Phyllis Hyman

Phyllis Linda Hyman was an American singersongwriter and actress. She is best known for her singles from the late 1970s to the early 1990s You Know How to Love Me, Living All Alone and Dont Wanna Change the World. Hyman also performed on Broadway in the 1981 musical based on the music of Duke Ellington, Sophisticated Ladies, which ran from 1981 to 1983. The musical earned her a Theatre World Award and a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical.

Phyllis Hyman was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up in St. Clair Village, the South Hills section of Pittsburgh. Born to an Italian mother and AfricanAmerican father, Hyman was the eldest of seven children. Through her paternal greatgrandparents Ishmael and Cassandra Hyman, she was also the first cousin once removed of actor Earle Hyman . After leaving Pittsburgh, her music training started at 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 . She also did a twoyear stint leading a band called Phyllis Hyman and the PH Factor. She was discovered in 1975 by music industry veteran Sid Maurer, and former Epic Records promoter Fred Frank, and signed to their Roadshow RecordsDesert Moon imprint.

Source: Wikipedia