The late Phyllis Hyman

Did you know that the legendary contralto singer Phyllis Hyman committed suicide?

Hyman overdosed on prescription medication on June 30th 1995 when she was just 45 years of age. The singer reportedly suffered with mental illness for many years prior to her death and she ended her life just days before her 46th birthday, which would have been on July 6th 1995.

Throughout her lengthy career, Hyman enjoyed success on Broadway and the Billboard R&B charts, although she never truly crossed over onto the Billboard Hot 100. Her highest-charting single on the latter ranking was ‘Don’t Wanna Change the World’, which peaked at #68.

Watch the video for Hyman’s ‘Don’t Wanna Change the World’ below:

Now you know!