Phyllis Hyman was born in Philadelphia, PA on July 6, 1949. On June 30, 1995, 16 years ago today . . . the very beautiful Phyllis Hyman committed suicide. She died by overdosing on pentobarbital and secobarbital in her NYC apartment just hours before she was scheduled to perform a the Apollo Theater. Her suicide note read in part: "I'm tired of singing. I'm tired of living. Those of you that I love, know who you are. May God bless you." She was 45 years old.
She was a singer, songwriter and actress. Hyman was 6ft. tall and very beautiful! She sang with Pharoah Sanders and the Fatback Band while working on her first solo album, Phyllis Hyman. It was released in 1977 on the Buddha Records label. Arista bought Buddha and she transferred to that label. "Somewhere In My Lifetime" was her first album for Arista in 1978. The title track was produced by Barry Manilow. In the late 1970s she married her manager, Larry Alexander but both the personal and professional associations ended in divorce. Her follow-up album, "You Know How To Love Me" mad the R&B Top 20 and did very well on the club and dance charts. Her husband turned her on to cocaine, which led to a life-long dependency. Their relationship was tumultuous. She signed with Philadelphia Int'l in 1985 and was with them till her death in 1995. Some of her hits were: You Know How to Love Me, Under Your Spell, Somewhere In My Lifetime, Can't We Fall In Love Again, Tonight You and Me, The Answer Is You, Betcha By Golly Wow, I Don't Want To Lose You, Old Friend, Meet Me On the Moon and Gonna Make Changes.
Hyman's last album, "I Refuse To Be Lonely" was a journey into her personal life. R.I.P. Phyllis Hyman! ♫
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