By Linda Di. (66.67.194.109) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 12:18 pm:

Eight years ago today, Phyllis left the planet. If you looked up the word "vocalist" in the dictionary, I believe you should see her picture. Her star never shined the way it should have on earth, but I do believe that her star is shining brightly now wherever she is. God bless you, Phyllis.

By Greg C. (166.84.225.18) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 12:27 pm:

I miss her so much!

Sometimes I wonder what she would sound like today and it would be so nice to have new music by her. Thankfully for the time she was here with us, she left a treasure trove of quality material. I miss you Phyllis! Can't nobody sing like you baby!

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 12:51 pm:

I met Phyllis in 1990 here in NYC at a local record store when she released the CD "The Prime Of My Life". Wonderful, beautiful and classy lady.

Five years later I got the phone call from a colleague of hers telling me that Phyllis took her own life that afternoon (June 30, 1995).

There will never be another like her. Rest well, angel.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Eli (151.197.31.117) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 02:39 pm:

If Phylis had the kind of material and production given Toni Braxton or even Anita Baker she would have reaped the rewards thereof indeed.

By stephanie (64.63.221.35) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 03:30 pm:

You are right Eli she had a better voice than Toni IMO but she was definitely a stylist in her own right and they say she was frustrated because she was not being promoted properly and other things. Its so sad but she left us with a great legacy..
Stephanie

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 04:27 pm:

Bobby:
The music Phyllis recorded was fine work IMO. From her Buddah recordings and the Mtume/Lucas productions to the work Kenny & Leon did with her toward the end of her life, the amount of great material was stellar.

I do agree though that the labels and distributors could've done a better job marketing her recordings. Buddah was its last legs while PIR just didn't have the prescence it once had. The only label that did her justice was Arista, which had all the great singers during Phyllis' tenure (Dionne Warwick, Angela Bofill, Aretha Franklin and Phyllis - whew!)

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 05:42 pm:

Kev-Go;
Did you read what I said about Phyllis (on an old previous thread) about trying to reach Jimmy for advice by phone 2 days before she committed suicide, but his wife at the time was jealous & didn't tell Jimmy? That was one of the straws that broke the camel's back in that relationship! Did you know about the problems she was having with her handler's at the time and was seeking a way to get away from them?
S.S.

By dvdmike (68.72.93.184) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 06:05 pm:

The last time I saw her, she was walking down Michigan Avenue here in Chicago. This was about 10 years ago.

By SB (206.214.2.154) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 06:26 pm:

Phyllis - was one of my all time favorite singers. I absolutely loved her voice. At one time - she and Jean Carne were the *hit, for real. I was very sad when she passed, and I missed her greatly. Just as I was and did when Minnie Rippleton (sp?) passed.

May God continue to rest both of their beautiful souls.

By drums (216.178.85.78) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 06:33 pm:

I met her in 1993 at Delilah's Soul Food in 30th Street Station in Philly! I didnt recognize her at all. Delilah kept telling me it was her and I bet her $5 dollars that it wasnt. She started singing and I instantly recognized the voice!!

She gave me her autograph on a napkin and I still have it to this day. I am really saddened by her loss.....


Daren Metz
Sony/Studio 4

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 07:25 pm:

Soul Sister:
I became aware of Phyllis' management problems after her death. If only these people were more sensitive to her needs and problems & not be so focused on the "bottom line".....
As for your posting, I remember reading it with sadness. Jimmy was right to kick his ex-wife to the curb (granted, I don't know the woman but what she did was just plain f-------g mean, pardon my language).
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Linda Di. (66.67.194.109) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 09:24 pm:

I got to know Phyllis quite well in the mid 80s. I hung out with her whenever she was anywhere in the area. I visited with her in LA a few hours before the Landers quake in 1992. (I was glad the quake was at 5:00 a.m. because I was sitting high up in the Wiltern Theatre balcony hours earlier.)

Phyllis was determined to take her own life for a long time. We discussed it once, and she believed it would someday be the right thing for her to do. I believe she had demons most of us will never understand; and it's doubtful anybody or anything could have saved her. In many ways, she was her own worst enemy. I know the people who worked for her and they loved her and protected her as best they could. The best we can do for Phyllis is pray that she is at peace. I do believe she is ... finally.

By MGBS (66.72.195.216) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 09:35 pm:

Linda, Thanks for the personal info. I too remember at the time of her death her last phone call to someone in her musical camp who desperately tried to convince her that life was for the living. She rationally tried to defend her irrational decision to the very end. Sinbad always referred to her as his special angel after her death.

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (152.163.252.68) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 10:23 pm:

I can hear her singing these bars now..."I Don't Want To Change The World (Just Want To Be Your Girl)", such a beautiful, a beautifully talented 'soulful' diva, who, lost her game in life on this very day, and more sadly, by her own choosing... WHY?

Phyllis Hyman-- I MISS YOU still!

By Michael/cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 03:35 pm:

In the late 80's, I was fortunate to attend a July 4th party at Ashford & Simpson's place in Connecticut and Phyllis Hyman was there holding court. She was hysterically funny and could curse like a sailor. She was a brilliant talent who will always be sorely missed. There was no one who could quite sing like her. It was such a soulful, sexy, emotional sound. I hope that she has found peace.

By Common (209.2.55.171) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 03:44 pm:

Hello everyone,

Phyllis seemed to have so much going for her. She could sing any song & make it hers. Vibe did a 5-6 page article on her(surprise, surprise!) & it detailed her battle with maniac depression. It was very well researched & gave accounts from her friends as well as her family. It was said that Donny Hathaway struggled with this disease, as well as Lisa Nicole Carson, Margo Kidder, the actor who starred in "Suddenly Susan", also killed himself. It's a devasting to those who have it & I can only imagine with Phyllis had to struggle with. I, too, hope that she is at peace.

Peace!

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 03:54 pm:

Common:
Charley Pride suffered from manic depression as well. According to his autobiography, he was diagnosed with the disease at the height of his career. Fortunately, he was treated for the disease and takes medicine to this day. He recently released a new CD and is still active in country music.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Common (209.2.55.169) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 03:58 pm:

KevGo:

I didn't know that Charley suffered from it too! Wow! I think the article did mention that Phyllis was diagnosed & had tried to do the medication route but she didn't like the side effects. I'll see if Vibe has the Phyllis article online in their archives. The article was done only last year.

Peace!