"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 games with the band.

I was having a wonderful time until the strangest thing

happened. She went back to the stage and said she was

going to sing a song that was not really a gospel song,

but had a "spiritual lyric" - she proceeded to improvise

on a theme about her childhood and how she was introduced

to prayer by a neighbor who took her under her wing. A

light seemed to shine on her while she sang and all of a

sudden she started to break down and ran off the stage in

tears.....The last thing I remember was the look of

terror and the stark fear in her eyes and she rushed into

the dressing room.

That night as I walked towards home, I was so elated. I

felt like all of my heavy burdens had been lifted. When I

got home, I remembered that I had an album of Phyllis'

that I had never listened to. It was "Somewhere in my

Lifetime" - I played it for the first time and realized

how absolutely lovely this woman's voice was. I felt like

I had been given a second chance and she was the

messenger -- the bird on the wing...I pulled out the

inner liner and found a little picture of Phyllis when

she was a young child. I cut the picture out and put it

on my mantle with the rest of my family. I sat down and

wrote a little thank you card to Phyllis Hyman and

vowed to return to see her show on Sunday - which was

Mother's Day. She had told the audience about her

mother's passing and asked folks to come to see her on

Sunday if they could.

Ironically, I never made it back to the show on Sunday

although I called down to see if she was still there. I

thought of taking the card down with some flowers and

leaving for her at the desk, but I never did.

A couple of weeks later, I called Jazz Alley to see if I

could get an address for Phyllis to send her the card I

was still holding on to. They told me to call back and

ask to speak with the manager who had the information. I

guess I just gave up thinking that it was probably a dumb

idea anyway. Who did I think I was expecting that Phyllis

Hyman would care about a card from me anyway? I tore the

card up.

The next night - June 30, 1995, my sister in Philadelphia

called me to tell me they had heard a report on WDAS the

local radio station where she had been interviewed and

played all the time. She knew I would want to know

about this because I had shared with her the great time I

had and the observations I made about Phyllis the night I

saw her in Seattle. I broke down and cried like a baby --

as if I had known her all my life. I felt her pain at

that moment and remembered how she had sang for me only a

couple of weeks before and lifted me up so high!!!!!!

I want you to know that I am not a nut or some weirdo.

I've been a hopeless romantic all my life and grew up in

Philly where music became everything to me as a child and

remained the one healing factor in my life - along with

God.

I think I now have most of the songs that have been

produced by Phyllis Hyman. Even though I did not know or

appreciate her music until long after most of her fans,

I'm still "That Fan" - the one who knows from way down

deep that this woman was given a voice to send out to the

universe as a blessing. God Bless Her Soul and Give Her

Peace.......

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share this

wonderful experience with you.

Yours in light and love,

Arnetta

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

 

From: LIZAN LLL

Dearest Walid,

I felt as if I had found many friends after reading your

newsletter this morning. It is comforting to know so many

feel as I do about Phyllis even after so much time as

elapsed. I am still deeply touched by her music and

lyrics and often refer to her songs for guidance or

reassurance when making life decisions. She was so real

and seemed so strong...but I guess when something gets a

hold on you, sometimes you just can't shake it. I try not

to feel sorry for her because I don't think she wanted

that, I tell myself if she could have done it all over

again she would have made a different choice, but I also

say I have to at least learn from her mistake---when I

feel as if No One Cares, I'm WRONG! She couldn't

have known so many people were so deeply inspired by

her-not just her music, but HER. Because she wouldn't

have gone that route. I will always miss her like a best

friend, even though I never met her, she has helped me

through some tough times, and I feel sad because she'll

never know.

Anyway, I would be happy to receive ANY and ALL

information regarding Phyllis Hyman, including Sites

where her music can be purchased on line.

Thanks again for the first USEFUL E-mail I've ever

received! LOL

Yours Truly,

Lizan Pendergrass

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

 

From: TRACIE JAY

Just a thought or two:

I immediately ordered The Soulful Divas after the last

newsletter and eagerly read the chapter on The Lady,

herself. Although candid, it felt clear that David Nathan

was fond of her. Reading of his long up and down

relationship with her and how much he still misses her

today reminded me of how sad it is for us that she's no

longer down here with us. Phyllis Hyman was a singular

talent; no one else sounds like her and no one else ever

will. It is such a tragedy that she never felt that way

about herself. The real sadness is that, had she waited,

she might be here now, reminiscing about the past and

how she managed to get through it all and all the

stronger for the struggle, and looking forward to a

brighter future.

I'm listening to You Just Don't Know right now and I

listened when my local radio station featured The Diva's

music on July 6th. How terribly sad that the rich,

full-bodied, expressive and versatile voice has been

stilled but how truly fortunate we are that the voice and

the lady behind it were here with us for as long as they

were. Thank you, Diva, and happy birthday!!

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

 

From: JohnsonPaula

Hi,

I just want to briefly say how a big Phyllis Hyman fan I

am. Phyllis Hyman was a beautiful lady with a beautiful

voice and I do not care what anyone says, there is no

female out here today, that comes near to what Phyllis

Hyman put out. I feel deeply saddened that she had to

take her life in such a drastic way because she was

definitely someone I admired and strangely, felt as if

the songs she was singing were songs about my life, how

weird!. Even though I never got to meet her personally, I

just want to say, Phyllis I love you and miss you dearly.

You are a woman of substance that will never be

forgotten.

Paula

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

 

From: "The Fight Doctor"

All I can say is WOW !! Thanks works too !! Knowing that

others feel the same way that I do regarding a musical

wonder is a great feeling. I don't know where many of you

reside, but I can say that here (in the

Baltimore/Washington area) Phyllis always had a home away

from home. I'm known as the "Fight Doctor" in these

parts. I commentate professional boxing matches for local

cable TV in the area. Additionally, I'm a "regular" on

the am/fm radio circuit where I "talk-up" and inform the

public on the sport of Boxing !! I'm also a musician,

songwriter, performer and independent record label CEO.

My company is called Talent Hunt Inc.Productions (the

record label is Talent Hunt Records). I was in the

middle of recording my debut CD "LIVING TWICE" at the

time of Phyllis Hyman's untimely and tragic passing.

Each and every Phyllis Hyman fan around the world I'm

sure paid their last respects to the Great Lady in their

own way. I was moved to pen a tribute to her songs, her

life, her memory. It was the only way for me to properly

say goodbye to my "top female performer" (my top male

performer Donny Hathaway was already gone and now this!!)

The song is simply titled: REST IN PEACE (Phyllis Hyman

Tribute).

At this time I would like to present "the full lyrics" to

REST IN PEACE so that the "complete message" can be

reviewed, understood and hopefully appreciated.

REST IN PEACE by- The Fight Doctor (Jerome Spears) / July

1995

Phyllis . . . / You were at the TOP of my list / If I

could; I would have given you what you missed / So that

you would want to stick around and maybe sing your songs

from town to town / Or just do what you want to do /

Don't live for all of us / Just Live / Just Live For YOU!

/ Oh Phyllis . . . / You made me laugh you made me cry /

I didn't even get a chance to say so long - good bye /

Not the way I wanted to / You were really loved / IF ONLY

YOU KNEW / Oh Phyllis . . . / May you Rest In Peace /

Then this way at least / All the pain which lived with

you / Would no longer make you blue / Just rest and be

calm or maybe sing a song / You do what you want to do /

Oh Phyllis. . . / You were such an OLD FRIEND / This . .

. / Time could never end / I BETCHA BY GOLLY WOW / If I

could only be with you right now / I'll MEET YOU ON THE

MOON / I'll bring your favorite tune (yeah) / You've

always sung to me - maybe now I'll sing to you! / I DON'T

WANT TO LOSE YOU - I LOVE YOU AS YOU ARE (yeah) / Cause

NO ONE COULD LOVE YOU MORE THAN I DO YOU / NO ONE NEEDS

YOU MORE THAN I NEED YOU / SOMEWHERE IN MY LIFETIME /

It will be you and me Phyllis / Because the ANSWER IS YOU

! / REST IN PEACE.

