Meet Me On The Moon

Welcome to Meet Me on the Moon, the podcast that celebrates the influence, legacy and sound of the iconic singer-songwriter Phyllis Hyman through the lived experiences of some of Philadelphia’s finest Black women vocalists. My hope is that you’ll learn a bit about the Black women singers who make your daily world go round. Not the mega celebrity you worship but will probably never get a chance to meet. Nope. I’m talking about the singers right in front of you, you know, the one who sang your favorite jams at your cousin’s wedding that kept you on the dance floor all night, or the one who sang your beloved grandparent’s favorite hymn at their memorial service,, or the one you run into on a busy street corner, strumming and humming, reminding you that there is such beauty in every day.That’s us, Black singing women sharing our gifts with the world. In these episodes you’ll hear about everything from the butterflies of a first gig to the excitement of tour life, from balancing your bank account to bouncing a baby on your hip while continuing to make a life in music. We can imagine those same joys and challenges being faced by Phyllis Hyman during her too-brief career. And so these conversations invoke her spirit with deep gratitude and love for the path she cleared for Black women to find not just our musical voices, but also our power to shape our destinies beyond the stage.Meet Me On The Moon, the podcast, was recorded, produced and edited M’Balia Singley. Original music by M’Balia Singley. Meet Me On The Moon was generously funded by a grant from The Black Music City Project, a collaboration between public radio stations WXPN, WRTI, and creative agency, REC Philly and sponsored by The Wyncote Foundation and Tito’s handmade Vodka. The beautiful artwork was created by Angela Faranda. Special thanks to Shekhinah B, Rhenda Fearrington, Tiffany Jones, and Denise King.mbalia.com

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Meet Me On The Moon

Denise King

June 02, 2021 • M'Balia • Episode 2

I first met Denise over 20 years ago when I served as her understudy in the Heath Allen/Ken Ulansey wedding band and since then I’ve watched her transform into a bonafide international jazz entertainer with several albums to her name. Denise is a committed philanthropist and community activist who has produced jazz festivals and concerts to wowed audiences and even started a literacy program, Bebop and Books.

Denise sang background vocals on Phyllis Hymans’ last album, but she has another connection to Phyllis that surprised even her- I won’t spoil it for you. We talked about her deep abiding faith, her transition from medicine to the mic, and the way Black women singers are received in Europe.

Keep up with Denise at denisekingsings.com or on instagram @denisekingsings.

Please note/CW: there is a description of sexual assault in this episode, so please take care while listening. The National Sexual Assault Hotline is always open 24/7 and it’s free and confidential at 800-656-HOPE.

Meet Me On The Moon, the podcast, was recorded, edited and produced by M’Balia Singley. Original music by M’Balia Singley. Meet Me On The Moon was generously funded by a grant from The Black Music City Project, a collaboration between public radio stations WXPN, WRTI, and creative agency, REC Philly and sponsored by The Wyncote Foundation and Tito’s Homemade Vodka. The beautiful artwork was created by Angela Faranda. Special thanks Shekhinah B, Rhenda Fearrington, Tiffany Jones and Denise King.