Phat Man Dee on Healthy and Fit, Bethel Park TV January 2022

Life in Tune: Phat Man Dee sings of music’s power to join us

NATE GUIDRY Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 11, 2021

Life in Tune is a biweekly photo feature about local musicians.

In Phat Man Dee’s musical life, there are no rests.

Her latest project is a recording featuring her powerful voice alongside local powerhouse musicians Reggie Watkins on trombone, James Johnson on piano and Roger Humphries on drums. The extended play record is slated for release in February 2022, but Man Dee said a couple of singles will be released before then, including one titled "Virgil and Kae" in honor of two longtime local jazz lovers who died in recent years. 

Celebrating a jazz legend: Phat Man Dee to lead a Pittsburgh tribute to Billy Strayhorn

SCOTT MERVIS Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 7, 2021

“He lived openly as a gay Black man with his partner in New York City, in the middle of the century, at the height of Jim Crow,” Phat Man Dee says. “So it was important to me that we celebrate him fully for everything he gave us and who he was.

“His whole life, his existence, his music, his legacy, his gift means we get to celebrate him every time we hear one of his songs,” she added. “And a lot of people don’t even know. They’re like, ‘Oh, I thought Ellington wrote this.’ He wrote a lot of songs that people don’t realize that he wrote and arranged.” 

Love means doing whatʼs best for those you love, not whatʼs best for you. I love our scene with every cell in my body, and I want to sing to you in person so much. I miss my band. Like, I dream about them. I miss my fans. I miss hugging you, but I take my role very seriously and I will do my very best to never lead those who trust me down dangerous and life-threatening paths. Until I can sing to you in person, you can catch me live and pre-record on the internet, and I hope to see you there too.” - Phat Man Dee
One Last WHIRL: Local Singer Phat Man Dee Is The Star Of The Show! When local singer Phat Man Dee walks into a room, she brings a ray of sunshine. Well, it’s more like a ray of sparkles! ” - Rachel Jones

Whirl Magazine

Grantee Spotlight | Creating Community with the support of a Love My Neighbor! Love My Neighbor! Grantee Phat Man Dee hosts monthly jam sessions atBlack Forge Coffee House! ” - Chelsea Contino

Neighborhood Allies Grantee Spotlight 2019

Phat Man Dee and Tommy Amoeba celebrate twin albums  The two have been married over a decade and are basically local music-and-performance legends...” - Andy Mulkerin

Pittsburgh City Paper

Music Preview: Phat Man Dee's 'Torch' songs strike 'blue gold'   Once you get beyond the awe of Phat Man Dee, you quickly realize she has a positive personality and can really sing. Really.” - Nate Guidry

Pittsburgh Post Gazette