Fight Doctor

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

 

From: PWGreen3rd

I first discovered Phyllis Hyman around 1984 or 85 - when

I was in high school. I had just broken up with a

girlfriend, and I heard the song "Old Friend" on a quite

storm radio station late one night.

That was it for me - I had to try to go out and find that

tape ( all I could afford in high school ) and others,

which I did the next day! After that, Phyllis Hyman was

the only female vocalist that I could almost relate to on

a personal level. I felt her music inside....very deep. I

cried when I learned of her sudden passing years later.

To this day, I still try to find hard to find recordings

of her. Working in a music store allows me to do that.

 

Anyway, thanks for the membership, and I appreciate the

newsletters, pictures, and anything of the great Ms. Hyman

I can get !!

 

PG

North Miami Beach, Fl

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

 

Well, that's all for now! Thanks to Gitau, Arnetta,

PWGreen, Tracie, Fight Doctor, Paula & Lizan for sharing

with us their memories and thoughts on Phyllis!

Before I sign off, I would like to remind everyone of

the latest CD release from Arista "Master Hits"! While

some of the songs have already appeared on some previous

compilations, there are others that have never been

available on CD (Just 25 Miles To Anywhere & Riding

The Tiger & a others). Arista says that they have

no immediate plans to reissue any of her albums but who

knows, if sales of this latest compilation are good, it

might encourage them to do get on it. Meanwhile, Bill

Shultz, who works with Glenda Gracia, has just informed

me that three of Phyllis' Arista albums are due to be

released in Japan this fall! They are: "Somewhere In My

Lifetime", "Can't We Fall In Love Again" and "You Know

How To Love Me". These will only be available in the USA

as expensive imports so let's hope Arista makes Phyllis'

albums available worldwide sometime!

Until next time, take care.

Walid

Editor - PH Internet Newsletter

---

Happy Holidays!! Walid and I are indeed happy to welcome

you to the 23nd issue of FANZINE, the Phyllis Hyman

Newsletter. We could not let the holiday season go by

without sending out our warm greetings all over the

world, as part of our continuing celebration of Phyllis

Hyman's life.

his month you're in for a rare treat as Mark Matlock

shares with us personal memories  of his working

relationship with Ms. Hyman. And in the tradition of

holiday gift giving, our friend Tom Conroy tells us about

how he took time out from shopping for everyone else, and

treated himself to a triple gift - three Arista Japanese

imports of Phyllis' CDs.

Another super fan, Konta, checks in from Japan with

questions that only a PH-Historian could answer without

too much research. It's always a thrill to learn a little

more about Phyllis than we knew.  And LaVar Thomas

re-visits us on his first anniversary  of discovering the

Newsletter.  While singer Deborah Cobbertt, inspired by

The Diva, shares with us the news of the completion of

her first CD recording. We applaud the effort, as we

applaud all of the fans whose tributes appear here this

month.

Of course, this holiday is particularly noteworthy

because we are about to pass into a New Millennium.

There is much uncertainty in some circles about the next

century, especially with regard to the first *minute* of

the next century.  That's why I intend to let Phyllis

Hyman's music accompany me into the Year 2000.  After

all, she was always ahead of her time, so I'm sure she's

already made it comfy for us.  And what could be more

settling - and welcoming - than the sound of her voice.

This century has seen many great singers, who were all

special and unique in their own ways. But Phyllis Hyman

stands out among them as the performer whom compelled

other performers sit in the audience like mere mortals.

Her voice was so effortlessly powerful, yet sensitive

enough to evoke an audience's sympathy.  Sometimes The

Creator gives us gifts of which we may be unaware.

Something to protect us, or to lighten the load of an

extra burden he places upon us. Perhaps Phyllis was given

her magnificent statuesque presence to disguise her

vulnerability; given her hearty, full-throated laughter

to help her through her sadness. And The Voice  ...maybe

it was the ultimate gift, given to compensate for the

relatively short length of time Phyllis was given to

share it. We will, of course, never know. All we can each

properly gauge is this wonderful woman's impact upon our

lives, and upon the industry she honored with her

presence.   

So this Holiday season will find me giving those who are

yet unfamiliar with Ms. Hyman, the gift of a sampling of

her talent.  Such a gift will serve two purposes:  It

will undoubtedly give birth to a brand new Phyllis Hyman

fan, ensuring the longevity of this Newsletter :-)  And

secondly, it will tell the recipients how very much I

care for them.

May all the blessings of Peace, Love and Understanding

find all of you on the other side of Y2K. And may

Phyllis' memory continue to live on through each of us.

Happy New ...Century!

Richard Kenyada, Co-Editor

www.kenyada.com

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

From: Matlock, Mark

Subject: PHYLLIS HYMAN & MARK FROM ZOO ENTERTAINMENT

I won't ever forget the day I met PHYLLIS. I was the

national promotion manager for Zoo Entertainment,

a division of BMG, Inc., which was housed in what was

known as the RCA/BMG building on Sunset in the early

90's. The building is right across from the Cinerama

Dome movie theatre.

I was the second pop music promotion manager hired

by the label, a new imprint, which had the then new acts

MATTHEW SWEET, THE ODDS, VOICES (a pre-teen girl

group, which had the twin girls who later starred in the

TV sitcom SISTER,SISTER), etc. Zoo Entertainment, also

known as Zoo Records, entered into 2nd party distribution

of indie labels including SRC Records (CAUSE & EFFECT-

"You Think You Know Her," DAVID CLAYTON-THOMAS formerly

of BS&T, etc.) and the legendary PHILADELPHIA

INTERNATIONAL RECORDS (PIR), which had previously been

distributed by Columbia/Epic Records and EMI-Manhattan

Records.

Because of PIR joining the Zoo family, the releases were

known as the Philly Zoo records.  PIR only had 2 acts Zoo

distributed at the time. The first being THE DELLS (the

legendary soul quartet with a 40-year soul legacy on

labels like Vee-Jay, Argo/Cadet/Chess, Mercury and 20th

Century Fox Records), and second being MISS PHYLLIS

HYMAN.

When word got out that a new PHYLLIS album was being

released by Zoo ("Prime of My Life"), all my friends at

other labels, that were not the least bit concerned with

the other product I was promoting at radio, quickly

called me up to demand the advance CD or cassette of the

album as soon as I got it in hand. I must admit that,

although I knew who PHYLLIS was, I had really not heard

her music. I was happy to be the center of attention with

having forthcoming product that everyone seemed to want.

Even the BMG sales managers informed me that there was a

big buzz about the project at retail, that responded with

big pre-orders of the album in the L.A. market. This

album was going to be a big one, not only for the artist

but for Zoo as well.

It was a Thursday afternoon; I was in my office talking

to a pop radio programmer, who had just promised to add

another single I was working to their playlist for next

week, which made me feel great, but just as I was

ending the conversation and putting the phone down, I

looked up and saw Lou Maglia, president of Zoo, walking

to my office---but my eyes were transfixed more on who he

was bringing to my office!  It was a Black Goddess, who

dwarfed him. She carried herself with such charisma and

verve. She wore pretty much the outfit that is in the

photograph attached.  I needed no introduction as to

who it was; it was "her"---PHYLLIS HYMAN herself. At that

special moment in time, I knew my life was perfect right

then and there.

I walked around from my desk and before Lou could even

say to either one of us, "I would like for you to

meet..." I came right to her open arms; we hugged and

kissed, me saying that I had been wanting to meet her for

a long time and us trading pleasantries. PHYLLIS was

something more than some famous star.  In just seconds we

were friends on the spot.  Lou continued to escort her to

meet the other Zoo staff, but we made plans to hook up

when she had a chance.

She came back a few months later, after "Prime Of My

Life" was released, to do her first L.A. show to promote

the album and the then hot R & B single, "Don't Want To

Change The World," which eventually became PHYLLIS' first

and only #1 record of her career. A photographer was

hired to take press shots of PHYLLIS with the staff

before her show, with Qwest/Warner Brothers Records

artist KEITH WASHINGTON as the opening act.

