Phil began writing and performing in 1985. After a 15 year cold break to be a full-time Daddy to his own "Fab Four", at Christmas, 2014, he wanted to record an obscure Bruce Springsteen song for his mother. "The first time I heard it was years ago and it just made my heart ache. It was so my mom and me. Us against the world" (laughs) "I had to change some lyrics and instruments to make it ours, but THAT was the song. Springsteen has always connected with me that way--on many levels."
Cross country drives listening to Glen Campbell, Freddy Fender, Jim Croce and Bob Dylan shaped Phil's writing and song structure as it remains today. Since then, Phil has been into everything from Johnny Cash and The Ramones to Eric Church and Steve Earle, (playing quietly in the background as we talked for this page). "I like A LOT of different sounds and love a well written song. I'm always like 'Man, somebody WROTE this!"
Once described as a "Dying breed of cowboy" by a colleague, Phil just smiled, but the words penetrated; "That was the coolest thing anyone ever said to me. To me, a cowboy does the right thing--even if it's hard. Being a good man is everything. I tell my kids the best thing any man can grow to become is counted on. We'll see."
Phil has made his living on the baseball diamond as a player, scout and academy director/hitting coach for aspiring collegians and professionals. He sees his writing and recording as an important creative outlet; "Yeah, it's a side dish (laughing). I take it serious in that I won't do anything that's not authentic. It's gotta be real. From the heart with passion. The hope of an emotional connection is the whole thing for me. I'm probably too opinionated but, hey, if it's not legit, I'll sniff it out and it'll be dead air."