Meet Me On The Moon: Recent Episodes
M'Balia
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
I met Tiffany over 20 years ago at a party band gig and I fell in love with her poise, polish and powerful vocals. Tiffany holds a Bachelor's degree in music from Temple University, and a masters in the art of teaching music education from the University of the Arts, so she is a real smarty pants. But she is one of the most humble singers I’ve ever met, and talking to her is like talking to family. Speaking of family, her grandfather was one of the founders of rock and roll and has been inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. She also has a famous cousin, but I’ll let her tell that one. Tiffany has released several albums of original music, and she often sings with the Philly Pops, and she recently opened her own voice studio, The Jones Voice Institute. We talk about her all star cohort at college, maintaining personal integrity in the industry, walking away from music, and returning to when it feels right, and what she's reading these days. And of course, how Phyllis Hyman taught her to love her vocal gift.
You can learn more about Tiffany and the Jones Voice Institute at thejvi.com and on instagram @tiffanyjonesmusic.
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 to Shekhinah B, Rhenda Fearrington, Tiffany Jones, and Denise King.
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.
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.
I first saw Shekhinah performing with her group, Sistas Attuned at the Barnes Foundation and was blown away by their infectious energy and vibrant sisterhood. I gotta tell you, the B in her name has to stand for business, because Shekhinah is forthright in her belief that no one should be a starving artist. Shekhinah is a tireless advocate for artists through The Women's Coalition for Empowerment, an organization she founded to improve the financial support and access to employment opportunities for emerging artists, musicians, and performers. We talked about her New York roots, what it takes to make it in the party band scene, and her inspiring solution to depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. And of course, her thoughts on the legacy of the legendary Phyllis Hyman. Here we go!
To stay in touch with Shekhinah and to learn more about the Women’s Coalition for Empowerment, check out shekhinahb.org and thewce.org.
Meet Me On The Moon, the podcast, was recorded, produced and edited by me, M’Balia Singley, with original music by, you guessed it, me, 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 to Shekhina B, Rhenda Fearrington, Tiffany Jones and Denise King.
Hello and 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. I’m the host, M’Balia Singley.
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 dancefloor 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 by me, M’Balia Singley, with original music by me, 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.