I wanted to get a shot alone with PHYLLIS, grabbing her

by the hand the moment she appeared and quickly engaged

the photographer to take a close-up of the both of us. I

told him to come closer for the shot and this idiot kept

saying it would be a close-up, which I could tell by his

distance he was going for a body shot instead At first I

just stood next to her with my arm around her shoulder,

but both her arms went around me as I brought mine to hug

her close to me. Usually when I hug anyone, my arms can

go around them, with me being a big guy. However, imagine

my surprise when PHYLLIS was able to put her arms

totally around me! No one had ever done that before then

or now.  PHYLLIS was a tall, big girl--not fat--a strong

Black woman. Standing there cheek-to-cheek, in her

strong, gentle arms, inhaling a wonderful scent she

was wearing,  I felt like a little kid, protected. She

was my Black Goddess in the flesh.

In the first shot, I whispered to her, "You sure do smell

fine," to which she gave an earthy PHYLLIS-type response,

"That's because I washed my ass." I broke out in a laugh

right when the second photo was snapped. Looking at

this photograph of PHYLLIS and me, especially after all

that has happened, I guess I have to thank that

photographer wherever he is today. This is one of my most

treasured photographs, and also one I cannot bear to look

at sometimes due to feeling utter and complete sadness.
 

Signed,

Mark from Zoo Entertainment

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

 

From: "TOM CONROY"

Greetings Walid, Richard and Phyllis fans from around the

world....hope this finds all of you well. It has been a

few months since we have connected and I trust that the

newsletter is still alive and well, passing on the music

and spirit of the lady, spreading memories of our

Phyllis.

   

As I write this I am listening to my new copy of "Can't

We Fall In Love Again" in CD form (that's right, a CD)!

For those of you who don't know, Arista released the

above title as well as "Somewhere in My Lifetime", and

"You Know How To Love Me" as CDs, although they are

pricey Japanese imports.  I found them cheapest at CDnow

on the Internet(22.00), but I had all three of them in my

greedy hands within a week and what the hell, I'll

work a little overtime to pay off the card. A small price

to pay for the joy she has given me through the years.

Now, when they release "Goddess Of Love" and her work on

McCoy Tyner's "Looking Out", I can die a happy man.

Listening to these CDs makes me feel as if I am

discovering her all over again. Among my family, friends

and associates my passion for Phyllis is well-known.

It's much more than my "musical taste" or appreciation of

a great artist, it has for years been literally part of

who I am.  I can only try to explain it, because it is

hard to describe something when you cannot find the words

that have not already been said. I simply tell people to

pour yourself a glass of wine, slip in any of her CDs,

turn off the light, get close to someone and let the lady

take you both.  The journey will be like no other.

There will be highs and lows, there will be soft whispers

then lusty growls, there will be cries for broken love,

wonderings for new love, assertive exclamations of

confidence, passionate moments of self-doubt. She

questions the fairness of the world, how people you trust

can be strangely unkind.  She implores us to take care

of the kids, she'll have you screaming at the moon, then

follow with a soft plea to meet her on that moon, in the

middle of the sky, "Just you and I". Somewhere in this

lifetime, she'll kiss you all over. And sometimes she

would just make you dance your butt off.

If hearing the voice of Phyllis Hyman is a moving

experience, seeing her perform was proof of a happy and

benevolent God.  She was tall and regal, beautifully

dressed, with a warm, sexy beauty, and she commanded the

stage by her appearance alone.  When she sang the whole

room went on the Phyllis journey, swept away by her

voice, her creation of music that could only come

from her.  And after the performance you knew her,

because on that stage she had laid bare the person she

was.  Through her music.  And you didn't stand a chance.

She had you.

Hopefully, for all of us, someday  we will be able to see

a package of music videos, televised appearances and live

concert material.  I just know that there are more

unreleased songs somewhere, or is it wishful thinking? 

More jazz material, any holiday songs?  A biography.   A

compilation of her commercial jingles.  Anything!

Hell, everybody, as long as we listen to her, connect

with each other and share the memories and the love for

her, she'll never be  gone.  She had us as soon as we saw

or heard her, but now we have her in our hearts.

But I still want more!

Peace,and Happy Holidays to all,

Tom Conroy

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

 

From: Naoyoshi "Konta" Daido

Hello, editors

Thank you very much for the newsletters.

I wrote 10 notes on Phyllis. If you have more

information, please let me know.

1, I want to know about the group called "THE NEW

DIRECTION". I heard Phyllis was in the group before she

became a solo singer. The Group released an album "The

New Direction"(Neptune 200) produced by Gamble & Huff.I

read about the record in the book"SOFT ROCK A to Z"

published in 1996 here in Japan.On that album cover there

are three men and a girl.And she seems to be so tall.Is

that girl Phyllis or anyone else ? The article

says The New Direction is The Fifth Dimension-type group

and they sing Burt Bacharach medley,DIDN’T WE' by Jim

Webb, 'IF YOU SHOW ME THE WAY' by Thom Bell on the album.

And I also read the liner notes(written in Japanese) of

the album "GODDESS OF LOVE" and got to know that one

of Phyllis' favorite records was Dionne Warwick's "HERE

WHERE THERE IS LOVE" album.

2,In the movie "TOO SCARED TO SCREAM"(THE DOORMAN)

Phyllis was. She plays a model named Phyllis. Her

appearance is in just a few seconds but she walks

on a catwalk in red dress. And a song "I'LL BE

THERE"(written by French actor and singer-songwriter

Charles Azunavour) sung by her is used at the ending.

This 1982(1985?) movie is Hitchcock's "PSYCHO"-type

mystery and directed by an actor Tony Lo Bianco and

starring Ann Archer, Mike Conners, Ian McShane, Maureen

O'Sullivan(Mia Farrow's mother) and John Heard. It's an

enjoyable and interesting B-class movie. I wonder If

there exists this movie's soundtrack album. I wish this

"I'LL BE THERE" were released on CD !

3, Phyllis' "IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU(IT'S ABOUT ME)" was used

in the 1996 film "THE WATERMELON WOMAN" directed by

Cheryl Dunye. Though I saw the picture two years ago at

the lesbian & gay film festival here in Japan, I can't

remember where in the movie the song was played. But at

the ending,there is certainly the credit. please check it

out on video.

4, On 1979 released Niteflyte's 1st album

"NITEFLYTE"(ARIOLA RECORDS),Phyllis did the background

vocal with Harmish Stuart(of Average White Band).

Niteflyte consisted of Sandy Toreno and Howard

Johnson(who released solo albums on A&M label later).

Sandy Toreno is the co-writer of Phyllis' "SOON COME

AGAIN" and he produced several songs on Phyllis'1st album

with her then-husband Larry Alexander. Larry Alexander

also wrote 3 songs for the "NITEFLYTE" album. He and

Sandy Toreno formed the group "TORNADER" and they

released an album "HIT IT AGAIN"(Polydor 1-6098) in 1977.

I haven't found the album yet, but I suppose that Phyllis

might have taken part in it too.

5, A new female singer Junita Dailey sings "YOU KNOW HOW

TO LOVE ME" with Jean Carne & Angela Bofill !!! on her

debut album "FREE". And that song was produced by Norman

Connors ! But the result is.... Robin S. and Lisa

Stansfield sing that song too. I like 1991 released

TAFURI's version(FFRR/POLYGRAM) better.

6, I want to know about "THE FISH THAT SAVED PITTSBURGH"

soundtrack album. I have the video of it and "MAGIC

MONA(MONA'S THEME)" sung by Phyllis was used in it. But

there is another song "TYRONE'S THEME" by Phyllis

appeared in the end credits. The song was not included in

the picture. Are both songs included on the soundtrack

album ?

7, Phyllis came to Japan a few times. She sang at "Blue

Note Tokyo". I could not go to see her sing there, but

it was aired on TV in February 1990 in Japan. And

I watched it. Her great performance really knocked me

out.Here are the songs she sang then.

