Phyllis Hyman - Living All Alone (CD)

PHYLLIS HYMAN "LIVING ALL ALONE"

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Feb 1, 2007

Pros: FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN LOVE

Cons: A FOOL FOR LOVE = PAIN*

A Sophisticated Lady, Phyllis Hyman . . . July 6 Phillis Hyman *On this date in 1949, Phyllis Hyman was born. She was an African-American singer and entertainer. From Philadelphia, the oldest of seven brothers and sisters, Hyman grew up poor and ...was intent on a career as a legal secretary. After high school and attending Robert Morris Business College, the six-foot one-inch beauty made her way to New York now dreaming of a career in the entertainment business. In 1974, she had formed her own group, Phyllis Hyman and the PH Factor. One year later she had become a fixture at Rust Brown’s and Mikell’s, two clubs on the upper West Side of New York. In 1976, Norman Connors worked with her on his album; You Are My Starship, which included Hyman singing Bethcha By Golly Wow. Arista records signed her in 1977; she fit well with their direction of sophisticated vocals with a hint of jazz. Through the label she impacted the charts with Somewhere in My Lifetime and You Know How to Love Me. Hyman married her manager Larry Alexander in the late 1970’s, but their personal and professional associations ended in divorce. This would haunt her for the rest of her life. Soon after she won a spot on the Duke Ellington Revue Sophisticated Ladies, she was nominated for a Tony Award in 1981, remaining with the show for three years. In 1986, Hyman moved to the Philly International record label and made some of her best recordings. Albums such as Living All Alone and Prime of My Life, (1991) were released. Also during this period, she was filling venues such as Harlem’s Apollo Theater, Oakland’s Paramount, and The Fox in St. Louis; often wearing traditional African costumes. Her versatility is shown in a short but impressive performance in Spike Lee’s film School Daze. In the 1990’s, Hyman gained weight and there were rumors of drug and alcohol abuse, she gave a touching confession when interviewed on the Arsenio Hall Show of how lonely and unhappy she was at the time. On June 30, 1995, just before a show with the Whispers singing group,Phyllis Hyman committed suicide. Read more Less