Phoebe Snow – Soulful Sound – R.I.P.

Singer, composer Phoebe Snow died today, April 26, 2011, at the age of 60 from a brain hemorrhage she suffered on January 21, 2010.

When I heard the news, I realized that even though Rolling Stone called her voice a “natural wonder” back in the 1970s, I’d never really followed her music, nor appreciated what an amazing artist she was.

She grew up in New Jersey and played in Greenwich Village clubs. An early boyfriend encouraged her to perform the stream-of-consciousness poetry she’d been scrawling in her notebooks for years, and in 1974 the 24 year-old singer, who was blessed with a multi-octave range, and a style that was soulful, jazzy, bluesy, tender and sassy, recorded the widely-acclaimed album Phoebe Snow.

In 1975, she was nominated for a Grammy as Best New Artist for the song “Poetry Man.” Phoebe’s star continued to rise as she opened for Jackson Browne and Paul Simon.

That same year she appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone.

When she was seven months pregnant, Phoebe appeared as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live, singing solo and duets with Paul Simon and Linda Ronstadt.

She also sang vocal background on Simon’s hit “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” with Valerie Simpson and Patti Austin.

A Baby With Special Needs

Life drastically changed in December 1975, when Phoebe gave birth to daughter Valerie Rose, who she says was a medical malpractice victim.

When the doctor was delivering her, he asphyxiated her.” Her brain was severely damaged and her eyesight and hearing were all but destroyed.

The doctors didn’t expect the baby to survive for very long and recommended that Phoebe put her in an institution.

They said she would never recognize me or function at any high level. But that was out of the question. From the moment I saw my daughter I was in love with her.”

Shortly after Valerie’s birth, Phoebe said the child provided the serenity that finally anchored her life. She gave up all drugs, even aspirin, and two other minor vices, Twinkies and cheesecake.

“I got off by being crazy in my younger days,” she told PEOPLE. “Because I was irresponsible, I didn’t think I could manage myself and another person, too. Of course,” she joked, “it’s true that I’m still out of my mind. You have to be nuts to be in this business.”

As a single mother, Phoebe struggled to keep her career alive and get back on the charts, but it was difficult, and it always took a back seat to caring for her daughter. In 1979, she made another appearance on Saturday Night Live with her friend Linda Ronstadt.

She lost interest in being in the public eye, and out of necessity she faded away for a while. Occasionally she’d record an album, but she didn’t like going on tour, and understandably, the record label didn’t give her a lot of support.

“It didn’t really matter because I got to stay home more with Valerie and that time was precious,” Phoebe said.

Phoebe played with some of the best musicians. In 1992, she toured with Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald, and Boz Scaggs as part of the “New York Rock n’ Soul Revue tour. (The quality of this video isn’t great, but the people who perform on it are.)

She also did some guest tracks for other artists like Jewel, and sang jingles for commercial companies, who paid well.

In 1995, Phoebe participated in “The Wizard of Oz Concert: Dreams Come True at Lincoln Center singing the distinctive melody, “If I Only Had a Brain, a Heart, the Nerve.”

In 1999, she performed for President Bill Clinton; First Lady, Hillary Clinton; and the President’s cabinet at Camp David.

But, as she told John Roos of the L.A. Times, “In hindsight, I missed out on some productive years. On the other hand, I made the only choice I could under the circumstances.”

Taking care of Valerie all those years, and at times her ailing mother, took a physical and emotional toll on Phoebe.

I am a very productive person when I’m up and running. I just wasn’t up and running. Sometimes when you’re overwhelmed by a situation, when you’re in the darkest of darkness, that’s when your priorities are reordered.”

Phoebe admitted that part of the problem was her own inertia.

All of my life, when things got too difficult, I folded up the tent and went to bed.”

LIFE LESSON: Hardship and tragedy make us all feel like we want to fold up our tent and go to bed. But some folks carry a heavier burden than others. Look around and notice who is in need of help. It might be a friend or a stranger. Never underestimate how much of a difference an encouraging word, a kind gesture, a homemade dinner, an offer to babysit, donating some clothing, a few dollars, or offering a simple smile can make.

Years passed, and the daughter who wasn’t supposed to live more than a year, grew into a teenager, and in time an adult. Then on March 18, 2007, at the age of 31, Valerie died of a brain hemorrhage and heart failure.

“Right now it’s beyond a hole. It’s a black hole,” Phoebe told The Record in Bergen County, N.J., in 2008. “I don’t even know how to describe that vacancy because it was such an intense relationship. we shared for 31 years. She was a perennial child who never grew up. I was her primary caregiver. We were best friends. It’s beyond a loss. I don’t even know what word to use. I hope everyone gets to experience the exquisite and divine love I felt.”

One day Phoebe’s therapist told her, “Look at how efficiently and aggressively you fought for your child and your mother. Why don’t you do that for yourself? It was like a neon light went on right over my head. I realized that I’ve lived half my life already, and it’s time to believe in, and stand up for myself.”

After Valerie died, it was Linda Ronstadt who sat Phoebe down and said, “What are you going to do now?”

“Cry and sleep,” Phoebe told her.

“You have to sing again,” Ronstadt said.

And so a fragile Phoebe Snow started to readjust to life on stage. She was planning a new album and had a tour scheduled.

But life isn’t always kind. On January 21, 2010, Phoebe suffered a brain hemorrhage, which ironically is what killed her daughter. Her manager, Sue Cameron, said Phoebe was in a rehab facility learning to walk and talk again.

“It will take a long time and she’ll be working very hard, but the doctors believe she’ll be ok. Her progress back from a very big stroke is totally remarkable. I’ve never seen such strength.”

Unfortunately Phoebe endured bouts of blood clots, pneumonia, and congestive heart failure since the stroke. She passed away on April 26, 2011.

“The loss of this unique and untouchable voice is incalculable,” Cameron said. “Phoebe was one of the brightest, funniest and most talented singer-songwriters of all time.”

I imagine Phoebe Snow reunited with her daughter Valerie, who is whole and perfect, and Phoebe is having the best time entertaining everyone in heaven with her soulful sound.