PHYLLIS  HYMAN       

LIVE  AT THE BLUE  NOTE  TOKYO

KEYBOARDS : TERRANCE  BURRUS

BASS : RONALD  RICHARDSON

DRUMS : DENNIS  ALSTON

SAX : JOHN  VALENTINO

VOCAL : ERIC  JONES

  1. WHAT  YOU  WON'T  DO  FOR  LOVE

  2. YOU  JUST  DON'T  KNOW

  3. I'LL  NEVER  DO  YOU  WRONG

  4. MEET  ME  ON  THE  MOON

  5. MY  FUNNY  VALENTINE

  6. LIVING  IN  CONFUSION

  7. OLD  FRIEND

  8. WHAT  EVER  HAPPENED  TO  OUR  LOVE

  9. NO  ONE  CAN  LOVE  YOU  MORE

 10. SOPHISTICATED  LADY

 11. TAKE  THE A TRAIN

 12. I  GOT  IT  BAD  AND  THAT  AIN'T  GOOD

 13. LIVING  ALL  ALONE

 14. WALK  AWAY

     aired : February  23, 1990

8, I heard that there is a song for Jesse Jackson called

"RUN JESSE RUN", which Phyllis sings with Lou Rawls &

James Cleveland. Does anyone know that song ?

9, I have a video of Fred Williamson film,in which

Phyllis plays Irene Crawford - a night club singer and

lover of the villain. Co-stars are Bo Svenson and Maud

Adams. And the title is not "THE KILL REFLEX" but "SODA

CRACKER" (Maybe it has two different titles, I guess).

Soda Cracker is the name of Fred Williamson's role.(And

Japanese title is "DYNAMITE DEKA". Deka means cop in

Japanese.) The film itself is so dull and a flop. But it

is so precious because of Phyllis. She sings "MEET ME ON

THE MOON" in it, and that is not 'live' but lip-synching.

On that scene she's wearing a light green dress (the same

one that she wore at Blue Note Tokyo).Phyllis wears

four beautiful dresses designed especially for her by

Cassandra McShepard in the film. And Phyllis' hair is

blond! This video was issued in 1991 in Japan and is no

longer available now.

10, I've been so so crazy about Phyllis since 1983. I

first heard her song in that year and was a college

student then. Now I'm 35 years old. Like many gay men, I

love Streisand and Miss Ross but Phyllis is very special

to me! Thank you for reading this & pardon my poor

English.

Naoyoshi "Konta" Daido

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

From: LeVar Thomas

hey, what's up, phyllis hyman luvas! i was moved to write

something about phyllis, based on the fact that it's been

a year since i joined the newsletter.

since then, i have to come to know and love the peeps who

have enjoyed and experienced the sensation known as

Phyllis Hyman.........

i now know she was a deeply spiritual person, not in the

sense of hellfire and brimstone everyday and every

way-type, but she, even though much is not said,

routinely praised God as the one who makes all things

possible in interviews.

she also was very sensual yet classy, a true

DIVA...........she shared food along some of you people

at concerts and was down-home, could impress people

with her aura yet kick back with the realest of them.

her music has touched me in a way no other artist has. i

found a singer whose depth and emotiveness is

unmistakable and is a teaching tool for me. i always

looked for someone, since i was 13, who had a deep voice

and could SANG, and seems like they could do

anything....i have found the singer.....

i can't help to wonder who would be the leading lady in a

feature film but i have a suggestion: lonette mckee

(sparkle,jungle fever, he got game).this lady is

remarkable, and brings it to the acting game like no

other actress today.

it seems like i can't help but wonder if phyllis ever

knew the story of dorothy dandridge. i taped the movie,

which halle berry did splendidly in,and it seems like

phyllis and dorothy have so much in common. i mean both

were beautiful, talented, classy, yet had some inner

problems.

i can't wait to experience the new projects glenda gracia

and the estate of phyllis hyman has planned. i wonder if

an inspirational track or spanish track would be on any

album. i also hope that the soundtrack to the film

would feature live tracks from phyllis.

i hope that the plans for film and books will start soon.

and as i live longer (i'm only 19!), her music is very

inspiring to me. the song that means the most to me is "

the sunshine in my life". that really lifts me up

and also "let somebody love you". it really speaks to me,

dealing with lifelong situations i have experienced.

well, it's great that we can express how we love phyllis.

i just hope soon that we can meet soon, like a

celebration or observance.

i wish i could chat longer, but i only have limited

time!!! Thanks to all the phyllis peeps i've met: rande,

tom, and walid. and any others. and if you want to chat

with me, don't hesitate to write and drop me an email!

and glenda, we love YOU!!!!!

peace and God bless everyone........we will make it!!!!

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

From: Reagerharp

I am a devoted fan still missing Phyllis. I still can't

believe she's gone. She had a voice that I will never

forget. I got the opportunity to see her here in Atlanta

at the fabulous Fox Theater along with Jonathan Butler(

or was it Keith Washington?) I can recall going to the

foyer/lobby area during the first act, and as I waited in

line to be buy a drink, I looked to my far left and there

was Phyllis along with her entourage and I couldn't

believe it, but of all the people in that area, as she

scanned the room, I actually made eye contact with her!!!

She smiled, so I smiled. I was so nervous and embarassed.

I really wanted to say something to her, but I didn't

have the courage. Anyway, I couldn't wait to get to my

seat and tell my girlfriend. The concert was the

bomb!!!!She sang all the songs I wanted to hear. She

always came back for an encore. It's such a shame that

she was so  great but her record company did not know how

to market her ....a true vocalist. Tall, talented  and

beautiful. Phyllis, why did you leave so soon????????????

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

From: Ladypch

Brought tears to my eyes reading through some of the

emails in your newsletter. I too am a huge fan of the

late Diva Phyllis Hyman, she was and is still the best in

my heart.

I keep her CD's in my changer and listen to her before

going to work and upon returning. 

Inspired by Phyllis' soulful voice, I recently completed

my very first CD. Entitled "Meet Me On The Moon," remake

of that tune, which is one of my favorite of hers.

Hoping that this will not be one of my last

accomplishments in music, I pray for the opportunity to

do more of her sounds in an effort to keep her voice

living in all our hearts who love her so dearly.

Deborah Cobbertt-

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

From: SOUL911

Walid, maybe you can clear something ELSE up for me. For

YEARS I have been looking for an extended version of

"What you wont do for love". I was first TOLD about it

and then finally heard PART of it myself during a midday

mix show on N.Y. WBLS.  However they NEVER played it

again. I never found this much more dynamic version than

the one on the cd. Do you have it or know anyone who

does? I NEED a copy of this track. If not the original,

then one burned onto a CD will suffice. THANK YOU IN

ADVANCE for your help !!

Donald Cleveland

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

From: ty sturgis

this newsletter is awesome, i always knew phyllis touched

millions of people,and the responses on the newsletter

just amplifies that. I live in chicago,,and chicago loved

phyllis,,and i think she loved chicago as well,i used to

see her at georges lounge,it was so intimate. I wonder

if she knew how many people loved her,its a shame that

artists like phyllis and others dont get the respect from

the industry that they deserve. I hope there are

jukeboxes in heaven....

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

That's all we have this time around. Before I go,

I want to thank all of the contributors Mark, Tom,

Konta, Levar, Donald, Deborah, Ty and Reagerharp.

I want to also encourage those of you who have never

written to do so! We all would love to hear from you

and besides, the more postings we get, the sooner you

get the next newsletter!

In Tom Conroy's letter, he mentions the three Arista

albums that have been released in Japan. Those of you

who already bought them must know how great it is to

have them! If any of you would like to buy them and don't

know where to find them, they are available online.

Unfortunately, I have no news from Glenda regarding

the Legacy campaign that she talked about last year.

All of us are very eager to be able to buy CDs with

previously unreleased material, the video documentary

mentioned before, a biography, etc... Glenda, if you

reading this, drop us an e-mail! We would love to hear

from you!

Time for me to say goodbye!

Have a merry Xmas and a happy new year!

See you in the 21st. century!:-)

Walid

---

PHYLLIS HYMAN  INTERNET NEWSLETTER  # 24
JULY 6, 2000

July 6 2001. Today, Phyllis would have celebrated her

52nd. birthday. Happy Birthday, Phyllis!

