In 1977 when I first saw Phyllis I was looking at a truly Sophisticated Lady: she was tall , hip and beautiful. I was into her music from the time she sang a duet with Michael Henderson on the Norman Connor’s album "You are my Starship" in 1976. On that same album she sang "Betcha by Golly Wow" with the horn player Gary Bartz, which introduced her to the world as a singer with great potential. Her solo album was introduced the following year and that’s when I took the photo you have at the introduction of your newsletter. I worked with her on many occasions but the time I’d like to share with your readers is the time when she visited the Duke Ellington High School of the Performing Arts.
Sheila Eldridge of Orchard Communications called and asked me would I be available to work a whole day with Phyllis Hyman on June 18, the year was 1981. Phyllis was already in Washington doing the play "Sophisticated Ladies", at the Kennedy Center. Of course I said yes and thanked the Lord for my favorite kind of assignments. I love shooting fine women, plus I had worked with Phyllis many times in the past. We started the day at The Duke Ellington High School of The Arts. Phyllis spoke to several classes around the subject of what it takes to be a performer. The following are from my notes I took that day:
"Listen to your elders; they have never been wrong in my life".
"Do not hang with people going nowhere". "Choose your friends carefully".
"There are no short cuts to greatness, you are born with a talent and you have to work hard to master it. I’m thirty-one years old and it took me fifteen years to get to where I am now".
"Regardless of your talent you need a good education, because as an artist you need to be able to understand your work contracts".
She said ,"she didn’t wear outfits that were not complimentary to her". In other words, "don’t go on stage like a slut". I do remember one time I shot her she was sort of exposed, but she is telling the children what’s best.
She said,"she was hoping to be performing in LasVegas in the future along with being a talk show host".
Our second stop was Ms Eldridge’s home, in northern Virginia, where Phyllis was going to cook a meal to be photographed by two photographers from Ebony Magazine for a spread in the food section. She was having fun and gave us some fun shots of her drinking wine out the bottle.
The meal she cooked consisted of fried fish in butter, spinach salad, a vegetable dish, lobster quiche, along with a white wine. Not only did I have fun taking pictures, I also had a good meal. Because of working with Ms.Hyman so many times I am grateful to have the opportunities given to me by Ms Susan Wynn of Buddah Records, Mr. André Perry of Arista Records and Ms Sheila Eldridge one of Ms Hyman’s managers.
Oggi Ogburn is a professional photographer who has done some great work with celebrities such as Denzel Washington, Dustin Hoffman, Minnie Ripperton and Elton John among many others. Check out his work at Oggi's Kitchen Photomarket.
© 1997 stephan@logos.cy.net
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