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Strength of a Woman By ETEditor
When singer Phyllis Hyman committed suicide in 1995, many fans (some famous) mourned the loss of her artistic presence. Although hurt, those whom interacted with her were not quite as surprised at the ending Ms. Hyman chose. After extensive research, Jason A. Michael, an office manager and Director of Special Projects for singer Betty Wright, became even more interested in the late singer’s story. Michael talked to Entertainment Wire about his book on the singer’s life, Strength of a Woman: The Phyllis Hyman Story. In this interview, he discusses the illness that they share and the reason it’s miraculous that she was able to live as long as she did. Entertainment Wire: Did you interview entertainers about her? Jason A. Michael: Yes, I interviewed several performers. I also interviewed dozens of folks including those that worked at the record label that she recorded for, her band, her assistants, her staff, her friends and all six of her siblings. ETW: Did you interview her former flames, too? JAM: I interviewed several folks that she was involved with, including her former fiancée. ETW: Did Phyllis date in the industry? JAM: She mostly dated outside of the industry. ETW: How did you find out about her illness? JAM: It wasn’t per se a secret, particularly following her death folks began speaking about it. I think anyone who saw her live, where she was very off the cuff, where anything could have come out of her mouth. Whatever was on her mind came out of her mouth. Folks probably knew there were issues. Mental illness ran in her family. Her mother suffered from chronic depression. Her father was an alcoholic. She had siblings who battled mental illness. ETW: Did she have Bipolar Disorder I or II? JAM: I actually interviewed Phyllis’ psychologist for the book. She did not have clearly Bipolar I or Bipolar II. Everyone does not get such a clear cut diagnoses. I, myself, do not have such a clear cut diagnoses. Phyllis was diagnosed probably closer to II, then I. She did not have the intense manic episodes or the intense mania. It became very hard to separate the addiction issues from the mental health issues. It was sort of that catch-22. One agitated the other. ETW: Did some people consider your name for the book, “Strength of a Woman” a little ironic being that she ended up taking her own life? JAM: No, not really. She sort of came into the world with the deck stacked against her. When you look at the load she had to carry, you see that it was remarkable that she was able to carry this as long as she did. ETW: So, when did Phyllis’ relationship with Clive Davis (founder of Arista Records) go sour? JAM: Virtually from the start. She ended up on Arista Records through a deal that Arista made with Buddah Records. Phyllis was signed to Buddah Records, which was in bad financial shape. There was a deal for Arista to distribute and sort of absorb it and Phyllis came as part of that deal. So, she was upset from the time she got there, having been acquired versus on her own freewheel. Clive is known for being a star maker. He, likewise, thought he could turn her into a superstar. Phyllis thought that her artistry was being sacrificed, at the least neglected in that process. She didn’t feel valued for who she was or for her unique artistry. They [Hyman and Davis] did not really hear each other or really understand where the other was coming from. It was just a bad relationship from the start, which only grew worse as time went on. ETW: Why didn’t Davis want her to do Sophisticated Ladies? JAM: It was the thought of those who were at Arista at the time, particularly the product manager that Clive viewed Phyllis doing Sophisticated Ladies as her going backward in her career because it returned her to her jazz roots. He felt that it would limit her. Also, she had just completed a new album and he thought that she would not be as active in the marketing of that album as he would like. Phyllis thought it was an opportunity to expand her audience and one too good to pass up. She won a Tony nomination and she felt that really furthered the gap between her and Clive because she got the role on her own. ETW: What did she ultimately want in her career? Acting in film or performing on stage? JAM: She was most at-home on stage. I think she thought “I can do many of these things so why should I limit myself.” ETW: Do you want her story to be turned into a movie? JAM: I would love to see my book optioned for film. For more information about Strength of a Woman: The Phyllis Hyman Stor, visit www.phyllishymanstory.com.

Strength of a Woman
By ETEditor

When singer Phyllis Hyman committed suicide in 1995, many fans (some famous) mourned the loss of her artistic presence. Although hurt, those whom interacted with her were not quite as surprised at the ending Ms. Hyman chose. After extensive research, Jason A. Michael, an office manager and Director of Special Projects for singer Betty Wright, became even more interested in the late singer’s story. Michael talked to Entertainment Wire about his book on the singer’s life, Strength of a Woman: The Phyllis Hyman Story. In this interview, he discusses the illness that they share and the reason it’s miraculous that she was able to live as long as she did.

Entertainment Wire: Did you interview entertainers about her?
Jason A. Michael: Yes, I interviewed several performers. I also interviewed dozens of folks including those that worked at the record label that she recorded for, her band, her assistants, her staff, her friends and all six of her siblings.

ETW: Did you interview her former flames, too?
JAM: I interviewed several folks that she was involved with, including her former fiancée.

ETW: Did Phyllis date in the industry?
JAM: She mostly dated outside of the industry.

