Phyllis Nelson
| Phyllis Nelson | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Phyllis Nelson |
| Born |
October 3, 1950 Jacksonville, Florida, United States |
| Died |
January 12, 1998 (aged 47) Los Angeles, California |
| Genres | Dance, disco |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1981–1998 |
| Labels | Hallmark, Carrere |
Phyllis Nelson (October 3, 1950 – January 12, 1998)[1] was an American singer, most famous for her 1985 song, "Move Closer", which topped the charts in the United Kingdom. Her son is the singer and record producer, Marc Nelson.
Career
Nelson was born in Jacksonville, Florida and a member of family group Nelson Five. She was later a backing singer for Major Harris and Philly Cream. Her son Marc Nelson also enjoyed a recording career.[2] She worked and recorded for several years from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s. Her records were mostly dance oriented. She also recorded numerous records during the disco era.
In 1984, she recorded a self-written ballad entitled "Move Closer". It was a complete departure from the type of music she had been recording. The lyrics of "Move Closer" were based on a long-term love affair she had with a much younger man in Philadelphia, who was struggling to start his own computer business. They lived together for several years, raising Nelson's two children (Marc and Kenya) that she had from previous relationships.
While "Move Closer" failed to find an audience in her native United States, it was highly successful in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at the top of the UK Singles Chart in April 1985.[1] The song remained on the chart for almost six months,[1] and became one of Britain's highest-selling singles of the year. Based in France, Nelson recorded a single with the French actor, Alain Delon: "I Don't Know". It was included in the original soundtrack of the 1985 French film, Parole De Flic (Cop's Honor). Her subsequent releases failed to make any impression (except "I Like You" which made #81[3]), and she is remembered as a one-hit wonder.
In the United States, she had success on the Hot Dance Club Play chart, where her song entitled "I Like You" peaked at #1 in 1985 and #61 on the Hot 100. "I Like You" reached the #29 in the French dance charts. "Move Closer" returned to the UK chart in 1994, reaching the Top 40,[1] after being featured in a television commercial for anti-perspirant.
Death
Nelson died in January 1998 from breast cancer in Los Angeles, California, where she had been living since her divorce. She was 47 years old.[4]
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Move Closer | Carrere Records |
| 1985 | I Like You | Hallmark |
Singles
| Year | Single | U.S. Hot 100 | U.S. Dance | U.S. R&B | UK[1] | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | "Don't Stop the Train" | — | 20 | — | — | Move Closer |
| 1985 | "Move Closer" | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 1985 | "I Don't Know" | — | — | — | — | I Don't Know |
| 1985 | "I Like You"[5] | 61 | 1 | 65 | 81[3] | I Like You |
| 1994 | "Move Closer" (re-issue) | — | — | — | 34 | Move Closer |
See also
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
- List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
- List of performers on Top of the Pops
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 389. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ↑ Graham Betts (2004) Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2004
- 1 2 "ChartArchive - Phyllis Nelson". Chartstats.com. 2012-04-11. Archived from the original on 2012-07-21. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
- ↑ Thedeadrockstarsclub.com - accessed March 2011
- ↑ http://www.billboard.com/artist/335966/phyllis-nelson/chart?f=379