Phyllis Nelson

Phyllis Nelson (October 3, 1950 – January 12, 1998)

Career Nelson was born in Jacksonville, Florida, and a member of family group Nelson Five. She was later a backup singer for Major Harris and Philly Cream. 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 titled "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 successful in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at the top of the UK Singles Chart in April 1985.

In France she recorded a single, "I Don't Know", with the French actor Alain Delon. 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 No. 81), and she is remembered as a one-hit wonder. "Move Closer" returned to the UK chart in 1994, reaching the top 40,

Death Nelson died in January 1998 at the age of 47 from breast cancer in Los Angeles, California, where she had been living since her divorce.

Her son Marc also enjoyed a recording career, being a co-founder member of the group Boyz II Men.

Discography Albums Year Title Chart positions Record labelAUS UK US Dance BEL NL NZ "I Don't Know"———————— N/A "I Like You"61165———1781 I Like You 1994 "Move Closer" (re-issue)———————34 Move Closer "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.