1949-1964

Born in Philadelphia on July 6, 1949 and raised in Pittsburgh, Phyllis spent her teen years developing her vocal skills by joining Pittsburgh’s All City Choir.

Born in Philadelphia on July 6, 1949 and raised in Pittsburgh, Phyllis spent her teen years developing her vocal skills by joining Pittsburgh’s All City Choir. Citing inspiration from the likes of (‘Godfather Of Soul’) James Brown, (‘High Priestess Of Soul’) Nina Simone, the real life storytelling raps of The Last Poets and premier vocalists such as Nancy Wilson, Karen Carpenter and Minnie Riperton, Phyllis developed her own style and sound.

Initially touring the U.S. and Caribbean with a local group, New Direction, she began singing the Top 40 and R&B hits of the day.  Moving to Miami at the start of the ‘70s, Phyllis sang with another band, All The People, gaining a strong reputation in the city as an in-demand performer particularly in the jazz field, resulting in the formation of her own band, The P/H Factor, showcasing original material written with future husband, Larry Alexander.