Phyllis Hyman

There was an interview with the gone far too soon actual artist by the name of Phyllis Hyman on a BET series called Video Soul that lasted throughout the 90’s mostly. She was speaking on record companies and how even then record execs were picking out kids off the street as she put it that had minimal to no talent but had a look they could mold. These days it’s social media.

Courtesy- Halftime Chat

This has been a pattern for years beginning in the 80’s and 90’s especially then by the American Idol era that is when it became apparent. What she relayed is relevant today. I commented that in today’s society record people and recruiters will trawl through the social media’s of typically young influencer’s, brand ambassadors, reality tv types, clout chasers, those with affiliations or a large following because it is based on popularity not talent. I was speaking on I used to have all kinds of types of industry professionals go through my stories etc on a daily basis never would say anything UNTIL they became aware I won’t compromise my beliefs, I have a mouth, not the push around naive type, and could actually sing/perform grew up doing it. After that I began obtaining gigs here and there, signed to a model/talent agency therefore they disappeared after that and some of them acted like it perturbed them or like it took something from them because those types typically seek some impressionable insecure doofus to be blunt they can mold. It’s unjust that most talent is in theater and musicals if that. That would it’s not about talent or anything else. Frank Zappa conducted an interview with MTV about this in the early 80’s about the business that it is that has nothing to do with music.

Courtesy- Frank Zappa MV

Someone was commenting in the section of the Phyllis Hyman interview I saw how apparent it is acts now don’t sound anything like the track because it’s tuned up, auto-tune, using someone else’s vocals is common now, etc. That is why Patti LaBelle referred to the newer lot as “Heifers that can’t sing” because they can’t the end case closed.

Courtesy- Black Music Archive