Raised in the rural country town of Bonita, Louisiana Phylliss Maria Christian was the fourth of eight siblings born to the proud parents of Norvell and Delores Christian. Reared by a cultivator, a stay at home mom and surrounded by six brothers determined not to be a tom boy, Phylliss spent most of her leisure time inside their home. Although she enjoyed thoroughly watching television and playing outside, music always played a huge role as a form of entertainment for her. This country girl devoted much of her time listening to all genres of music and developing her writing skills at a very early age. Music has always been Phylliss’ love and she always knew that it was intentionally connected to her destiny.
Baptized at the age of six years old at the St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church in Bonita, Louisiana Phylliss was very active in church which included singing in the choir where she got her first musical start. She was always interested in participating in various plays targeting the main roles. This intrigued her interest for the stage. Phylliss’ parents kept her very active throughout her school years where drama and music were always vital to feeding her gifts and talents. She began experimenting instruments in Jr. High which included the trumpet, the french horn and the bells. Once Phylliss reached High School she finally found her niche for playing the flute (in which she taught herself to play) in both the orchestra and the band. It was in this season that Phylliss’ passion for music escalated. She would always perform in talent shows where she either sang duet or solo. After graduating from Delta High School in Mer Rouge, Louisiana Phylliss attended the University Of Monroe Louisiana. Believe it or not music was not in the equation for future endeavors. Phylliss actually wanted to be nurse. After missing music profusely she later transferred to Grambling State University in the fall of 1981 where she was accepted as a proud member of the GSU Tiger Marching Band. Being a member at this time was extremely challenging because female members had just been incorporated to be a part of the band. One of her most memorable experiences while serving in the GSU Tiger Marching Band was having the opportunity in 1982 to tour and perform for two weeks in Osaka and Tokyo, Japan.
Although Gospel Music has always been Phylliss' favorite genre of music growing up she also listened to female Rhythm and Blues icons like Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Natalie Cole, Minnie Riperton, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan just to name a few. Phylliss also embraced the musical talents of groups such as Earth Wind & Fire, Frankie Beverly & Maze, The Jackson Five, Cameo, Zapp, Con Funk Shun, The Dazz Band, The Temptations and The Isley Brothers. Those among Phylliss’ current favorite R&B artists are Musiq Soulchild, John Legend, Faith Evans, India Arie, Kelly Price, Lalah Hathaway, Brandy Norwood, Chrisette Michelle, Emeli Sande, Ledesi, Adelle, Jennifer Hudson and of course her favorite artist of all times the late, Luther Vandross. Intrigued by lyrics and arrangements of songs contributes to Phylliss’ ability to write and arrange lyrics.
After college Phylliss moved to the Dallas/Fort Worth area where she was exposed to Gospel music on a much higher level. DFW musician icons Terri Swift (who was her first mentor), Michelle Fisher, Jewel Kelley, Cornish Wells, Andre Washington, Glen Nixon, Carnell Murrell, Bernard Warren and Kirk Franklin all played a big part in her growth to becoming a soloist. Their teaching and guidance opened up many doors for Phylliss’ passion for music and her ability to become a growing solo gospel soloist. Phylliss was a member of and sang soprano in both the DFW Mass Choir and The City of Forth Worth Choir. She also participated in several gospel talent shows in the DFW area over the past eighteen years and had the opportunity to place Grand Champion in 1997 at the Renaissance Cultural Center as well as placing second place in a Daywind Music competition in 2003 where she went into the studio overnight and recorded an original song that granted her the spot. Although Phylliss never expected to win anything. She participated in the competitions mainly because of her love for music. Phylliss’ most recent competition venture was back on March 1, 2014 where she auditioned for Sunday Best, Season Seven in Houston, TX. Although she did not advance, the experience alone was extremely motivating.
Seemly wherever there is a workshop Phylliss is most likely to be in attendance. She truly feels that so much can be learned, gained and achieved as a result of attending workshops. As a workshop participant Phylliss has down through the years sang with and backed up DFW Mass, Bebe & Cece Winans, Milton Biggham, Timothy Wright, Kathy Taylor Brown, V Michael McKay, Kim Burrell, Shirley Cesar, John Pee Kee, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Angela Spivey, Beverly Crawford, Kurt Franklin, Richard Smallwood and the late Rev. James Cleveland just to name a few.
