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Greg Phillinganes

January 19, 2024

Gregory Arthur Phillinganes (born May 12, 1956) is an American keyboardist and arranger. A prolific session musician, Phillinganes has contributed to numerous albums representing 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.

Greg Phillinganes
Phillinganes performing with Herbie Hancock in 2010
Background information
Birth nameGregory Arthur Phillinganes
Also known asMouse, Philly Steak
Born (1956-05-12) May 12, 1956 (age 67)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)
  • Keyboards
  • synthesizer
  • vocals
Years active1976–present[1]

Biography edit

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 before his mother brought him to Misha Kotler, a Detroit Symphony Orchestra pianist who introduced the discipline and technique Phillinganes required to excel. Phillinganes credits Kotler with showing him proper hand posture and for influencing him to play with "a sense of dexterity and definition".[1]

Phillinganes was discovered by Stevie Wonder after the drummer Ricky Lawson gave him a cassette of instrumental renditions of his own songs by Phillinganes. 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 Michael Jackson and the Jacksons for Phillinganes. He arranged the Jacksons' 1978 album Destiny and played keyboard on their follow up album Triumph album.[3] In the process, he became close with the Jackson family, accompanying them to Walt Disney World and referring to Katherine Jackson as "mom".[4] He contributed to every one of Michael Jackson's solo albums, and cites the title track from 1982's Thriller as a classic example of his work. In an interview with Atlanta, Phillinganes recalled, "I did the synth bass part, those high-pitched synth parts, I did the Rhodes [electric piano] part and even did the pipe organ that Vincent Price does his rap over. It was crazy! When I listen to it now, I just think about all the fun we had creating all those layers in the studio."[3] Although paid as a session musician for his contributions to Thriller, the best-selling album of all time,[5] Phillinganes noted that he and the other participating musicians do not receive royalties.[4] He was the musical director for Michael Jackson's Bad and Dangerous concert tours, as well as the Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special. He describes his involvement with the 30th Anniversary Special as particularly emotional considering his long history with the family. Phillinganes has spoken at length about how much of his life he had spent with the Jacksons, and Michael in particular.[4]

In 1981, Phillinganes released his first solo album, Significant Gains.[6] The Boston Globe reviewer Richard Cromonic noted Wonder's influence on the album, and praised the creativity of the compositions. He criticized the lyrics as being less creative, and said that Significant Gains might be too close to Wonder's sound, calling it "blatant emulation".[7] While the album was not successful, the song "Baby, I Do Love You" was a minor R&B hit.[8] Three years later, Phillinganes released his follow-up album Pulse, which featured another minor hit (and perhaps his best-known solo hit), a cover of Yellow Magic Orchestra's song "Behind the Mask" (with additional lyrics written by Michael Jackson). This single was more successful on the dance music charts.[8] When he later joined Eric Clapton's backing band, Phillinganes introduced the tune to Clapton, who covered it on his 1986 August album. Amidst his solo recordings and touring with Clapton throughout the 1980s and the early 1990s, he became well known as a prominent session musician for a multitude of different artists, performing on many hit albums of the time. His session work has continued into the present.[1]

In addition to Stevie Wonder, Greg Phillinganes has worked and toured with other musicians including 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 among others.[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 subsequently 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. When Toto reformed in 2010 to resume touring and working on new material, Phillinganes had been replaced in the lineup by original keyboardist Steve Porcaro.[11] In 2022 Phillinganes was briefly reunited with Toto when he filled in for 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 Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour for its entire run from 2011 to 2014.[3] Phillinganes was Musical Director for the 2014 Women of Soul performance at The White House featuring, amongst others Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Ariana Grande and Jill Scott.[13] In 2014 and 2015 he performed with Stevie Wonder again in the Songs in the Key of Life Tour, also serving "as the tour's Music Director."[14] He toured with the European leg of David Gilmour's Rattle That Lock tour.[15]

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]

In 2022 Phillinganes was featured in several episodes of the podcast series Stories in the Room: Michael Jackson's Thriller Album Podcast.

