Phoebe Snow, 'Poetry Man'...dies at 60

I LOVED this lady and her music. May she be resting peacefully.

Oh no, not her.

I used to play her single "Something Real" endlessly in the early 90s. I was especially hooked on the chorus lyric "But this time when I reach out, it may be my last try". Rest in peace, Phoebe.

Just heard this on the radio on the drive in this morning.

Loved her voice.

Particular faves: "Love Makes a Woman", "Teach Me Tonight". I remember her on SNL back in the day singing "It's In His Kiss" with Linda Rondstadt.

Cool lady, dedicated mother.

So sorry to hear . . . so young...

Another of my weepy songs of the 70s. Good lord, not Phoebe too? What a day.

Awwwwwww. I've always had a lot of respect for her for caring for her daughter at home instead of sending her to an institution.

I don't know much of her music though. I tend to skip over those white singer-songwriter types from the late 70s. What is her best album?? I am intersted to check her out...

I always admired how she turned her back on the music industry at the height of her young career to take care of her disabled daughter (...who incidentally only passed away 4 years ago). I guess Phoebe felt like her work was done here.

I was a HUGE Phoebe Snow fan back in the 70's, along with Jim Croce, James Taylor, and several others of that genre. Through the years I collected about 3 or 4 of her albums, and used to play them regularly, both sides of every album, not skipping any songs! I always wanted to see her come back strong, but was even happy to hear her singing jingles in commercials over the years. Her voice was so unique, and she was a skillful guitarist.

She was such a peaceful lady, just like her music. She was so full of love. I will really miss her.

She was black, not white.

2freaky4church1 said:

She was black, not white.

Many people felt that way, but she never claimed to be Black:

"She was born Phoebe Ann Laub to white Jewish parents in New York City in 1952, and raised in Teaneck, N.J. Though many assumed she was black, Snow never claimed African-American ancestry."

PDogz said:

I always admired how she turned her back on the music industry at the height of her young career to take care of her disabled daughter (...who incidentally only passed away 4 years ago). I guess Phoebe felt like her work was done here.

I was a HUGE Phoebe Snow fan back in the 70's, along with Jim Croce, James Taylor, and several others of that genre. Through the years I collected about 3 or 4 of her albums, and used to play them regularly, both sides of every album, not skipping any songs! I always wanted to see her come back strong, but was even happy to hear her singing jingles in commercials over the years. Her voice was so unique, and she was a skillful guitarist.

She was such a peaceful lady, just like her music. She was so full of love. I will really miss her.

That's what I remember about her the most. It seems like she sang every jingle that came out in the 80s/early 90s. I didn't even know she played guitar...

"The best part of waking up is Folger's in your cup..."

MidniteMagnet said:

What is her best album?? I am intersted to check her out...

My favorites:

PDogz said:

Phoebe Snow, 'Poetry Man'...dies at 60

She was only 58, would have turned 59 this Summer. Gone too soon.

I loved her unique voice and style. I will miss her. I love her 1989 song "If I Can Just Get Through The Night".

PDogz said:

Many people felt that way, but she never claimed to be Black:

"She was born Phoebe Ann Laub to white Jewish parents in New York City in 1952, and raised in Teaneck, N.J. Though many assumed she was black, Snow never claimed African-American ancestry."

[img:$uid]http://i51.tinypic.com/105sj1f.jpg[/img:$uid]

Singer Phoebe Snow to take DNA Test To Prove Her Ethnicity

by Maggie Taylor | Article Date: 03/01/2009

Singer Phoebe Snow, a New Jersey native, was recently named one of that state's great black musicians by a local magazine and she has decided to take a DNA test to prove her ethnicity once and for all.

The 57-year-old bluesy folk songstress best known for her seventies classic "Poetry Man," was named along with Stevie Wonder, George Benson and Sean 'Diddy' Combs as one of the state's "black music industry greats."

Snow, who is Jewish, says she's always faced questions about her ethnicity. Regarding the article, she recently told PageSix, "I was peeing in my pants laughing (at the magazine). I was like, this is fantastic to be in such great company."

While she's flattered, Snow has determined it's time to put the question of her ethnicity to rest the scientific way.

"Believe me, people have been asking me about this since I started in the recording industry," Snow said. "My mom was the whitest, alabaster-skinned person you can imagine, but who knows what went on four generations ago? So this mitochondrial DNA test should settle it."

Rest In Peace.

Sad.

She seemed such a beautiful soul. Her voice will never be forgotten. Best wishes to the family she leaves behind.

