Phyllis Hyman was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to African American parents, and grew up in the St. Clair Village section in Pittsburgh. After leaving Pittsburgh, her music training started with a scholarship to a music school. On graduation, she performed on a national tour with the group New Direction in 1971. After the group disbanded, she joined All the People and worked with another local group, The Hondo Beat. At this time, she appeared in the film Lenny (1974). She also did a two-year stint leading a band called Phyllis Hyman and the P/H Factor. Hyman was discovered in 1975 by internationally known pop artist and music industry veteran Sid Maurer, and former Epic Records promoter Fred Frank, and signed to their Roadshow Records/Desert Moon imprint.

Hyman moved to New York City to work on her reputation. She did background vocals on Jon Lucien’s Premonition and worked in clubs. It was during one of these performances that she was spotted by Norman Connors, who offered her a spot as a vocalist on his album, You Are My Starship (1976). The duo scored on the R&B charts with a remake of The Stylistics’ “Betcha by Golly Wow!”.

Hyman’s last album, I Refuse to Be Lonely, was a journey into her personal life. Both the title track and the single “I’m Truly Yours” became minor R&B hits. She struggled with bipolar disorder, depression, alcoholism, weight gain and financial problems. She was also emotionally exhausted from lending her talents to AIDS benefits concerts and support groups. Adding to her depression, in 1993 her mother, grandmother and a close friend all died within the span of a month.

On the afternoon of June 30, 1995, Hyman committed suicide by overdosing on pentobarbital and secobarbital in her New York City apartment. She was found hours before she was scheduled to perform at the Apollo Theatre. (Source)

Phyllis Hyman had a God given talent that was gone too soon. Her life should teach people that mental disorders are serious and should be treated immediately. If it’s a bipolar disorder or depression never be afraid to seek help for you or that family member.

You are truly missed Phyllis. Here’s one of her classics “Living All Alone”