This issue of the newsletter was put together from

the readers' e-mails many months ago. We had the

intention of sending it out sometime in March but we

delayed it because we were waiting to hear from Glenda

Gracia of Phyllis Hyman's estate. She had promised to

give us some information pertaining to the legacy

campaign and the different upcoming projects .

Unfortunately, that didn't happen and issue # 25 was

set aside for a few months. Today, on Phyllis' 52nd

birthday, we decided that we will not let the day pass

without sending you the newsletter!

Walid

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

Walid and I welcome you to the 25th issue of FANZINE,

the Phyllis Hyman Newsletter.

A Sense of Responsibility

I want to issue special thanks to all of you who have

expressed your concern, with regard to Fanzine.  It feels

nice to be missed, but let us reassure you that we’re

still standing. From time to time, though, we may

experience “technical difficulties” that interfere

with the distribution of the newsletter, but such

interference is only temporary.

Unlike many of the super rich “DotComs” that are falling

from the cyberskies, the Phyllis Hyman Fanzine was never

founded as an instrument of revenue. So we have no

corporate overseers whose profit forecasts we must meet.

We have no marketing meetings in which tap dance; no

sales charts to draw up, using fuzzy math.  No, my

friends, Fanzine was the vision of Walid Itayim, an

extraordinarily dedicated fan of Miss Phyllis Hyman.

There is no profit motive hidden beneath it all.

We’re not trying to sell you any widgets or preach to you

any political agenda. We’re here - whenever we appear in

your e-mail IN-basket - to share the love we all feel for

the music of Phyllis Hyman.  However,

just because we’re not beholding to the pencil-neck bean

counters of the corporate globe, doesn't mean that we are

totally without a sense of responsibility.

Walid and I, along with regular contributors like Tom

Conroy, all feel a strong sense of responsibility to

Phyllis Hyman fans all over the world. Whenever we read

your first hand accounts of experiencing a Hyman live

performance …  Whenever we read your reactions to

hearing a Hyman recording for the first time…. Whenever

we read how Phyllis’ music affected your life beyond its

existence on your stereo system….  We understand -

believe me, we do  that Fanzine has taken on a life of

its own, and that we are merely custodians whose job it

is to get it right, which is what we try to do for each

and every publication of the newsletter.

Along with our responsibility to her fans, we also feel

an indelible kinship to the family and the estate of Ms.

Hyman. We want Phyllis’ family to be given the respect

that she herself never completely received while she

lived. So it is important that we only support the

releases of her music that have been approved by those

who have her best interests at heart.

If you have read the previous issues of Fanzine, you

understand that there are those who have assembled a

fly-by-night compilation of some of Phyllis’ work that

amount to little more than “out-takes,” practice runs, of

her studio sessions.  Glenda Gracia, Phyllis’ friend,

manager and executrix of her estate, has been great about

informing us as to the existence of the artistically

bogus material, and we thank her for her

unyielding commitment. Luckily for us, the overwhelming

majority of the available Hyman music out there in the

international marketplace is authentic and top shelf.  

Lastly, and ultimately most compelling, we feel an

immense responsibility to the memory of Phyllis Hyman

the artist and the woman.  I’m often asked how I manage

to write so clearly about Ms. Hyman and my feelings about

her music.  The truth is that before, during and after I

sit down to write the opening statement of each

newsletter, I’m listening to a stack of Phyllis’ music.

Her music always evokes such strong emotions, whether a

carefree happy lark, or a solemnly tender afterglow.

[Note - During this writing, for example, I’m listening

to “My Old Friend,” “Somewhere In My Lifetime,” and “Meet

Me On The Moon.” [with the repeat button in full effect]

Like many of you, I’ve grown even closer to Phyllis

Hyman’s music over the years since her passing, and

previously I hadn’t thought that would be possible. Not

only that, I've also grown very protective of her memory,

and very proud of her longevity in my record collection,

as an artist; and in my heart, as a woman.

I’m certain that the sense of responsibility we all feel

to Phyllis’ music and her memory is more that of a family

member than a potential stalker or groupie.  That is

rooted in the deep, abiding respect that we felt for her

when she was alive.  I was lucky enough to have attended

two of her concerts, and I never saw people pulling at

her or disrespecting her in any way.  People generally

gave her a distance of comfortability, allowing her to

breach it, if she chose to do so . . .  and often times

she did.

             

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

In this issue we are once again treated to the writing of

Tom Conroy, who comes aboard this time with, among other

gems, a wonderful review of the video “Sophisticated

Ladies” which, of course, features Phyllis Hyman.

I am always delighted to read the many memories shared by

our readers. Margaret is the mother of 20-year-old

Rashida, and she shares with us the discovery that her

daughter likes Phyllis’ music.  Those of us who are

parents can fully appreciate that discovery.

Readers Tony Moor and Blaine Gaffney pass on some praise

of Fanzine, while adding their own memories to help keep

it going. Reader Shae shares with us some personal

parallels between her life and Ms. Hyman’s,

including the birth of her daughter, Taylor, on July 8th

[Phyllis was born on July 6th]. Shae’s been told that

Taylor has a remarkable resemblance to Phyllis, too.

Of course, touching tributes, such as those offered in

this issue by readers Debra, Clint, Sheritta, Arnetta,

Mike, Ms Lace, Neotta, FoxyBrown and others, are the

connective tissue that makes this newsletter a living,

loving testimonial to Phyllis Hyman.  This is the kind of

heartfelt praise that cannot be manufactured in trite

sound bytes for media consumption. You and I, all of us,

write because somewhere quite deeply, Phyllis

touched us.  And whether you met her on the moon, or

somewhere in the shadows of the lyrics to Betcha By Golly

Wow,  I know that there is a reason that you look forward

to the next issue of Fanzine, and you are committed to

seeing the legacy of Ms. Hyman passed on to future

generations.  It’s about the love and appreciation of and

artist and her life’s work. It’s about belonging to a

family of mankind that has discovered something worth

celebrating, beyond the party.  It’s about a sense of

adulation and respect.  And once having accepted that, it

becomes something more: a sense of responsibility.

Richard Kenyada, Co-Editor of Fanzine

Mr. Kenyada’s Neighborhood

www.kenyada.com

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

From: TOM CONROY

Gretting Walid, Richard, and to all of the worldwide

community of Phyllis fans...

You are reading the writings of one happy man.  I

recently celebrated a birthday and was surprised by my

family with a special gift. I was presented with a video

of "Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies" starring our

own Phyllis. I never had the opportunity to go to New

York while Phyllis appeared in that play and always

regretted missing her performance.
 

My family found the tape on e-bay, and while it is

professionally done it is circa 1983 and the sound gets

kind of scratchy towards the end, but the visuals are

great and I can tell you that I have never seen Phyllis

look more beautiful nor in more command of her material.

She BURNS up the stage every time she appears, no small

feat when you consider the caliber of the musicians,

dancers and other singers she appears with.  She grabs

the audience first with "It Don't Mean A Thing",

shimmying and singing, then gives up the stage to the tap

dancers as she perches above them, enhancing their

already flawless performances.  Her scatting during "Take

The A Train" ranks up there with Ella Fitzgerald for form

and excitement and the fun she

is having with the song is palpable. Then, my favorite,

"In A Sentimental Mood".  Imagine Phyllis in a long,

glittery low-cut white gown hugging every curve, with

huge fake fur cuffs, long, curly, reddish hair streaming

down her back, slowly pacing the stage, crooning about

rose petals falling, and on the wings of every kiss,

finding paradise complete. Its all like dream to call us

hers....her heart's a lighter thing, since we made this

night a thing divine. 

God, take me now, because I have

SEEN the best of your creation!   Want some sassy

Phyllis? Plenty of that to burn in "I'm Checking Out

Goombye", Phyllis all stylish in a 40's suit, her hair up

and she is having NONE of his stuff!  She reads him off

then struts offstage. For those of us familiar with her

melancholy, she then takes the stage in a purple suit,

sad over the breakup and her

wails are powerful for "I Got It Bad and That Ain't

Good".  I can tell you this, even though most of you know

me as a fellow Phyllis NUT who saw her in concert

numerous times, I was blown away by her performance in

this play, and she was robbed of the Tony Award that

year (and I don't even know who won).  Her presence and

musical acting ability were overwhelming.  We are all

familiar with her voice, that is a given, but after

seeing this, I truly think Phyllis was born for the

musical stage. Those of you who had the good fortune to

see her perform on stage know how comfortable she was in

front of an audience.  Her audience gave her power and

she effortlessly tapped into the huge reservoir of her

talent for us. She gave herself to us, honestly, emotions

bared, and we could literally do nothing but be

completely and happily bowled over by her.

