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
Any time I had a gig in Philly (and some in New York), Rhenda was there, showing me so much love and support. And when I would go to other folks’ gigs, Rhenda would be there showing so much love. But she’s not just a fan but a seasoned vocalist and songwriter who toured extensively with Roberta Flack and James Mtume (where she met her former husband who also played bass for Phyllis Hyman). Rhenda is a masterful storyteller full of so much joy and life- I had to change her audio set up three times during this interview because she was so animated her mic would fall off! We talk about her beginnings as the daughter of a Harlem showgirl, the fun of life on the road, staying musical through motherhood, being the Sista In The Front, and how she helps jazz and blues musicians in their time of need.
You can check in with Rhenda through Jazz Bridge at jazzbridge.org.
