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I was 12 years old when I first heard an old
recording of Billie Holiday singing GOD BLESS THE CHILD. What I felt was so deeply moving that I knew at that moment
that I had to be a participant in the beautiful world of music. It was a life-changing experience. It meant letting
go of my dream of becoming a cowgirl
I began saving money earned from baby sitting and house cleaning jobs in
my neighborhood. I spent every dime on voice lessons and sheet music, not to mention every Hollywood musical that graced
the screen of the only movie theater in Cedartown, Georgia. (It was a veerrry small town back then).
So I did it. I became a professional singer, known as PHYLLIS WILLIAMS.
I actually got paid to sing. I would have paid them to let me sing, but I needed the cash for gowns and charts, stuff
like that. I sang my way around the USA in clubs and on television shows, such as "The Steve Allen Show".
Great fun! I loved the road.
Little did I know I was just doing research. I memorized a gazillion
songs. Learned their structures. How and why they worked.
I didn't know I was a songwriter until the mid 1970s. I was listening to a country-pop radio station playing
their version of Hits of the Day. Now, keep in mind I was a jazz singer in my pre-married-mommy days and had a bit of an attitude
about what constituted "music".
"EUREKA!, I said. "I'll just bet I can do that!"
Three months later I had my first recording. "Everytime I Sing a Love Song" has had multiple recordings since
then. Lyrics by me. Gloria Sklerov wrote the music to my words. I was sooooo happy!
Since that time I have had my songs recorded by:
Jermaine Jackson, Billie
Jo Spears, Glen Campbell, Ray Price, Terri Gibbs, Taca Boom, John Davidson, Jimmie Rodgers, Jack Jones, Meri Wilson, Dave
& Sugar, Cyndi Grecco, Jon English, Lane Caudell, Eartha Kitt, Rebecca Dru, Lanie Kazan, Gary LeMel, Marilyn Scott, Jacintha, Joe Williams, Shirley Horn, Barbra Streisand and the list goes on..
I won the Music City Song Festival with a song entitled "Hey, Heart".
Doug Case put music to my words. Good job, Doug!
Some of my
songs wound up in movies: THE CANNONBALL RUN, PLAY IT TO THE BONE, STROKER ACE, HANGIN' ON A STAR...I wrote a television
show theme song with composer Lenny Stack. Lenny was doing the music for a show called OUR TIME and asked me to write
the lyrics for the theme. Thanks, Lenny!
A few of my
songs went gold, one went platinum. Mostly, I had a lot of fun. As it should be when one works at what one loves
to do. I wish everybody could have that joy.
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