Selected discography edit

Solo

  • Significant Gains (1981)
  • Pulse (1984)

With Quincy Jones

With John Mayer

With Michael Jackson

With David Gilmour

With Laura Branigan

With Donna Summer

With Sheryl Crow

With Mick Jagger

With Deniece Williams

With Thelma Houston

With Dionne Warwick

With Richard Marx

With Toni Braxton

With Stephen Bishop

With Brenda Russell

With Paul Simon

With Michael Bublé

With Bill Withers

  • Watching You Watching Me (1985)

With Michael McDonald

With Barbra Streisand

With Rod Stewart

With Leo Sayer

With Elvis Costello

With Stevie Nicks

With Willie Nelson

With Anita Baker

With Ronan Keating

With Faith Evans

With Paul Young

With Melissa Manchester

With Natalie Cole

With Mariah Carey

With Al Jarreau

  • High Crime (1984)
  • My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke (2014)

With Leonard Cohen

With Chaka Khan

With Patti Austin

With Bryan Ferry

With Ray Parker Jr.

With Minnie Riperton

With Wynonna Judd

With Joan Armatrading

With Olivia Newton-John

With Richie Sambora

With Boz Scaggs

With Cheryl Lynn

With Jennifer Holliday

With Roberta Flack

With Michael Bolton

With Ilse DeLange

  • Clean Up (2003)

With James Taylor

With Jennifer Rush

With Eddie Money

With Diane Schuur

  • Friends For Schuur (2000)

With Philip Bailey

With Kenny Loggins

With Patti LaBelle

With Terence Trent D'Arby

With Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack

With Neil Diamond

With Donald Fagen

With Earth, Wind & Fire

With Rickie Lee Jones

With Lionel Richie

With Joe Cocker

With Stephanie Mills

With Peter Allen

With Syreeta Wright

With The Jacksons

With George Benson

With Toto

With Aretha Franklin


With Donald Byrd

With Eric Clapton

With Stevie Wonder

With The Pointer Sisters

With The Isley Brothers and Santana

References edit

Cited sources

  1. ^ a b c d e Regen, Jon (July 12, 2012). . Keyboardmag.com. NewBay Media. Archived from the original on December 29, 2014. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  2. ^ Wynn, Ron. "Greg Phillinganes Biography". AllMusic.com. All Media Network. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c Eldredge, Richard (June 1, 2012). "Q&A with Greg Phillinganes". Atlanta. Emmis Publishing. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c Greg Phillinganes (February 4, 2011). "Greg Phillinganes–Michael Jackson". Youtube.com (Interview). Archived from the original on December 22, 2021.
  5. ^ Craig Glenday (ed.). . Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on May 17, 2006. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  6. ^ "Significant Gains : Overview". AllMusic. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  7. ^ Cromonic, Richard (July 16, 1981). "Greg Phillinganes – Significant Gains". The Boston Globe. Globe Newspaper Co. p. A12.
  8. ^ a b "Greg Phillinganes : Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  9. ^ Walker, Toby. "Greg Phillinganes". Soulwalking.co.uk. Toby Walker. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  10. ^ Beck, Matt (July 2012). "5 Ways to Play Like Greg Phillinganes". Keyboard. Miller Freeman. 38 (7): 36, 38. ISSN 0730-0158.
  11. ^ "History: Toto". Totoofficial.com. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  12. ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  13. ^ "Women of Soul". Pbs.org. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  14. ^ "Stevie Wonder talks 'Key of Life'". Freep.com. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  15. ^ "David Gilmour – News". DavidGilmour.com. May 20, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  16. ^ "Stevie Wonder GRAMMY Special Wins Emmy". Grammy.com. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  17. ^ 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. Back Stage Publications. 26 (20): 36. May 17, 1985. ISSN 0005-3635.
  • "Greg Philliganes". Music Technology. November 1992. ISSN 0957-6606. OCLC 24835173.

