Phyllis Hyman
Her lush, melancholic contralto gave voice to the complexities of love and loneliness, making her a foundational voice in sophisticated soul and quiet storm.
1949–1995 (age 46)·American singer-songwriter and actress·Birthday: July 6·Baby Boomers
Biography
Phyllis Hyman possessed a voice that was an instrument of profound emotional depth—a rich, smoky contralto that could convey vulnerability, defiance, and yearning in a single phrase. Emerging from the Philadelphia soul scene, she found early success as a theatrical performer before her 1970s albums on Buddah Records established her as a singer's singer, admired for her technical mastery and interpretive power. The 1980s brought her signature hits like 'You Know How to Love Me' and the aching ballad 'Living All Alone,' which became an anthem of quiet despair and resilience. Hyman's artistry thrived in the space between jazz, soul, and adult contemporary, making her a pillar of the 'quiet storm' radio format. Despite critical acclaim and a devoted following, her career was shadowed by personal struggles. Her tragic death in 1995 cut short a life of immense talent, leaving behind a catalog that continues to resonate for its raw honesty and unparalleled vocal beauty.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Phyllis was born in 1949, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Phyllis Was Born
The biggest hits of 1949
#1 Movie
Samson and Delilah
Best Picture
All the King's Men
#1 TV Show
Texaco Star Theatre
Phyllis's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1949Born
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1954Started school
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1962Became a teenager
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1965Could drive
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1967Could vote
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1970Turned 21
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1979Turned 30
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1989Turned 40
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1995Died at 46
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
Key Achievements
- Her 1979 single 'You Know How to Love Me' became a defining quiet storm anthem and a benchmark for sophisticated soul music.
- Received a Tony Award nomination in 1981 for her featured role in the Broadway musical 'Sophisticated Ladies.'
- The 1986 song 'Living All Alone,' which she co-wrote, is considered one of her most powerful and personal recordings, showcasing her depth as a songwriter.
Did You Know?
She was originally cast as Shug Avery in the film 'The Color Purple' but was replaced before production began.
Hyman studied at the Pittsburgh Musical Institute before beginning her professional singing career.
She was a passionate advocate for mental health awareness, speaking openly about her own battles with depression.
“I don't do songs, I don't do music, unless I can feel it.”
