Gene Phillips

For the basketball player, see Gene Phillips (basketball). For the American author, educator and priest, see Gene D. Phillips.

Gene Phillips (born Eugene Floyd Phillips, July 25, 1915 – January 10, 1990)[1] was an American jump blues guitarist and singer.[2] He was born in St. Louis, Missouri,[3] and was influenced by, and a fan of, Louis Jordan, Wynonie Harris, Duke Ellington and Count Basie, Big Joe Turner and Jimmy Rushing.[2]

Career

He joined the St Louis bands of Dewey Jackson and Jimmy Powell and was later taught lap steel guitar by Floyd Smith.[2] He later went on to join Lorenzo Flennoy's Trio. A pioneer of the lap steel guitar, he recorded with the Ink Spots and the Mills Brothers, among others.[1] In late 1945 he recorded with Lucky Thompson in a band also featuring Marshal Royal and Charles Mingus.[4]

His Rhythm Aces, the band he used on his Modern recordings for the Bihari Brothers, included Jake Porter, trumpet; drummer Al "Cake" Wichard; Maxwell Davis, Marshal Royal, Jack McVea, Bumps Meyers, Willard McDaniel, Lloyd Glenn, Bill Street and Art Edwards.[5]

Phillips died in Lakewood, California, in 1990.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Bob L. Eagle, Eric S. LeBlanc, Blues: A Regional Experience, ABC-CIO, 2013, p.139
  2. 1 2 3 Topping, Ray at Ace Records
  3. ↑ Bluesworld.com - accessed August 2010
  4. ↑ Charles Mingus Catalog at JazzDisco
  5. ↑ allmusic

External links

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