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Phyllis Hyman (July 6 1949-June 30, 1995), born in Philadelphia, grew up in Pittsburgh. Began singing professionally in 1971 as part of The New Direction singing group. Member of Miami groups All The People and The Hondo Beat before forming Phyllis Hyman & the P/H Factor in 1974 and touring for two years and then relocating to New York. Became a featured vocalist on Norman Connors’ “You Are My Starship” album (1976) performing “Betcha By Golly Wow” and the duet “We Both Need Each Other” with Michael Henderson. Debuted on Buddah Records with “Phyllis Hyman” (1977). “Sing a Song was also released on Buddah (1979) after she’d signed with Arista, delivering “Somewhere in My Lifetime” (1979), “You Know How to Love Me”(1979), “Can’t We Fall in Love Again” (1981) and “Goddess of Love” (1983). Joined Gamble & Huff at Philadelphia International for “Living All Alone” (1987), “Prime of My Life(1991) and “I Refuse to Be Lonely” (1995), released posthumously. Appeared on Broadway in the Duke Ellington musical “Sophisticated Ladies” (1981), garnering the Theatre World Award and a Tony Awards nomination. In 1992 she was voted ‘Number One Best Female Vocalist’ in the United Kingdom by Blues & Soul magazine readers. She also has been honored with a bronze plaque along the Philadelphia Walk of Fame, a tribute to the city’s native and immigrant musical legends. In addition to duets with Henderson, Hyman lent vocals to projects with Grover Washington Jr., Pharoah Sanders, McCoy Tyner, Joe Sample, Lonnie Liston Smith, Jon Lucien, The Fatback Band, Chuck Mangione, The Whispers and The Four Tops. Some of those collaborations appear on “One on One”(1998). She can be heard in movie soundtracks for “Too Scared to Scream” (I’ll Be There”), “The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh” (“Magic Mona”) and “School Daze” (“Be One”). The latter two titles are included on “In Between the Heartaches” (2004), a compilation that also contains guest appearances and previously unreleased material.|Phyllis Hyman committed suicide, leaving a note to her fans, family and friends that started with ‘I’m tired. I’m tired.’ She was buried on what would have been her 46th birthday. |
