The voice of Phyllis Hyman was everything in the 1980’s. We played Prince and Rick James on the radio on the way to school and as we played deuces wild spades at the park in the summertime. We also loved Stacey Lattisaw. None of us young ladies wanted to find love on a two way street nor lose it on a lonely highway… For me, there was my journals, my languages of English, French, and Castillian… I had no visions, no dreams only living each moment.
As we grew up we began to listen to more “adult/mature music: Jazz…
Kirk Whalum and Kenny G; we loved to absorb the energy of those who were masters of instruments. Somewhere in the background was Ms. Phyllis Hyman. She was just too much of everything. Her lyrics were not something that was embraced by my friends nor I.
Was Yesterday Such A Long Time Ago
album: “Somewhere In My Lifetime” (1978)
In my family, my brother bought Switch and Michael Jackson. My mother and dad preferred silence… no music was played during hunting nor fishing. Silence was the “music” they preferred.
However, in Eckerd’s Drugs and Rice Grocery stores Phyllis Hyman was on repeat. At the skating rink near the mall when couples would skate slow and the lights were turned down low, Phyllis Hyman was on every speaker. I didn’t get it… Meanwhile, Phyllis told short stories with her music.
Phyllis Linda Hyman (July 6, 1949 – June 30, 1995) was an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Hyman is best known for her music during the late 1970s through the early 1990s, some of her most notable songs were “You Know How to Love Me” (1979), “Living All Alone” (1986) and “Don’t Wanna Change the World” (1991).
Hyman also performed on Broadway in the 1981 musical based on the music of Duke Ellington, Sophisticated Ladies, which ran from 1981 until 1983. The musical earned her a Theatre World Award and a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical.
After an extended struggle with her mental health, Hyman died by suicide in 1995 at her New York City apartment.
She was a Cancer and she was using alcohol and cocaine. When you are a water sign and you indulge in mind altering substances – it’s a dangerous cocktail boding complete tragedy.
She was amazing really. When she grew tired of it all. She left.
What I find interesting is she was a great talent just like Whitney Houston became yet they both self medicated and left long before their time. I think in the Black community, the greatest among us are neglected, envied, and abandoned. I think it’s okay for all of that. If you are reading this and you are divinely gifted with beauty, talent, intelligence…let that be enough…
No one has it all in this life and this is how it’s supposed to be.
What you do have – let that be enough, be content.
Whatever you do not have – be okay with that.
When it comes to Death – you don’t need to call on him. When your appointment is near, you will know. If you are favored, you will have time to tell the ones whom you adore goodbye, and Death will allow you to leave with dignity and peace.
Phyllis was 46 years old. Can you even fathom that? She was well loved and so talented. She was also mentally ill. “I refuse to be lonely…” was sung by Ms. Phyllis Hyman.
Nature Boy
There was a boy
A very strange, enchanted boy
They say he wandered very far
Very far, over land and sea
A little shy and sad of eye
But very wise was heAnd then one day
Nat King Cole
A magic day he passed my way
And while we spoke of many things
Fools and kings
This he said to me:
“The greatest thing you’ll ever learn
Is just to love and be loved in return”
Meanwhile…
In this life, you WILL have trouble, but fear not for I have conquered the world.
Yeshua Emmanuel – John 16:33
So, we all just keep on going. No matter the circumstances. No matter what we do have. No matter how blessed we are. No matter how difficult it is to track your interest payments and follow how many times your stock has split. No matter how many emails, texts, and voicemails you must get through. Just keep on going.
When you are putting money on the books of inmates and they get out of jail then all jails close… When all the charities you support have no more clients… When there are no animals being abused nor hunted to extinction… There are continents of lush gardens and all humans are kind and considerate… Just keep on going.
Live your life.
Laugh often.
Be grateful.
Stay energized knowing that tomorrow will bring new wonders…
Life is resplendent with seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter
We are meant to enjoy them all… I love you so much! Never forget that!
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