“….talk to me some more, you don’t have to go, you’re the poetry man, you make things all rhyme….”

Phoebe Snow is a true original and, for me, one of the very best female vocalists of the rock era.  In 1972, she was discovered by a Shelter Records A&R executive at the Bitter End on Bleecker Street in the Village.  In 1975, she released her debut single Poetry Man, which was a #5 pop hit.  Her eponymous debut album would earn her the Grammy for Best New Artist.

A singer’s singer, Phoebe’s incredibly versatile and nimble voice seemed completely organic whether she was singing folk, blues, standards or R&B.  In fact, people have always assumed she was black, but she was just a nice Jewish girl from New Jersey with curly hair and a soulful sound.

In the mid-seventies, Phoebe gave birth to  a severely handicapped daughter.  Bravely, Phoebe chose care for Valerie herself and raise her as a single mom. The resulting pressure informed her choices and affected her musical output, sometimes even keeping her out of the studio for years at a time.  Tragically, her daughter died in 2007.  Subsequently, Phoebe returned to her career with a renewed vigor and much greater visibility.

I found out just yesterday that Phoebe suffered a severe brain hemorrhage back in January.  She is only 58. (Incidentally, where was the press on this?  I mean, I sit in front of the computer all day and just found out?)  Anyway, I feel terrible, so I wanted to blog about it.  I knew Phoebe through my friend Ruby Marchand when I worked at Warner Music in the late 1980s and, during my years with Denise Rich, I would see Phoebe out and about with some frequency.  In addition to that enormous talent, she is a heymish lady, which is Yiddish and basically means she’s someone you’d like to have lunch with.  (I just reread this.  I’m turning into Cindy Adams).  I spoke to her manager yesterday who told me what I already knew, that “Phoebe is a fighter.”  It is heart breaking that some people can’t seem to catch a break.

Keep Phoebe in your thoughts and, as you do, enjoy one of my favorite early-Phoebe musical moments.  Its Phoebe and her friend, the incredible Linda Ronstadt, both at the peak of their powers, with a ferocious take on The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss) from  a 1979 episode of SNL. (Note Linda’s fierce ensemble, which could be worn exactly the same way today).  A speedy recovery to Phoebe Snow!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDk_lroqZkY]