Mr. Kenyada's Neighborhood,
in association with Walid Itayim,
presents
Archives of the Phyllis Hyman Newsletter

 

NEWSLETTERS 1 THRU 5

NEWSLETTERS 6 THRU 10

NEWSLETTERS 11 THRU 15

NEWSLETTERS 16 THRU 20

NEWSLETTER #21  |  NEWSLETTER #22  |  NEWSLETTER #23  
 NEWSLETTER #24   |  NEWSLETTER #25

 "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

 

 

 

 

 

PHYLLIS HYMAN  INTERNET NEWSLETTER  # 21
JUNE 17, 1999

 

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

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

PHYLLIS HYMAN  INTERNET NEWSLETTER  # 22
SEPTEMBER 4, 1999

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

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