Strength of a Woman: The Phyllis Hyman Story [Paperback]

Jason A. Michael (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 28, 2007

The story of singer Phyllis Hyman is brought to light in the powerful new biography Strength Of A Woman: The Phyllis Hyman Story by Jason A. Michael. Hyman's 20-year career, which included the release of eight albums as well as a Tony nomination and Theater World Award for her Broadway turn in Sophisticated Ladies, was brought to a tragic end by her suicide June 30, 1995, just hours before she was due to take the stage at the legendary Apollo Theatre. In the spotlight, Hyman's breathtaking voice and stunning beauty shone brightly. But off stage, after the applause and the laughter produced by her bawdy humor had faded, Hyman spent her days and nights engaged in an exhausting battle against bipolar disorder. Complicating its crippling effects was Hyman's addiction to drugs and alcohol, which she tried repeatedly to kick, and the demands and constraints of being a female African-American entrepreneur in an industry controlled by white men. But though she ultimately chose to extricate herself from the pain, she did so not before leaving a legacy of beautiful music that will last and live on forever as a true testament to the 'strength of a woman.'

Editorial Reviews

Review

As riveting and poignant as it is unsettling and revealing. --The New York Amsterdam News

Candid and multi-layered. --The Philadelphia Tribune

Riveting and no-holds-barred. --Sister 2 Sister

About the Author

Essence best selling author Jason A. Michael, a native Detroit and, in fact, a Spirit of Detroit award winner, earned his bachelors degree in journalism from Wayne State University. His work has appeared in the anthologies Journeys Across The Rainbow: Inspirational Stories for the Human Race (Rainbow Pride Press) and America Now (Bedford/St. Martin's Press). Jason has a passion for urban music and spent a decade in the employ of Grammy-award-winning songwriter and soul diva Betty Wright. As an entertainment writer he has interviewed everyone from Motown legends Martha Reeves and Mary Wilson to Dionne Warwick and Patti LaBelle. Outside of the urban genre, he has interviewed such wide ranging celebrities as Dolly Parton, Melissa Etheridge and even Boy George. Told by a laundry list of publishing houses that no one remembered Phyllis and that there was no market for a book about her, Jason formed his own imprint, JAM Books, on which to release her story.

Product Details

• Paperback: 239 pages
• Publisher: JAM Books; 2nd edition (September 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0979489008
• ISBN-13: 978-0979489006
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,370,858 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-resd for any and all Phyllis Hyman fans., December 17, 2007

By 

Justo Roteta (Los Angeles, California United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Strength of a Woman: The Phyllis Hyman Story (Paperback)

I must first thank Mr. Michael for writing such an in-depth but sensitive biography of the late great Phyllis Hyman. Everything from her poverty-stricken childhood to her tumultous relationship with Arista Records' boss Clive Davis to her never-ending battle with chronic depression and bipolar disorder is covered. It's truly sad to think that someone as talented and gifted as Phyllis was unable to overcome her personal demons (despite really tring to). Sadly, we now know that (for all her beauty and talent) Phyllis was a tortured soul whose inner pain and insecurity led her to self-destructive behavior--unfortunately, those around her wouldn't (or couldn't) understand why. If you are a Phyllis Hyman fan you really should get this book but know that it IS heartbreaking as it is (to some degree) like watching a home video of her childhood up to her suicide at the age of 45. In retrospect, the real reason why Phyllis sounded so convincing on romantic ballads which dealt with pain, betrayal and lost love was because their lyrics mirrored her own experiences.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Strength of Good Storytelling, January 24, 2008

By 

John L. Hughes, Jr. "hughes_jr" (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Strength of a Woman: The Phyllis Hyman Story (Paperback)

STRENGTH OF A WOMAN is a self-published biography of troubled r&b singer Phyllis Hyman. Author Jason Michael's book is a thoroughly researched, thought-provoking piece of work that elegently honors the smooth soul singer while sensitively exploring Hyman's troubles with bipolar disorder, depression and mental illness. Throughout this excellent biography, Michael treats his subject like royalty, warts and all. And the print quality of this self-published book would put most major publishers to shame. Be warned, once you start reading this biography, you don't want to put it down. It's like being glued to a good mystery novel.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Tell All But Not Sleazy, January 7, 2008

By 

Landis (Baltimore, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strength of a Woman: The Phyllis Hyman Story (Paperback)

An excellent biography. Phyllis Hyman is my favorite singer of all time. I now know why there was such long periods when we had no new product from her. It was heartbreaking to read the part of Shug Avery was hers and she let it slip through her fingers. Mr. Jason has done a fantastic job of telling her story warts and all without making it tabloid.