After watching “Unsung heros” on Tv1, i had to post a little something about this woman. She use to get off! Word real!! Not to mention she was a bad Woman. Not bad meaning bad but bad meaning good! Peep the Bio. BLAMMMMM!!!!
PHYLLIS HYMAN (1949-1995)
Devoted fans of the late singer Phyllis Hyman describe her as a songstress extraordinaire with a no-nonsense attitude, and a lavish, larger than life stage persona. Deep-voiced and statuesque, Phyllis sang with a life affirming energy and emotional intensity found in few other female vocalists. Born in Pittsburgh and raised in Philadelphia, her professional career began in New York city where, during an engagement, she was spotted by producer Norman Connors and contemporaries Jean Carne and Roberta Flack among others. Phyllis was immediately offered a guest appearance on Connors’ You Are My Starship album, which included her rendition of Betcha By Golly Wow.
In 1977 Buddah Records released her self-titled debut LP which featured the hits Loving You/Losing You and I Don’t Wanna Lose You. A year later Hyman was signed to Arista Records. Her premiere album for the label was Somewhere In My Lifetime, released on 1978. The title track (produced by then newcomer Barry Manilow, a longtime admirer of Hyman’s) became Phyllis’ first radio hit. A cover version of Exile’s Kiss you All Over was remixed for club play as part of Arista’s promotion, showcasing her versatility. The following year You Know How To Love Me hit the record stores, and the title track became one of Hyman’s biggest dance anthems. She would include it in her repertoire until the time of her passing.
In 1981 Phyllis starred in the hit Broadway tribute to Duke Ellington, Sophisticated Ladies and continued in the role for two and a half years, garnering a Tony Award nomination and a Theatre World Award for Best newcomer. The original cast recording was released by RCA and still remains a top seller on CD. While performing in Ladies, Phyllis cut her next album, Can’t We Fall In Love Again (1981) featuring the title track, a duet with Michael Henderson. Phyllis was at the peak of her career at this period, was widely recognized as a New York celebrity. She was everywhere.
You Know What It Is… Soul Thursday! FANGGGGGGGGGGG!!!
Bio:
(bio from www.readyfortheworld.net)
The group Ready for the World ascended upon the music scene in the mid-eighties. Their debut album entitled Ready For The World was released in 1985 on MCA records. There were a total of 5 singles releases off the debut album with the song entitled Oh Sheila charting to No#1 on four different charts all within the same week. This feat of being no# 1 on the R&B, Pop, Dance, and Video Billboard charts earned the group a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Oh Sheila also earned Gold status as a single and helped propel the group to Platinum status with 1.7 million albums sold to date. The second album released in 1986 entitled, Long Time Coming proved that the group was not fluke. The hit single, Let me Love you Down climb to No# 1 on the R&B charts and leveled at No# 9 on the Pop charts. That year the group also appeared on The Beverly Hills Cop III soundtrack as well as co-produced a song with Rod Templeton (who also wrote Thriller the greatest selling single to date) on the Running Scared soundtrack starring Gregory Hines and Billy Crystal. The group toured the following years with Bobby Brown, Boyz II Men, Guy, Jodeci, Mint Condition, and a host of other prominent acts. Ready For The World gave an Honorary performance June 29th 2003 at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. A Michigan funk band with slight rock leanings, Ready for the World parlayed Melvin Riley’s whining vocals and some trendy production into a pair of number one R&B hits in the mid-’80s for MCA. Riley, Gordon Strozier, Gregory Potts, Willie Triplett, John Eaton, and Gerald Valentine began on their own Blue Lake label before signing with MCA. MCA reissued the song “Tonight” and it reached number six on the R&B charts in 1984. They followed it with “Deep Inside Your Love,” another Top Ten R&B single, then had their first of two chart-toppers in “Oh Sheila.” It got them a huge crossover smash, ultimately topping the pop lists as well. They scored their fourth consecutive Top Ten R&B record with “Digital Display,” “Love You Down” put them back on top of the R&B world in 1986. It was their last hit, and peaked at number nine pop. Straight Down to Business, in 1991, was their most recent release. (more here).
