1. Phyllis was biracial- her mother was Italian and her father was African American.

2. Before the world came to know her as the ‘Phyllis Hyman,’ Norman Connors gave her a big break after he’d heard about her beautiful voice. He went to a club where she was performing in the upper Westside of Manhattan, NY and asked her to sing on his infamous old school classic, “You Are My Starship,” also featuring Michael Henderson…and wah-lah, the rest is history. The success of that record is what helped to jump-start Phyllis’ career.

3. Phyllis and “Lean On Me” singer Bill Withers did not get along with each other at all, and actually got into a heated argument once on tour together.

4. Phyllis LOVED cooking and said she’d been cooking ever since she was tall enough to reach the stove. She helped cook for her 6 younger siblings. She was the eldest of 7 children.

More pics of the beautiful Phyllis Hyman hanging out with her celebrity friends next…