ETW: How did you find out about her illness?
JAM: It wasn’t per se a secret, particularly following her death folks began speaking about it. I think anyone who saw her live, where she was very off the cuff, where anything could have come out of her mouth. Whatever was on her mind came out of her mouth. Folks probably knew there were issues. Mental illness ran in her family. Her mother suffered from chronic depression. Her father was an alcoholic. She had siblings who battled mental illness.

ETW: Did she have Bipolar Disorder I or II?
JAM: I actually interviewed Phyllis’ psychologist for the book. She did not have clearly Bipolar I or Bipolar II. Everyone does not get such a clear cut diagnoses. I, myself, do not have such a clear cut diagnoses. Phyllis was diagnosed probably closer to II, then I. She did not have the intense manic episodes or the intense mania. It became very hard to separate the addiction issues from the mental health issues. It was sort of that catch-22. One agitated the other.

ETW: Did some people consider your name for the book, “Strength of a Woman” a little ironic being that she ended up taking her own life?
JAM: No, not really. She sort of came into the world with the deck stacked against her. When you look at the load she had to carry, you see that it was remarkable that she was able to carry this as long as she did.

ETW: So, when did Phyllis’ relationship with Clive Davis (founder of Arista Records) go sour?
JAM: Virtually from the start. She ended up on Arista Records through a deal that Arista made with Buddah Records. Phyllis was signed to Buddah Records, which was in bad financial shape. There was a deal for Arista to distribute and sort of absorb it and Phyllis came as part of that deal. So, she was upset from the time she got there, having been acquired versus on her own freewheel. Clive is known for being a star maker. He, likewise, thought he could turn her into a superstar. Phyllis thought that her artistry was being sacrificed, at the least neglected in that process. She didn’t feel valued for who she was or for her unique artistry. They [Hyman and Davis] did not really hear each other or really understand where the other was coming from. It was just a bad relationship from the start, which only grew worse as time went on.

ETW: Why didn’t Davis want her to do Sophisticated Ladies?
JAM: It was the thought of those who were at Arista at the time, particularly the product manager that Clive viewed Phyllis doing Sophisticated Ladies as her going backward in her career because it returned her to her jazz roots. He felt that it would limit her. Also, she had just completed a new album and he thought that she would not be as active in the marketing of that album as he would like. Phyllis thought it was an opportunity to expand her audience and one too good to pass up. She won a Tony nomination and she felt that really furthered the gap between her and Clive because she got the role on her own.

ETW: What did she ultimately want in her career? Acting in film or performing on stage?
JAM: She was most at-home on stage. I think she thought “I can do many of these things so why should I limit myself.”

ETW: Do you want her story to be turned into a movie?
JAM: I would love to see my book optioned for film.

For more information about Strength of a Woman: The Phyllis Hyman Stor, visit www.phyllishymanstory.com.

Why Did I Get Married By ETEditor
Why Did I Get Married ☺☺☺☺ A Step In The Right Direction After raking in millions on plays targeted to African Americans, Tyler Perry’s journey into the world of film has not always been well received. In fact, reviews have usually been downright ugly. With Why Did I Get Married, the tide may start to change. The movie, starring Janet Jackson, Malik Yoba, Michael Jai White, centers on four couples going through various challenges in their relationships. They take a couple’s retreat, organized by Patricia ( Jackson ), as a maintenance check for their marriages. Over the course of the trip, they deal with death, infidelity and baby mama drama. The most poignant relationship in the film involves cheating Mike (Richard T. Jones) and insecure Sheila (Jill Scott), a couple whose marriage comes to a screeching halt after his affair with her friend is revealed. Those that have seen all of Perry’s movies will see his growth as a filmmaker. Perry has always preferred to present the best possible outcomes through his work, even in the worst scenarios. In this instance, his idealism gives the audience a sense of hope. Life can work out positively rather you stay married or not.

Why Did I Get Married
By ETEditor

Why Did I Get Married
☺☺☺☺ A Step In The Right Direction

After raking in millions on plays targeted to African Americans, Tyler Perry’s journey into the world of film has not always been well received. In fact, reviews have usually been downright ugly. With Why Did I Get Married, the tide may start to change.

The movie, starring Janet Jackson, Malik Yoba, Michael Jai White, centers on four couples going through various challenges in their relationships. They take a couple’s retreat, organized by Patricia ( Jackson ), as a maintenance check for their marriages. Over the course of the trip, they deal with death, infidelity and baby mama drama. The most poignant relationship in the film involves cheating Mike (Richard T. Jones) and insecure Sheila (Jill Scott), a couple whose marriage comes to a screeching halt after his affair with her friend is revealed.

Those that have seen all of Perry’s movies will see his growth as a filmmaker. Perry has always preferred to present the best possible outcomes through his work, even in the worst scenarios. In this instance, his idealism gives the audience a sense of hope. Life can work out positively rather you stay married or not.