Phyllis hyman siblings

1. Biography of Phyllis Linda Hyman
2. Early Career
3. Solo Career
4. Success and Personal Struggles
5. Broadway and Later Career
6. Tragic End

Biography of Phyllis Linda Hyman

Phyllis Linda Hyman was an American singer and actress who performed in genres such as soul, contemporary R&B, jazz, pop, and disco. She was born on July 6, 1949, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up in one of the neighborhoods of Pittsburgh.

Early Career

Hyman received a scholarship to attend a music school and after completing her education, she embarked on a national tour with the group "New Direction" in 1971. When the group disbanded, she joined the ensemble "All the People" and worked with the local group "The Hondo Beat." In 1974, she played a small role as a nightclub owner in the biographical drama "Lenny" starring Dustin Hoffman.

Solo Career

In 1975, Hyman formed her own group called "Phyllis Hyman and the P/H Factor" and eventually caught the attention of Sid Maurer, a renowned pop performer and veteran of the music industry, and Fred Frank, a former promoter at Epic Records. She signed a contract with Roadshow Records/Desert Moon and relocated to New York City to establish her professional reputation.

Hyman began performing in clubs, and Norman Connors offered her an opportunity to work on his new album "You Are My Starship." In 1976, their duet "Betcha by Golly Wow!" became a hit on the charts. She also collaborated with jazz saxophonist Pharoah Sanders and the "Fatback Band" while simultaneously working on her debut solo album, "Phyllis Hyman," which was released in 1977 by Buddha Records. When Arista Records acquired Buddha, Hyman moved to the new label.

Success and Personal Struggles

Her next album, "Somewhere in My Lifetime," was released in 1978 and featured the title track prepared by Barry Manilow, who was also signed to Arista Records. Her following album, "You Know How to Love Me," reached the top twenty on the R&B album charts, and its songs consistently ranked high on the pop and dance music charts.

In 1979, Hyman married her manager Larry Alexander, the brother of Jamaican pianist Monty Alexander. They had three children together but divorced in September 1988 due to personal and professional difficulties in their relationship. Larry introduced Hyman to cocaine, which she struggled with until the end of her life, and squandered a significant portion of her finances. They frequently argued and even had physical altercations.

Broadway and Later Career

On March 1, 1981, Hyman made her Broadway debut in the musical "Sophisticated Ladies" and was nominated for a Tony Award for her role. The musical ran for almost two years and had 767 performances. Problems with Arista Records led to a pause in Hyman's music career, and she took the opportunity to act in two films, appear in television commercials, and collaborate with several famous artists and groups. She actively toured and even gave lectures at colleges.

In 1985, Hyman switched to the Philadelphia International label and released three albums with them. From 1977 to 1991, she released a total of nine albums. After her death, nine more albums were released, including compilations and previously unreleased material, with the last one in 2004.

Tragic End

On June 30, 1995, just a week before her 46th birthday, Phyllis Hyman tragically took her own life by ingesting a large dose of sleeping pills in her New York City apartment. She was found a few hours before her scheduled performance at the Apollo Theatre. In her suicide note, she wrote, "I'm tired. I'm tired. Those of you whom I love, know this. God bless you!" A memorial service was held at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Manhattan. In November 1995, her first posthumous album, "I Refuse to Be Lonely," was released.