Phoenix Reeves was born Donald
Patrick Reeves on January 6, 1953.
He was the youngest child born to Doreen Reeves, a suddenly single
mother of five. Growing up in Bozeman, Montana, Phoenix always felt
exceptionally close to his mother, feeling she was the closest friend
he had (and ever would have).
Money was not very prevalent in the Reeves household when Phoenix was a child, but he still recalls the whole thing fondly, saying he didn't need money, he had everything he needed - his mother's unending, undying love. However, his siblings were not nearly as close to him.
They all seemed to resent him and blame him for their father's walking out on the family. Their hatred of him was rather severe, even resulting in almost killing him when he was only two (oldest brother Dennis decided to do away with Phoenix once and for all by drowning him in the toilet). When he became an adult, Phoenix distanced himself from his siblings, but stayed very close to his mother. Throughout everything, she was his rock. His biggest supporter.
Phoenix became an accountant while still in his twenties and became engaged to Kristen Clark during that time period. They were set to wed in June of 1979, but before they could, Phoenix fell hard for someone else - Jimmy Kelley, a guy. A few years later, a golden opportunity fell into Phoenix's lap when he got signed to upstart label JLN Records and stardom followed.
His career was quite successful, but he didn't truly "arrive" until 1985, when his song "Let Me Love You" hit the charts. People went crazy over the song, propelling him into even more stardom. Ironically, the year that turned out to be the best for Phoenix professionally was also one of the worst for him personally. In November, just days before he and Jimmy were to have a committment ceremony to seal their romance, Jimmy dumped Phoenix with very little explaination. He was extremely heartbroken and pondered suicide, but did rebound by the next fall, when tragedy struck again.
Phoenix was on the road, during the tour for his third album, Through My Eyes, when Kristen called to tell him his mother had passed away. Utterly devastated, Phoenix flew back home. Unfortunately, that was not the last time there would be a death in the family. In 1987, his brother Dennis contacted him with the news that he had come down with the AIDS virus and needed some place to stay. Phoenix initially refused, because of his volitile relationship with Dennis, but eventually relented. Phoenix and Dennis grew quite close during the final days of Dennis' life. His death also leveled Phoenix.
In early 1989, Phoenix came to another crossroads, when he began to ponder if music was truly the vocation of his dreams. Convinced his career was on a downward slide, he almost asked to be let out of his contract, but reconsidered after a stunning Grammy upset proved to him that there were still people out there willing to listen to him warble. However, Phoenix's newfound acceptance of his fate does not quite guarantee that he's thrilled with his job. Given Phoenix's abhorrance for touring, it's no surprise that he's not exactly looking forward to the upcoming Solitude reunion venture with Trent and Tony.
Loneliness is also starting to get the better of Phoenix. After almost four years single, he's starting to wonder if there is such a thing as true love - and if there is, why the hell he hasn't stumbled upon it yet. His longing for a lover as well as a child is forcing him to face several issues he's much more comfortable glossing over, including his fondness for complacency. Will Phoenix be able to work through his many issues and finally find his happily ever after? Stay tuned.
Money was not very prevalent in the Reeves household when Phoenix was a child, but he still recalls the whole thing fondly, saying he didn't need money, he had everything he needed - his mother's unending, undying love. However, his siblings were not nearly as close to him.
They all seemed to resent him and blame him for their father's walking out on the family. Their hatred of him was rather severe, even resulting in almost killing him when he was only two (oldest brother Dennis decided to do away with Phoenix once and for all by drowning him in the toilet). When he became an adult, Phoenix distanced himself from his siblings, but stayed very close to his mother. Throughout everything, she was his rock. His biggest supporter.
Phoenix became an accountant while still in his twenties and became engaged to Kristen Clark during that time period. They were set to wed in June of 1979, but before they could, Phoenix fell hard for someone else - Jimmy Kelley, a guy. A few years later, a golden opportunity fell into Phoenix's lap when he got signed to upstart label JLN Records and stardom followed.
His career was quite successful, but he didn't truly "arrive" until 1985, when his song "Let Me Love You" hit the charts. People went crazy over the song, propelling him into even more stardom. Ironically, the year that turned out to be the best for Phoenix professionally was also one of the worst for him personally. In November, just days before he and Jimmy were to have a committment ceremony to seal their romance, Jimmy dumped Phoenix with very little explaination. He was extremely heartbroken and pondered suicide, but did rebound by the next fall, when tragedy struck again.
Phoenix was on the road, during the tour for his third album, Through My Eyes, when Kristen called to tell him his mother had passed away. Utterly devastated, Phoenix flew back home. Unfortunately, that was not the last time there would be a death in the family. In 1987, his brother Dennis contacted him with the news that he had come down with the AIDS virus and needed some place to stay. Phoenix initially refused, because of his volitile relationship with Dennis, but eventually relented. Phoenix and Dennis grew quite close during the final days of Dennis' life. His death also leveled Phoenix.
In early 1989, Phoenix came to another crossroads, when he began to ponder if music was truly the vocation of his dreams. Convinced his career was on a downward slide, he almost asked to be let out of his contract, but reconsidered after a stunning Grammy upset proved to him that there were still people out there willing to listen to him warble. However, Phoenix's newfound acceptance of his fate does not quite guarantee that he's thrilled with his job. Given Phoenix's abhorrance for touring, it's no surprise that he's not exactly looking forward to the upcoming Solitude reunion venture with Trent and Tony.
Loneliness is also starting to get the better of Phoenix. After almost four years single, he's starting to wonder if there is such a thing as true love - and if there is, why the hell he hasn't stumbled upon it yet. His longing for a lover as well as a child is forcing him to face several issues he's much more comfortable glossing over, including his fondness for complacency. Will Phoenix be able to work through his many issues and finally find his happily ever after? Stay tuned.