Phyllis Hyman - Phyllis Hyman -1977-

Born in Philadelphia in 1949, Phyllis Hyman began her career as a singer influenced by jazz, and gradually moved towards heavily-produced urban contemporary ballads.

After singing in a few unknow groups as New Direction in the early 70s, Phyllis Hyman started singing background vocals on Jon Lucien’s Premonition LP and started singing in NY clubs. Her first big step was when she was highlighted on a cover of the Stylistics' "Betcha By Golly Wow," which appeared on Norman Connors' You Are My Starship LP in the mid 70s.

Buddah released Phyllis Hyman in 1977. That album set the standard for Hyman's career and features classy, mellow R&B sound made by players with esteemed jazz/R&B players like Gary Bartz, Skip Scarborough or Harvey Mason Sr.

Phyllis Hyman is curiously one of her most forgotten efforts, though it included many songs she would be later be identified with.

The album starts with the beautiful Thom Bell crafted "Loving You, Loosing You" with a superb strings intro.

Skip Scarborough's "No One Can Love You More" is indicative of her plentiful sensual charm and her rich vocal timbre. Although Hyman's vocal prowess is well known, this set also shows that she was gifted with an uncommon maturity. Hyman was only in her mid 20's when this was recorded. That self-possession made her glide through the majority of the material here. Thom Bell and Linda Creed's "I Don't Want to Lose You" (originally recorded by the Spinners) has Hyman's version even more of a tearjerker.

She made a major impression when her label was acquired by Arista the next year. Her first album under the new label, Somewhere in My Lifetime, was highly successful. Its title track was produced by Barry Manilow and with "You Know How to Love Me" made the R&B Top 20.

Hyman got her lone Top Ten hit in 1981 with "Can't We Fall in Love Again," but her albums did consistently well through the '80s. The production teams of Mtume/Reggie Lucas and Narada Michael Walden/Thom Bell gave her material that showcased her skill with sophisticated ballads. Hyman had more success when she left Arista for Philadelphia International in 1986, with the single "Living All Alone" putting her back in the R&B Top 20. She also sang on fusion and light jazz dates by Joe Sample, Ronnie Foster, and Grover Washington, Jr., a more conventional jazz session for McCoy Tyner, and a pop date with the Four Tops.

She struggled with bipolar disorder, depression, alcoholism, weight gain and financial problems. She was also emotionally exhausted from lending her talents to AIDS benefits concerts and support groups. Adding to her sorrow, her mother and grandmother died within a month of one another, which she wrote about in the song "This Too Shall Pass".

On the afternoon of June 30th, 1995, Hyman committed suicide by taking a drug overdose. She was found just hours before she was scheduled to perform at the famed Apollo Theatre. It was a week before her 46th birthday.

She left a suicide note reading, "I'm tired I'm tired those of you that I love know who you are may god bless you." it is thought that the last part of the message was for her family and fans.

I strongly recommend the 1977 album named Phyllis Hyman and her first Philadelphia album in 1987. All the Arista recordings are very good but albums are filled with some outstanding tracks and so-so songs.

Just below you can find a great live performance from Phyllis and you can download and listen the track "Loving You, Loosing You" you can enjoy.