Greg Phillinganes
Greg Phillinganes | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Gregory Arthur Phillinganes |
Also known as | Mouse, Philly Steak |
Born | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | May 12, 1956
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instrument(s) |
|
Years active | 1976–present[1] |
Gregory Arthur Phillinganes (born May 12, 1956) is an American keyboardist and arranger. A session musician, Phillinganes has contributed to numerous albums over a broad array of artists and genres. He has toured with artists including Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour and Toto, was musical director for Michael Jackson, and has released two solo studio albums.
Biography
Gregory Arthur Phillinganes was born in Detroit, Michigan on May 12, 1956.[2] He began playing a neighbor's piano by ear at the age of two, beginning lessons a few years later after his mother purchased a piano for him.[1] He took lessons from two different instructors, then from Misha Kotler, a Detroit Symphony Orchestra pianist who introduced the discipline and technique Phillinganes required. Phillinganes credits Kotler with showing him proper hand posture and for influencing him to play with "a sense of dexterity and definition".[1]
After drummer Ricky Lawson gave Stevie Wonder a cassette of Phillinganes's instrumental renditions of his own songs, Phillinganes auditioned for Wonder's band, Wonderlove, and played with them from 1976 to 1981.[1] The year 1978 began a three-decade-long involvement with
In 1981, Phillinganes released his first solo album, Significant Gains.
Greg Phillinganes has worked and toured with musicians including Stevie Wonder, George Harrison, the Bee Gees, Donna Summer, Anita Baker, George Benson, Karen Carpenter, Eric Clapton, Donald Fagen, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Michael Jackson, Richard Marx, Paul McCartney, Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones, and Stevie Nicks.[9][10] In 1995 he played on the Joan Armatrading album What's Inside.
Starting in 2003, Phillinganes filled in for the semi-retired David Paich on tour with the band Toto. He became a full-time member of the band by 2005, and contributed to their album Falling in Between. He continued to tour as a member of Toto until the band became inactive in 2008, and did not rejoin when Toto re-formed in 2010.[11] In 2022 Phillinganes filled in for Toto's Dominique Xavier Taplin during the 'Dogz of Oz' tour during the Norwegian shows. Toto announced in 2024 on Facebook that he and drummer Shannon Forrest were returning to the touring lineup.[12]
Phillinganes served as the musical director for
Phillinganes won a 2015 Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction for his role as musical director for the television special "Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life"[16] and was music director for the 2016 Grammy Awards.[17]
Discography
Solo
- Significant Gains (1981)
- Pulse (1984)
With Quincy Jones
- One Hundred Ways (1981) – The synth melody used in the song would later be sampled by MF Doom in his song "Rhymes Like Dimes" (1999).
With John Mayer
- Sob Rock (2021)
With Michael Jackson
- Off the Wall (1979)
- Thriller(1982)
- Bad (1987)
- Dangerous (1991)
With David Gilmour
- Live at Pompeii (2017)
With Laura Branigan
- Laura Branigan (1990)
With Donna Summer
- Donna Summer (1982)
With Sheryl Crow
- Threads (2019)
With Mick Jagger
- Primitive Cool (1987)
With Deniece Williams
- When Love Comes Calling (1978)
- Special Love (1989)
With Thelma Houston
- Ready to Roll (1978)
With Dionne Warwick
- Finder of Lost Loves (1985)
- Reservations for Two (1987)
With Richard Marx
- Rush Street (1991)
- Flesh and Bone (1997)
- Days in Avalon (2000)
With Toni Braxton
With Stephen Bishop
- Bish (1978)
With Brenda Russell
- Kiss Me with the Wind (1990)
- Soul Talkin' (1993)
- Paris Rain (2000)
With Paul Simon
- Hearts and Bones (1983)
- The Rhythm of the Saints (1990)
With Michael Bublé
- Call Me Irresponsible (2007)
With Bill Withers
- Watching You Watching Me (1985)
With Michael McDonald
- If That's What It Takes (1982)
- Blink of an Eye (1993)
With Barbra Streisand
- Back to Broadway (1993)
- Higher Ground (1997)
With Rod Stewart
- Soulbook (2009)
With Leo Sayer
- Leo Sayer (1978)
With Elvis Costello
- Painted From Memory(1998)
With Stevie Nicks
- Rock a Little (1985)
With Willie Nelson
- The Great Divide (2002)
With Anita Baker
- Rapture (1986)
- Compositions (1990)
- Rhythm of Love (1994)
With Ronan Keating
- When Ronan Met Burt (2011)
With Faith Evans
- Keep the Faith (1998)
With Paul Young
- The Crossing (1993)
With Melissa Manchester
- Don't Cry Out Loud (1978)
With Natalie Cole
- Dangerous (1985)
- Everlasting (1987)
With Mariah Carey
- Merry Christmas (1994)
With Al Jarreau
- High Crime (1984)
- My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke (2014)
With Leonard Cohen
- The Future (1992)
With Chaka Khan
- What Cha' Gonna Do for Me (1981)
With Patti Austin
- Patti Austin (1984)
- The Real Me (1988)
- Love Is Gonna Getcha(1990)
- Carry On (1991)
- That Secret Place (1994)
- On the Way to Love (2001)
- Sound Advice (2011)
With Bryan Ferry
- Taxi (1993)
With Ray Parker Jr.