I would like to see the estate release copies of the play

for us as part of her legacy.  Put it out there and maybe

we will see it.

I have project concerning Phyllis going on.  There is a

weekly alternative paper here in Pittsburgh that has a

popular "Rant" column, where readers can complain or rant

about anything.  I am now writing a piece that I hope

will see the light of day.  The subject?  My complaint is

the lack of knowledge of Phyllis here in her hometown

(outside of the African-American community). I'm going to

state her accomplishments as a

performer and as a concerned human being and scold the

community for not revering her the way she should be in

her hometown.   At the very least I hope to stir up sales

of her CDS and spread her music to others.  At most I

hope to see a groundswell of interest and get the name of

PITTSburgh (kind of a negative-sounding name for a city,

don't you think?), changed to, oh

let's see, Phyllisville, or Hymantown or Three Rivers of

Phyllis...if my piece gets printed, I'll forward it to

all of you.  What the hell, even if it doesn't get

printed I'll forward it to the next newsletter.

I had the pleasure to go to a concert late September, in

a local hotel ballroom, starring Roy Ayers, Norman

Connors, and the great Jean Carne. Norman and Jean did a

very moving tribute to Phyllis, along with vocalist

Nathan Heathman and the sell-out crowd loved it.  For

those younger fans of Phyllis who crave unique talent

like hers, check out Jean Carne and Angela Bofill, two

friends of Phyllis who are also great vocalists in that

special vein.

I'm hoping, as I know you all are, to hear from Glenda

Gracia and the estate with news about the continuing

legacy of Phyllis in upcoming newsletters, and I would

like to remind you all to help Richard and Walid keep it

alive by sending your comments, thoughts or ramblings.

We must keep her memory strong and alive, she'll smile

down at us for that and the world will be that much

better if her voice continues to SING OUT!  

Peace to you all,  Tom

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

From: TMoorny

Millions of times (or more) I think about her:

The years, the tears, the laughter. Memories that warm me

like a sunny day made it feel so good to see the fanzine

in my in-box that day.

You just don't know, Richard and Walid, how good it

feels, how glad I am that  it's back. The 'zine's become

an old friend, and I ain't had enough yet. I save the

issues -- souvenirs? -- and re-read them

occasionally. The 'zine and its subscribers comprise a

heavenly community that loves the original Goddess of

Love as much as I do. You see, my devotion for Phyllis

runs deep, and obsession is its name. So when you get

right down to it, I'm under her spell. I celebrate

Phyllis daily.

Thanks, Tom Conroy, for turning me on to Phyllis imports

"You Know How to Love Me" and "Somewhere in My Lifetime."

As you point out, we still need "Goddess of Love" and

McCoy Tyner's "Lookin' Out."

I find some consolation in a tape a friend made me of

Pharoah Sanders' "Love Will Find a Way" and Tyner's

"Lookin' Out." Thanks to "One on One," we get Pharoah

Sanders (excluding the uninspired duet with Norman

Connors -- for whom I still have much love, but his voice

doesn't complement Phyllis'). But I still want CD-quality

"Lookin' Out" tracks, particularly the sensual yet

chilling "In Search of My Heart," my

nomination for Most Ominous Phyllis Cut.

And though Arista has yet re-release "Goddess of Love,"

through various compilations, every track on the album is

available on CD except -- "Goddess of Love."

And speaking of unavailable gems: Konta, you wrote in

Newsletter 23 that you own a copy of "The Kill Reflex." I

agree with you, though I've only seen excerpts, it's a

bad movie. But Phyllis -- she sho' looks good to me,

despite the blonde-hair thing -- is reason to own it. I

would kill, be willing to spend ridiculous amounts of

money (within in reason) for a copy. So, my fellow

Phyllis devotee, how 'bout hookin' a Brotha up? We can

talk privately.

Luckily, "Sacred Kind of Love" is still available on

Grover Washington Jr.'s "Time Out of Mind" but also on

his "Prime Cuts" greatest hits CD, released just before

he died. And "Black and Blue," the duet on Barry

Manilow's "Swing Street," is out there, too. I've still

got my "Sophisticated Ladies" cast album, but it doesn't

appear to be available anymore; at least I'm having

little luck finding it. Anybody know something? Also, my

video copy of the production (with Phyllis, Paula Kelly

and Hinton Battle; maybe I woulda liked it better with

Gregory Hines) got missing, and I'm not having any luck

replacing it. Can anybody help me there?

Anybody heard Rebbie Jackson attempt "I Don't Wanna Lose

You"? Found it on a "Best Of" collection.

And a friend and I checked out Jean Carne at a club

called SOB's in Manhattan's Greenwich Village. She was

beautiful. In tribute to Phyllis, one of her singers took

a decent turn at "Meet Me on the Moon." (The band,

all male, doubled as singers.) And, interestingly, for an

encore, she did "You Know How to Love Me" and had the

entire audience on its feet. Phyllis is forever loved.

Thanks again, Walid and Richard, for continuing to enrich

this community.

TONY MOOR

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

From: Henry Blaine Gaffney III

Subject: A Celebration!

Hi Walid:

Glad to find you are back online with the Phyllis Hyman

new letter, we her loyal fans need to voice our opinions

and feelings about this great diva. I enjoy reading what

other's have to say and it's assures me that I not the

only Hyman addict!

Like Glenda Gracia I think we should celebrate her

birthday rather then the day she left us. It amazes me at

the number of fans that Phyllis has acquired since her

death. Those who were not familiar with her in life

have become fans of late. I have turned on so many people

to her music because I play the albums and the few cd's

of Ms. Hyman's music that I have all the time.

She seems to still get a lot of air play on the radio and

even Muzak has taken to playing her music. I was at work

one day and could not believe that I was hearing Hyman

over the PA system. Most recently today as a

matter of fact I was in the hospital and the lab

technician there was playing Phyllis' "Prime Of My Life"

on her cassette player. I commented that I was a fan and

we struck up a conversation about Phyllis. It seems that

her son had damaged her one of her Hyman tapes and she

was desperately trying to find a replacement. This is one

of the reasons I have been urging you to do all in your

power to see that Phyllis'

earlier works are re-released in their entirety! The

problem with Anthologies and "Greatest Hits" are that who

decides what songs should be included on them. I would

prefer to original copulation's as they contain

music that might not make it on the latter formats. Maybe

her fans and her estate can petition the record companies

to do this.

Lastly to Phyllis: I know you are looking in awe and

wonder, amazed by the numbers of admirers that you have.

You have left a void in our lives that can't ever be

filled. We love you and miss you terribly! Happy

Birthday Ms Hyman, I know one day I will be able to hear

you sing "live" again, until then I will have to be

satisfied with what you left us.

Blaine Gaffney

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

From: Musicizbk

Hello, my name is Shae.  Before I start rambling I would

like to say I am in shock!! when the request came for

Phyllis Hyman lyrics, I laughed.  Why?

I thought they were in every one of her albums, and now

CD's.  So, I ran down to my music room, pulled out every

album, (with a smirk on my face), only to find I don't

have the album sleeves, well that's because

I kept my walls for years covered with them, along with

other favorites. The reason I thought I had them is

because I know every word to every song she's ever

recorded....that I could get my hands on.  As a vocalist,

I had several charts taken down for me of Phyllis Hyman.

I could never find the music, but it didn't occur to me

at the time, it wasn't released at all to the public.

She was one of the reasons I went to music school after

many years of paying for charts, I decided I needed to

learn them myself.

I have sang since the time I could talk.  Up until the

70's I sang anyone and everything, though none really

touched my heart and soul, I couldn't identify with them.