External links edit

January 19, 2024
greg, phillinganes, gregory, arthur, phillinganes, born, 1956, american, keyboardist, arranger, prolific, session, musician, phillinganes, contributed, numerous, albums, representing, broad, array, artists, genres, toured, with, artists, including, stevie, won. Gregory Arthur Phillinganes born May 12 1956 is an American keyboardist and arranger A prolific session musician Phillinganes has contributed to numerous albums representing 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 Greg PhillinganesPhillinganes performing with Herbie Hancock in 2010Background informationBirth nameGregory Arthur PhillinganesAlso known asMouse Philly SteakBorn 1956 05 12 May 12 1956 age 67 Detroit Michigan U S GenresPop rockprogressive rockR amp BOccupation s MusicianInstrument s KeyboardssynthesizervocalsYears active1976 present 1 Contents 1 Biography 2 Selected discography 3 References 4 External linksBiography editGregory 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 before his mother brought him to Misha Kotler a Detroit Symphony Orchestra pianist who introduced the discipline and technique Phillinganes required to excel Phillinganes credits Kotler with showing him proper hand posture and for influencing him to play with a sense of dexterity and definition 1 Phillinganes was discovered by Stevie Wonder after the drummer Ricky Lawson gave him a cassette of instrumental renditions of his own songs by Phillinganes 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 Michael Jackson and the Jacksons for Phillinganes He arranged the Jacksons 1978 album Destiny and played keyboard on their follow up album Triumph album 3 In the process he became close with the Jackson family accompanying them to Walt Disney World and referring to Katherine Jackson as mom 4 He contributed to every one of Michael Jackson s solo albums and cites the title track from 1982 s Thriller as a classic example of his work In an interview with Atlanta Phillinganes recalled I did the synth bass part those high pitched synth parts I did the Rhodes electric piano part and even did the pipe organ that Vincent Price does his rap over It was crazy When I listen to it now I just think about all the fun we had creating all those layers in the studio 3 Although paid as a session musician for his contributions to Thriller the best selling album of all time 5 Phillinganes noted that he and the other participating musicians do not receive royalties 4 He was the musical director for Michael Jackson s Bad and Dangerous concert tours as well as the Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary Special He describes his involvement with the 30th Anniversary Special as particularly emotional considering his long history with the family Phillinganes has spoken at length about how much of his life he had spent with the Jacksons and Michael in particular 4 In 1981 Phillinganes released his first solo album Significant Gains 6 The Boston Globe reviewer Richard Cromonic noted Wonder s influence on the album and praised the creativity of the compositions He criticized the lyrics as being less creative and said that Significant Gains might be too close to Wonder s sound calling it blatant emulation 7 While the album was not successful the song Baby I Do Love You was a minor R amp B hit 8 Three years later Phillinganes released his follow up album Pulse which featured another minor hit and perhaps his best known solo hit a cover of Yellow Magic Orchestra s song Behind the Mask with additional lyrics written by Michael Jackson This single was more successful on the dance music charts 8 When he later joined Eric Clapton s backing band Phillinganes introduced the tune to Clapton who covered it on his 1986 August album Amidst his solo recordings and touring with Clapton throughout the 1980s and the early 1990s he became well known as a prominent session musician for a multitude of different artists performing on many hit albums of the time His session work has continued into the present 1 In addition to Stevie Wonder Greg Phillinganes has worked and toured with other musicians including 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 among others 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 subsequently 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 When Toto reformed in 2010 to resume touring and working on new material Phillinganes had been replaced in the lineup by original keyboardist Steve Porcaro 11 In 2022 Phillinganes was briefly reunited with Toto when he filled in for 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 Cirque du Soleil s Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour for its entire run from 2011 to 2014 3 Phillinganes was Musical Director for the 2014 Women of Soul performance at The White House featuring amongst others Aretha Franklin Patti LaBelle Ariana Grande and Jill Scott 13 In 2014 and 2015 he performed with Stevie Wonder again in the Songs in the Key of Life Tour also serving as the tour s Music Director 14 He toured with the European leg of David Gilmour s Rattle That Lock tour 15 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 In 2022 Phillinganes was featured in several episodes of the podcast series Stories in the Room Michael Jackson s Thriller Album Podcast Selected discography editSolo 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 Secrets 1996 The Heat 2000 Libra 2005 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 Buble 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 What the World Needs Now Is Love 2003 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 amp 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 The Jacksons Destiny 1978 Triumph 1980 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 Thank You For F U M L Funking Up My Life 1978 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 amp White 1981 So Excited 1982 Break Out 1983 With The Isley Brothers and Santana Power of Peace 2017 References editCited 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 c Eldredge Richard June 1 2012 Q amp A with Greg Phillinganes Atlanta Emmis Publishing Retrieved December 28 2014 a b c 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 original on 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 Beck Matt July 2012 5 Ways to Play Like Greg Phillinganes Keyboard Miller Freeman 38 7 36 38 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 Back Stage Publications 26 20 36 May 17 1985 ISSN 0005 3635 Greg Philliganes Music Technology November 1992 ISSN 0957 6606 OCLC 24835173 External links editGreg Phillinganes at AllMusic nbsp Greg Phillinganes Interview at NAMM Oral History Collection 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Greg Phillinganes amp oldid 1196802345, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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