June 25th, 2009 at the Bitter End in New York City.

"Baby, Baby let the good times roll."

I love you, Phoebe. Bless you.

Identity said:

PDogz said:

Many people felt that way, but she never claimed to be Black:

"She was born Phoebe Ann Laub to white Jewish parents in New York City in 1952, and raised in Teaneck, N.J. Though many assumed she was black, Snow never claimed African-American ancestry."

[img:$uid]http://i51.tinypic.com/105sj1f.jpg[/img:$uid]

Singer Phoebe Snow to take DNA Test To Prove Her Ethnicity

by Maggie Taylor | Article Date: 03/01/2009

Singer Phoebe Snow, a New Jersey native, was recently named one of that state's great black musicians by a local magazine and she has decided to take a DNA test to prove her ethnicity once and for all.

The 57-year-old bluesy folk songstress best known for her seventies classic "Poetry Man," was named along with Stevie Wonder, George Benson and Sean 'Diddy' Combs as one of the state's "black music industry greats."

Snow, who is Jewish, says she's always faced questions about her ethnicity. Regarding the article, she recently told PageSix, "I was peeing in my pants laughing (at the magazine). I was like, this is fantastic to be in such great company."

While she's flattered, Snow has determined it's time to put the question of her ethnicity to rest the scientific way.

"Believe me, people have been asking me about this since I started in the recording industry," Snow said. "My mom was the whitest, alabaster-skinned person you can imagine, but who knows what went on four generations ago? So this mitochondrial DNA test should settle it."

God rest the dead. She probably wasn't Black as in Black/African American, but she was definitely mixed with Original Asiatic/Moorish blood. What's so funny about this is if you claim to be Jewish as in ethnicity, you might as well call yourself Black, the original Jews were Black. A lot of Jewish people today either had family who were European converts to Judaism or had family who were ethnically mixed.

Just like Carly Simon, Johnny Depp, and a lot of others are mixed but due to US census or just the overall way of thinking of some people in this society and all over the world, you can't claim Black/African unless one of your parents is noticeably Black (stereotypical African features). There always been this low key stigma people have about being classified or associated as African (Black).

Identity said:

June 25th, 2009 at the Bitter End in New York City.

Would have loved to have been in the club that night. Never had the opportunity to attend one of her shows, and now I never will. I hate that, because I can't overstate the love I had for that lady.

Rest in peace, Phoebe.

thatruth said:

Identity said:

[img:$uid]http://i51.tinypic.com/105sj1f.jpg[/img:$uid]

Singer Phoebe Snow to take DNA Test To Prove Her Ethnicity

by Maggie Taylor | Article Date: 03/01/2009

Singer Phoebe Snow, a New Jersey native, was recently named one of that state's great black musicians by a local magazine and she has decided to take a DNA test to prove her ethnicity once and for all.

The 57-year-old bluesy folk songstress best known for her seventies classic "Poetry Man," was named along with Stevie Wonder, George Benson and Sean 'Diddy' Combs as one of the state's "black music industry greats."

Snow, who is Jewish, says she's always faced questions about her ethnicity. Regarding the article, she recently told PageSix, "I was peeing in my pants laughing (at the magazine). I was like, this is fantastic to be in such great company."

While she's flattered, Snow has determined it's time to put the question of her ethnicity to rest the scientific way.

"Believe me, people have been asking me about this since I started in the recording industry," Snow said. "My mom was the whitest, alabaster-skinned person you can imagine, but who knows what went on four generations ago? So this mitochondrial DNA test should settle it."

God rest the dead. She probably wasn't Black as in Black/African American, but she was definitely mixed with Original Asiatic/Moorish blood. What's so funny about this is if you claim to be Jewish as in ethnicity, you might as well call yourself Black, the original Jews were Black. A lot of Jewish people today either had family who were European converts to Judaism or had family who were ethnically mixed.

Just like Carly Simon, Johnny Depp, and a lot of others are mixed but due to US census or just the overall way of thinking of some people in this society and all over the world, you can't claim Black/African unless one of your parents is noticeably Black (stereotypical African features). There always been this low key stigma people have about being classified or associated as African (Black).

Exactly! That's why black actresses such as Heather Locklear identify as white. The one drop rule only applies if you look like you have one drop.

PDogz said:

I enjoyed a lot of her music, but much slow Sunday romance and quite a few candlelight dinners have taken place with this one in the background. RIP.

WOW! R.I.P. Phoebe...

WTH? I can't digest these news right.

Wow man, not Phoebe Snow.