- After Dark (1987)
With Minnie Riperton
- Love Lives Forever (1980)
With Wynonna Judd
With Joan Armatrading
- What's Inside (1995)
With Olivia Newton-John
- Soul Kiss (1985)
With Richie Sambora
- Undiscovered Soul (1998)
With Boz Scaggs
- Fade into Light (1996)
- Dig (2001)
With Cheryl Lynn
- In Love (1979)
With Jennifer Holliday
- Feel My Soul (1983)
With Roberta Flack
- Oasis (1988)
- Set the Night to Music (1991)
With Michael Bolton
- Timeless: The Classics (1992)
- Timeless: The Classics Vol. 2 (1999)
With Ilse DeLange
- Clean Up (2003)
With James Taylor
- October Road(2002)
With Jennifer Rush
- Heart Over Mind(1987)
With Eddie Money
- Life for the Talking(1979)
With Diane Schuur
- Friends For Schuur (2000)
With Philip Bailey
- Triumph (1986)
With Kenny Loggins
- Vox Humana (1985)
- Leap of Faith (1991)
- The Unimaginable Life (1997)
With Patti LaBelle
- Winner in You (1986)
- Burnin' (1991)
- Timeless Journey (2004)
With Terence Trent D'Arby
- Symphony or Damn (1993)
With Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack
- Born to Love (1983)
With Neil Diamond
- Primitive (1984)
- Headed for the Future (1986)
- Melody Road (2014)
With Donald Fagen
- The Nightfly (1982)
With Earth, Wind & Fire
- I've Had Enough (1981)
With Rickie Lee Jones
- The Magazine (1984)
- Flying Cowboys (1989)
- The Evening of My Best Day (2003)
With Lionel Richie
- Lionel Richie (1982)
- Can't Slow Down (1983)
- Dancing on the Ceiling (1986)
With Joe Cocker
- Civilized Man (1984)
- Night Calls (1991)
With Stephanie Mills
- Merciless(1983)
With Peter Allen
- I Could Have Been a Sailor (1979)
With Syreeta Wright
- One to One (1977)
With
With George Benson
- Give Me the Night (1980)
- In Your Eyes (1983)
- While the City Sleeps... (1986)
- Songs and Stories (2009)
With Toto
- Falling in Between (2006)
With Aretha Franklin
- Love All the Hurt Away (1981)
With Donald Byrd
With Eric Clapton
- Behind the Sun (1985)
- August(1986)
- Journeyman (1989)
- Pilgrim (1998)
With Stevie Wonder
- Songs in the Key of Life (1976)
- Conversation Peace (1995)
- A Time to Love (2005)
With The Pointer Sisters
- Special Things (1980)
- Black & White (1981)
- So Excited! (1982)
- Break Out (1983)
With The Isley Brothers and Santana
- Power of Peace (2017)
References
Cited sources
- ^ a b c d e Regen, Jon (July 12, 2012). "Greg Phillinganes: Pop Music's Most Revered Session and Touring Keyboardist on a Life Reflected in Music". Keyboardmag.com. NewBay Media. Archived from the original on December 29, 2014. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
- ^ Wynn, Ron. "Greg Phillinganes Biography". AllMusic.com. All Media Network. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
- ^ a b Eldredge, Richard (June 1, 2012). "Q&A with Greg Phillinganes". Atlanta. Emmis Publishing. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
- ^ a b Greg Phillinganes (February 4, 2011). "Greg Phillinganes–Michael Jackson". Youtube.com (Interview). Archived from the original on December 22, 2021.
- Craig Glenday (ed.). "Biggest-selling Album Ever". Guinness World Records. Archived from the originalon May 17, 2006. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
- ^ "Significant Gains : Overview". AllMusic. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
- ^ Cromonic, Richard (July 16, 1981). "Greg Phillinganes – Significant Gains". The Boston Globe. Globe Newspaper Co. p. A12.
- ^ a b "Greg Phillinganes : Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
- ^ Walker, Toby. "Greg Phillinganes". Soulwalking.co.uk. Toby Walker. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
- ISSN 0730-0158.
- ^ "History: Toto". Totoofficial.com. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
- ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
- ^ "Women of Soul". Pbs.org. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
- ^ "Stevie Wonder talks 'Key of Life'". Freep.com. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
- ^ "David Gilmour – News". DavidGilmour.com. May 20, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
- ^ "Stevie Wonder GRAMMY Special Wins Emmy". Grammy.com. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
- ^ Greg Phillinganes (February 4, 2011). "Musical Director Greg Phillinganes @ Grammys 2016" (Interview). YouTube. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021.
Other sources
- "Greg Phillinganes: Discography". AllMusic.com. All Media Network. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
- Ivory, Steve (March 9, 1985). "Black: Session Ace Phillinganes Takes His Own Solo 'Pulse'". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 10. Nielsen Business Media. p. 65. ISSN 0006-2510.
- "Phillinganes' Debut Video, 'Behind The Mask'". Back Stage. 26 (20). Back Stage Publications: 36. May 17, 1985. ISSN 0005-3635.
- "Greg Philliganes". Music Technology. November 1992. OCLC 24835173.
External links
- Greg Phillinganes at AllMusic
- Greg Phillinganes Interview at NAMM Oral History Collection (2015)