On August 3rd of 1992 District Judge Sharen Wilson invited Phylliss to sing the National Anthem for the National Night Out Kick-Off Rally held at the Birdville Independent School District stadium in Haltom City, TX where the theme was Crime Awareness. Phylliss appeared on Fox4 News as a result of her performance. In January of 1993 she also sang the National Anthem at the Arlington Convention Center for the Citizens Crime Commission of Tarrant County. In 1998 Phylliss recorded with Greg O’Quin N Joyful Noyze on his first CD Trying To Make You See. In February of 2000, Phylliss was graced to be guest artist at Craig Memorial Community Church in Chapel Oaks, Maryland as well as being special guest artist that same week for the District of Columbia Baptist Convention in Washington, DC. The convention was held at the Xerox Campus in Virginia. If Phylliss had to say what Christian Artist most inspires her today, it would be Jaime Grace. The tenacity and the testimony that Jamie shares as she presses through her obstacles and boldly walks in her calling is more motivating than words can describe to Phylliss.
A member for eleven years and while attending the Greater Saint Stephens First Church Phylliss’ pastor at the time, Dr. Michael Bell was very influential at helping stir up the ministry of song in Phylliss. He exposed her to the public by allowing her to sing at many multi-cultural engagements as well as allowing Phylliss and other members of GSSFC with the ministry of song to have annual recitals at the church to farther develop their talent. Phylliss would say that the pivot of her solo experience was developed at the St. John Church Unleashed where Dr. Denny Davis is Sr. Pastor and Rev. Wanda Bolton-Davis is first lady. She has been a member of St. John for sixteen years. Minister of Music Mr. Clark Joseph challenged Phylliss and allotted many opportunities for her to develop as a stronger gospel soloist. One of Phylliss’ most memorable experiences with the St. John Church Music Ministry was being a part of the “How Sweet the Sound Finale” held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca. in October of 2011.
Phylliss began as an intermediate student in March 2011 at Face The Music Vocal Coaching where Cassandra Robertson is her vocal coach. Cassandra has taught and groomed Phylliss to perform on a commercial level. She introduced Phylliss to the importance of artist development and instilled in Phylliss that a true artist should be able to sing any genre of music at any time. Annually Face The Music displays its students in an Artist Showcase publically held at The Hard Rock Café in Dallas, TX. Phylliss has grown tremendously as a result of Cassandra’s teachings and contributes her present confidence level a big part of being a student at Face The Music. Cassandra is more than just a vocal coach to Phylliss. She also offers mentorship that is much needed in this industry. Phylliss looks forward to working with Cassandra in the future as she moves forward in her solo artist career.
In May of 2010 Dr. Kenesia Mouton and Phylliss divinely crossed paths. Phylliss had been seeking out a spiritual mentor for almost two years and God gave her the desire of her heart. Phylliss graduated in December of 2011 from the MAMA Program under the leadership of Kenesia Mouton where she received one on one mentoring for one whole year. Words can't express how the Mama Program contributed to Phylliss' spirtual growth and how her life changed tremendously as a result of being under the wings of Dr. Mouton.
Phylliss began writing, recording and co-producing her first project back in 2006 with her current producer Derrick Gentry of Fort Worth, TX. She and Derrick (aka) Gent share a kindred relationship that allows them to work together as a team epically. The project has laid dormant for the past three years at God’s request however, He has since released it back into the hands of Phylliss and Gent and the both of them are very excited to have the opportunity to finish up the project. Although Phylliss has more of a gospel sound her genre of music will fall under the Contemporary Urban Gospel category. Producer Jeremy Christian, her nephew from Monroe, Louisiana who later moved to Atlanta, Georgia now living in California has been her number one inspiration for this project. His style of music sparked something in Phylliss that inspired her to write without fail. Jeremy produced six of the songs on the project. Phylliss has also worked with producers Paul Garner, Kermit Wells and Tiffany Redwine all of the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. Phylliss commends Douglas Redwine, owner of Future Star Studio in Fort Worth, TX for inspiring her to record and chase her dream as a solo artist. As co-producer Phylliss is very excited and anticipating her first CD to release in 2015 under her independent label currently known as A Pearled Heart Records. She has been privileged to write ninety eight percent of her project that will be registered with BMI.
A current employee of twenty one years at Frist Cash Financial Services, Phylliss has diligently worked as Payroll Manager and Sr. Staff Accountant. She is married to her supportive husband Jacques Daniels and is the mother of her only daughter Trinity Andrews who both believe in the dream and the vision that God has given her. Along with recording Phylliss currently travels from state to state ministering in song at various churches and social events. Some of her aspirations in the near future are to learn how to play piano, acoustic guitar and to continue with vocal coaching. Phylliss also hopes to (of course in God's timing) move into ministry full time.
Truly Grateful and Thankful that God has given her the gift to minister in song Phylliss prays that the ministry that God is entrusting her with and that her example of Christ will reach masses of all races and ages not just nationally but, also internationally and globally. Phylliss' hope is that the entrusted ministry will especially draw lost souls to the loving knowledge of Jesus Christ.