 Until one day while I was living in the Bay Area, and

visiting my home Los Angeles, a friend put on her first

albums of  "Phyllis Hyman." It literally took my breath

away, I was in amazement, I can't put

it into words what her voice did to me, I remember

playing the album over and over, lingering on every word

and sound she made.  Every note sent me

on a high.  I then started practicing her songs, singing

her songs, begging to here her music where ever I went.

I remember doing a show at Carlos and

Charlies in Los Angeles, and after a set, a young lady

walked up to me and said "after every song I kept waiting

here a Phyllis Hyman song"  It brought a tear to my eyes,

because each time I added one of her songs to my set,

someone would come up and say is that your song? or who

sings that song? it was incredible, very few times when I

said "Phyllis Hyman" did they know who I was talking

about.  I would do "Here's that Rainy Day" acappella for

auditions, and for shows, when I wanted to really set

people on I would do "Old Friend," "Gonna Make Changes"

or "Was Yesterday Such A. Long Time Ago," all I had

special charts done for.  Her voice cut down into your

soul, it lives you yearning for more.  How could they

not have known who she was? 

I only had the pleasure of seeing Phyllis once in

concert.  And it was a ticket given to me from one of the

other artists in the show, so I was backstage. Not a good

place to be.  But I had one goal only, and it was to meet

Phyllis.  I was so excited.  This was a dream come true.

But it wasn't a good night for her, she didn't want to

see anyone, and was very angry at everyone.  My heart was

broken.  But, I didn't tell anyone, I could never say

anything bad about her, and I didn't want them to know

something was wrong.  I didn't understand then.  But I do

now.  I too suffer from Bipolar/Manic Depression.  I was

diagnosed 9 years ago, 5 years before Phyllis decided to

go home.  I was given a ticket to see her New Year's Eve

at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, because everyone knew how

I felt about her, and I had needed a pick me up, so to

speak. I was suffering very bad that year, and decided I

would see her the next time she came through. There was

no next time.  I missed the chance of a lifetime.  But

since, I her learned to understand and love her more,

though the tears still fall sometimes. 

I have a 12 year old daughter born July 8, 1988, my

mother and friends to this day swear she looks more like

Phyllis than me. I used to ignore them, and thought they

were joking.  Until a few weeks ago.  I decided to

download and copy some pictures of Phyllis, (that you

provided, THANK YOU) and I was devastated the

similarities are scary.  Not only that.  I never

knew Phyllis'  birthday, only to discover she was born on

7/6 and my daughter Taylor on 7/8!  I will submit a

picture if would like.  So Strange.  I believe that her

spirit will live on forever.  There was only one Phyllis,

and no matter how many wonderful vocalist we have or have

had,.... and I have heard my share, NO ONE touches your

heart like PHYLLIS HYMAN. 

As I said in the beginning I was shocked to find that I

didn't have her  lyrics.  However, I do have every one of

them in my head and some on charts, and some of pieces of

paper.  I will try to start submitting some

of them, so that other fans can enjoy the words that she

shared with us. Because of my bipolar I stopped singing

for almost 10 years.  I too tried to take my life.  But

have come through with strength to start again.  I don't

know where this strength came from.  I don't take

medication, it only seemed to make me worse, the real me

got lost, I had no desire at all for

anything.  I don't advise not taking medication, it just

didn't work for me.  But I understand how our dear

Phyllis got lost.  I have come out of

the dark stronger.  And what ever I do with my music, it

will include Phyllis.  I had been approached to do a one

woman show about "Billie Holiday" and even "Josephine

Baker," I considered Billie only because I love her too,

but she has been over done, but my heart is saying

someone should spread the music and life of "Phyllis

Hyman."  I believe we found out more about Billie Holiday

after she was gone, and maybe we will have to do for

Phyllis what was done for Billie, since it

wasn't done while she was here.  Thank you for this

website, and the newsletter, it has become my lost

connection.  If you need anything from me

to spread the awareness and love of Phyllis just ask.

Deliver The Love,

Shae

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

From: RRoBin511

I was about 16 years old, when I first remember hearing

the legendary Phyllis Hyman, even though I was young, and

did not understand her music to the fullest or should I

say deepest (because of not being mature enough).

I can recall hearing her voice over the airwaves, whether

it be from a passing car, on a subway platform, an

apartment building from Westchester to the Bronx and all

five boroughs as my girlfriends and I hopped the city.

It was a voice so angelic and demanding at the same time,

It just took you, ear and heart. Her music was of love,

hurt, pain and happiness, 

I finally got to see Ms. Hyman, sometime in the late eighties.
and there was a women so beautiful and of course I have
heard the rumors about her loneliness  and her problems with
finding a companion.  (That night I watched Phyllis, perform with

Grover Washington, and the Beacon Theater.) I said to

myself she is absolutely beautiful; she had grace and

style. She could never have any such problems.  Well

anyway, that night Phyllis was all that and more. She

just gave you her all and all, and left you speechless. I

said to myself she can have anybody or anything she

wanted not just because she was Beautiful but her

personality, her seeming to be so level headed and strong

in voice alone, would capture any heart.  Anyway when I

got older and learned to appreciate her music, Because I

too am a Beautiful woman who basically feels the same way

she did.  I respect her work so much, and you can bring

the Houstons, the Braxtons and the Carey's,   MS. PHYLLIS

HYMAN, IS AND I REPEAT IS THE DIVA OF ALL TIME.  

PEACE 

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

From: Berry, Debra

I have listened to Phyllis Hyman ever since she started

to make records.

She sings my life out loud. What can I say, I loved her .

I saw her inside

and I understood her, yet I didn't know her personally.

If there was a

song that I could name that would fill my heart with joy

to hear, and that

would fill my eyes up with tears, it would be Old Friend.

When Phyllis

recorded that particular record, I had just gotten back

with an old friend,

and truly it was nice to welcome him back into my arms

again. I have about

5 Phyllis Hyman's CD's, and when I listen to them, I read

between the lines

that she wasn't very happy with her life, at that time I

could relate

because everything wasn't going so right in mine

"however,  at that time, I

wished that I was in the place to tell her how much she

had to live for.

How many people loved her and how many people that she

touched. I know,

because I'm one of those people. I am a singer, and

sometimes when I feel a

certain way I sing her songs, and play her music. Thanks

for this

opportunity to express myself in a way I've never done

for Phyllis, and

most of all Phyllis where ever you are, Thank You.

Thank God for PHYLLIS HYMAN, an angel that passed though

and touch me.

Sincerely,

Debra Berry

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

Hi, I remember seeing Phyllis at the Front Row in

Cleveland Ohio. I saw what I thought was one of the most beautiful
woman in the world. My girl friend at the time said" forget it Clinton
you'll never get within ten yards of her," My sister lived in New York
and worked at NBC at the time and promised to introduce me to her.
I waited but was never called to come

and meet Phyllis. My sister later told me she had not

returned to NBC when she was supposed to. I later told her after
her death that I didn't care when or what date, I would have been
there. I loved Phyllis Hyman, I was in church when the news of her
death came to me and for a second I thought I was only a dream.

Thanks for the Newsletter and the information about the

up coming event, good luck and please keep me informed of

anything about someone who is always on

my mind. Below are only two of the many songs by Phyllis

Hyman that I love. Only wish I could find them.

"Far To Distant Love"

"Goddess Of Love"

Thanks,

Clint

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

From: Sherita Martin

I want to tell you thanx so much for having this site.

Phyllis Hyman means the world to me. I am 23 years old and
was raised off of Phyllis. My mom was a band singer at the time
and she loves phyllis, has all these autographed

pictures of her and I know almost every song of hers by

ear. She was an amazing woman and will continue to be in my heart.
There are really two songs that changed my life and I ran in to your site

looking for the lyrics. 1. is 25 miles to Anywhere. (Its a place were

dreamers go there is no pain and no sorrow) and Just another face in the

crowd. These songs mean so much to me. Why, I don't know, I am just
touched. My mother moved to Texas about a month ago and I miss even
to this day her playing the records.

Maybe you can build a lyrics page, well I haven't yet

checked if you did yet because I automatically emailed you.
 I am babbling I know.

