in Albuquerque, New Mexico from

1980 - 1989 so, I was totally out touch with the music

and the culture for quite a while. Anyway, my sister began

to give me the "411" on Phyllis from her perspective (she

was very much a part of the Philly party and club scene)

as the group began to come into the club.

I thought it was quite amusing to see how the people

around her where behaving - pawning over her as she

strutted in with her boas and furs. She dropped one of

the boas and some lackey bent down to pick it up and dust

it off. I was quite entertained by the scene. Once

inside, Phyllis proceeded to straddled the nearest

barstool and started fussing with a couple sitting

at the bar. The other folks went into the back where

there was a restaurant.

My sister told me a few years later after Phyllis had

passed away that she went over to Phyllis that night and

made a comment to her to which Phyllis responded by

turning her head and continuing her conversation with the

people at the bar.

Anyway that was August, 1991. The next time I heard about

her, I was living in Seattle and going through a

difficult time in my life. I was on a downer about life,

alcoholic friends and family, the effects of drugs on

other people in my life, the absence of kindness and

decency, in general. These kinds of things were heavy on

my heart. I was asking for relief and spiritual peace.

One night in May of 1995, I heard on the radio that

Phyllis Hyman was in town at a club called "Jazz Alley."

I thought it might be good to go check her out since I

had never heard her before and I was not feeling very

well about myself. I hadn't been out for a night on the

town in a couple of years and decided to go alone. I

thought I'd treat myself to a nice dinner and drinks,

enjoy the show, maybe get a lift out of the funk I was

in. I thought I might get a little of that old "Philly

groove" moving in my soul - I had all kinds of

expectations. Needless to say, I was not the least

bit disappointed. In fact, that show left an indelible

impression on my heart and lifted me right up. From the

first note that came out of her mouth, I felt that God

had sent this woman to deliver me a message - that

life is really not that bad, someone does love you even

when you don't realize it.... I felt that this woman,

this total stranger was reading my thoughts, my emotions,

my deeply hidden fears. Chills went up the back of

my neck as she sang....

During the show, I sat in the lounge away from the area

of the stage, by the dressing room. I saw Phyllis as she

went past to the stage, but the view from my seat was not

very good. I didn't know much about her, but she seemed

to be much bigger than I remembered. Many of the comments

she was making about herself, other artists (Whitney

Houston, in particular), her general attitude was really

bad. I could tell she was on a downer herself and my

heart reached out to her. I don't know who it was, but

someone in the audience requested a gospel song and she

started laughing and making jokes about their being at

"the wrong show". She claimed she did not know any gospel

songs. I thought this was very strange for a Black woman

to admit and commented to someone - a woman from her band

or entourage, maybe her manager- who happened to sit down

at my table that I wished I could give her one - a simple

gospel song like "Wade in the Water"... I commented to

the woman that any gospel song would do - I wished I

could give her one "to sustain her through the rest of

her life" or so I thought.

After this comment the woman left my table and the show

continued. Throughout the remainder of the show, Phyllis

tried to accommodate with requests, but it was apparent

that she was losing her memory and kept asking for the

words to the songs. I could tell what was going on and

wondered if others could tell...

Strangely, she kept coming back to the gospel song

request, apologizing for not being "religious" and

explaining her "spirituality". I could feel her feeling

guilty for not being as "perfect" as she wanted to be. I

was loving the whole interaction with the crowd - the

people in Seattle were very charitable and appreciative.

I was happy for her that they were receiving what she was

able to give.

Funny, during one of her songs, she made her way from the

stage, around the room, and landed - yes, landed, at my

table. I was a little nervous because she just swooped up

a chair, turned it backwards and straddled it all while

she sang her song and played