The day Phyllis died I remember I was 18 and my mother

called me in tears and I was so scared I thought she was hurt.
When she told me Phyllis was dead I told her to calm down and everything
would be alright. I then cried as if my soul was being tortured. All the
memories of my mothers face when she sang her songs, me holding
anything for a mic to mimic flashed before my eyes. I was hurt cause
she gave up on us. I was hurt because she hurt my

mother. I was hurt cause she was gone. 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.

I can. I love you Phyllis and I hope you are at Peace.

Oh yeah no one, and I mean NO ONE, sings Betcha By Golly

Wow like her

peace

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

 

From: Arnetta Scott

You may remember my letter several months ago -- I'm the

one who saw Phyllis in Seattle a few weeks before her departure.  I

want to thank you both for the updates.  I was in the local Borders

bookstore just yesterday looking for some new music from Phyllis
because I have worn my nine CDs out!!!!!!!!!!

I've become a much better "backup" singer, having learned

every word, breath and beat of her music.  Sometimes I feel her

singing in front and behind me!!!   Can you believe that?

Anyway, for the last few days she has been on my mind --

knowing the dates and expecting that someone, somewhere
outside of Washington state must be remembering, celebrating or both.

I'm glad to hear about the projects, the film [I met

Nancy Wilson here in Seattle on New Year's eve 1997-98 and we
briefly chatted about Phyllis]

I am in total anticipation of this event!!!

Phyllis remains a large part of my life both spiritually

and in the flesh simply because I did get "smitten" so close to her

untimely death and definitely felt all the things that the others shared in

their letters this time.

People, who see me with my headset on at work and the

large number of her records I carry around in my CD cases, think I am
totally obsessed, but truthfully, I am honoring myself in satisfying that part

of me that gets so soul-pleased by her sounds.

As sick as it sounds, I still think I, too, could have

made a difference in her life -- if only I could have reached her.   Now, I

know that I have, we have.  Because of my very strong spiritual beliefs, the

confirmations from many years of feeling and knowing the pain of others,

hearing that someone else is really "empathetic"  -- that is real and not just

our imaginations.
 

I would have told her how right she is, how really and

truly we must, absolutely, must trust ourselves regardless of what

others say, do, don't say or don't do.    Phyllis, have your heard me?  
Have you taken notice from your position in the universe?

Thanks, again -- for the Lighthouse, that brought me back

from the sea.

It is well.

Sincerely,

Arnetta Scott

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

 

From: Oes289nj

It was my pleasure to see Ms Hyman at the Beacon Theater

in NYC in 1993 (I think it was ), I was blown away, mesmerized,
and forever a fan. She appeared in a cloud of smoke in black with
that black feathered head piece..  WOW.

I saw her subsequently at BAM in Brooklyn, where she

appeared to be in a hurry to go somewhere and stated as such from the

stage, she then had Tony Terry follow her on stage. Looking back
now make me pause and wonder. I still think there is/was no other....

I find the newsletter very, very painful to go through,

but yet strangely comforting.. I would love to comment more often,
but like most readers.. it requires so much anguish.

Keep up the work

Mike. B

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

From: MsLace2K

As I sit listening to the CD, "Loving You, Losing You" by

the late, great mesmerizing Phyllis Hymen, I find myself questioning why

is there so little available about this "phenomenal woman."  Your site is

virtually the only outlet to learning about her.  Even the Whispers

production was a great stepping stone of introducing the world to the life of

Ms. Hyman.  But I strongly feel that so much more MUST be done.

I first became introduced to Ms. Hymen back in the early

80's and I have been a fan of hers every since.  I think the news of her

death stunned everyone, but must that be the only thing that people

remember about her. There was a woman who lived a life before death. 
I mean, her life was not all pain...there were some moments she was happy. 
 I feel that those are the moments that people should come to know. 
Yes, love lost is what she sung about.  But she touched so many lives
significantly. I  believe that's worth celebrating. 

    

Take care and God bless.

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

From: RASHIDAK

May I say how glad I am to receive this issue of the

newsletter around the time of Phyllis Hyman's birthday.  Just wanted to share

the following experience I had.  My daughter came home for a long

holiday break from summer school at Duke University in Durham,N.C.. So, of

course while I was at work, my 20 year old must have been playing my stereo,

because after she was gone back to school, I decided to just turn on some

music and low and behold, as I was in the shower preparing for going to

work, I hear a Phyllis Hyman CD come on.  Well, it looks like

the legacy is continuing into the next generation.  Likewise, my child

has an interview at a location radio station in Durham to be on the air.

Hope this is a sign of things to come.  Usually, I don't like for CD's

to be left in the player, but this time, all I could do  was smile and

smile some more.  May the spirit of Phyllis Hyman live on in my child's

heart......

Margaret , aka Rashida's Mom in New York..........

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

From: "Anderson, Shinetta"

Hi Walid

I was beginning to think that you guys had taken me off

your email list. Let me start off by staying HELLO to all of

the other fans and what a delight it is to belong to such group. I recently

purchase one of PHYLLIS cds with following titles
1) BETCHA BY GOLLY,WOW,
2) SOMEWHERE IN MY LIFETIME,
3) KISS YOU ALL OVER ...which is my favorite,

4) BUT I LOVE YOU,
5) COMPLETE ME
6) JUST TWENTY FIVE MILES TO ANYWHERE

7) YOU KNOW HOW TO LOVE ME
8) JUST ANOTHER FACE IN THE CROWD
9) CANT WE FALL IN LOVE AGAIN

10) YOUR MOVE, MY HEART
AND LAST ON THE LIST IS RIDING THE TIGER.

I have had the hardest time just trying to find any of the music

that I currently do not have, seems like I keep running into stores that

have the same cds/types. Is there a website that I can visit to obtain

all of PHYLLIS music?

I have been a fan of PHYLLIS way before your death and I

haven't found anyone else who likes your music thus far. Everyone tends

to say and think that this is the saddest music they have ever heard and

she really must have been in a great deal of pain to make such

songs. I only agree with them when they say she must have had a great deal of

pain, but I can actually relate. Each and every song...well maybe I

shouldn't say all of her songs...she tended to put others first in her life

and needed what we all need LOVE, ATTENTION AND AFFECTION but she wasn't

sure as to where to find it. She really did get into her music and I will

always be a fan of PHYLLIS. Please let me know where I may purchase the

latest and greatest of our fallen star. Thanks and talk to you later. 

NE0TTA L. ANDERSON

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

From: DeranY2K

I cannot express how I felt when I read the AP story on

June 30, 1995..My stomach never sank so low..Ms. Hyman's

music made a major impact on my life,starting from when I

first heard "Loving you, Losing you" in late 70s.

Throughout the 80s, I was living in DC where she was

favorite in the DC music scene. Sadly a concert at the

Bushnell Theatre in Hartford, CT was cancelled that I had

planned to see her perform in 1987. Her music, her style,

her voice will never, ever be duplicated. I wish she

would have know how much her fans loved her. Thank you

very much for this website. It's been nice to connect

with her fan base.

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

From: FoxyBrownYk2

I must say that I'm proud to see that some have given

some thought about Phyllis Hyman. My opinion of Phyllis'

talent is in which no singer could even compare. She gave

every song something personal and deep, almost like

she was telling her story. I can remember one day driving

down the freeway in Houston Texas and Magic 102 played

Meet Me on The Moon. Never have I every heard anyone put

so much heart and soul into a song, it was a moment

that I'll always remember. Yes, I am one of those

faithful Phyllis Fans, me and Phyllis Saturday mornings

on the Pacific. Thank you so much for making

this possible. This is truly and opportunity for all of

the fans to praise our forgotten DIVA.

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

That's it for this issue. Before I sign off, I would like

to apologize to all the people who sent me e-mails or

signed the PH guestbook during the last few months and

did not get a reply from me. Due to personal and

work-related circumstances I have not had much time to

spend on-line and as a result, I was unable to send

e-mails to everyone who wrote in. I am genuinely sorry

about this!

 

Happy Birthday, Phyllis!!!!!
 

Walid Itayim

Editor - PH Internet Newsletter