He is a keyboardist, singer, arranger, music director and
songwriter born Gregory Arthur Phillinganes in Detroit, Michigan, who
studied at, and graduated from, the Lewis Cass Technical High School in Detroit.He played his own instrumental versions
of songs and after Stevie Wonder heard his own songs being performed he
hired him in 1976 to become a member of his band Wonderlove.He stayed with the group until 1981
when he ventured out on his own and recorded his debut album, Significant
Games which produced the minor hit "Baby, I Do Love You".He had another small success with "Behind
the Mask" in 1984, which came from his second album Pulse. During these years he also became a
highly sought after session and touring musician who was seen performing in
many concerts and heard on many of the hit albums and singles of the day. He also took on the position of
Music Director for Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie on their respective debut
tours as solo artists.The
artists he has worked with are countless, hailing from several different music
genres, and include Christina Aguilera, Joan Armatrading, Atlantic Starr, Patti
Austin, Roy Ayers, Burt Bacharach, Anita Baker, Michael Bolton, Laura
Branigan, Toni Braxton, Mariah Carey, Joe Cocker, Natalie Cole, Phil Collins,
Paulinho Da Costa, Elvis Costello, DeBarge, Leonard Cohen, Kiki Dee, Earth,
Wind & Fire, Donald Fagen, Bryan Ferry, Roberta Flack, David Foster, Aretha
Franklin, The Gap Band, Julio Iglesias, James Ingram, Jermaine Jackson, Mick
Jagger, Wynonna Judd, Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Kenny Loggins, Melissa
Manchester, The Manhattan Transfer, Richard Marx, Paul McCartney, Aaron
Neville, Randy Newman, Stevie Nicks, Luciano Pavarotti, The Pointer Sisters,
Minnie Riperton, David Lee Roth, Demis Roussos, Jennifer Rush, Brenda
Russell, Shanice, Bill Summers, Tavares, The Temptations, TLC, Stanley Turrentine,
Luther Vandross, The Whispers, Maurice White, Deniece Williams, The Winans,
and Syreeta Wright.Heard as a
keyboardist on hundreds of albums, a "small" selection of them are titles
such as Compositions by Anita Baker, E.S.P. by The Bee Gees, Livin'
Inside Your Love by George Benson, Bish by Stephen Bishop, When
I Fall in Love by Chris Botti, Evolution by Boyz II Men, In
the Life of Chris Gaines by Garth Brooks, Lovelines by The
Carpenters, My World by Ray Charles, Hits by Phil Collins, It's
on Tonight by Brian Culbertson, Terence Trent D'Arby's Symphony Or
Damn by Terence Trent D'Arby, Primitive by Neil Diamond, Bittersweet
by Lamont Dozier, Dr. Heckle & Mr. Jive by England Dan &
John Ford Coley, Oasis by Roberta Flack, Possibilities by
Herbie Hancock, Live in Japan by George Harrison, Eric Clapton &
Friends, My Love Is Your Love by Whitney Houston, Smooth Sailin'
by The Isley Brothers, Dream Street by Janet Jackson, Off the
Wall by Michael Jackson, Destiny by The Jacksons, High Crime
by Al Jarreau, Duets by Elton John, The Dude by Quincy Jones,
Ballads by Earl Klugh, Good Woman by Gladys Knight, If
That's What It Takes by Michael McDonald, Maybe Youve Been
Brainwashed Too by The New Radicals, Great Divide by Willie
Nelson, Soul Kiss by Olivia Newton John, Can't Slow Down by
Lionel Richie, Eaten Alive by Diana Ross, Show Must Go On: The
Anthology by Leo Sayer, Hearts and Bones by Paul Simon, Time Was
by Curtis Stigers, Back to Broadway by Barbra Streisand, Gold
by Donna Summer, October Road by James Taylor, Falling In Between
by Toto, Reservations for Two by Dionne Warwick, Sweetest Days
by Vanessa Williams, Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder and
the soundtracks of Anna & The King, The Color Purple, Pleasantville,
Running Scared, Waiting to Exhale, Weird Science and Working Girl. As a songwriter, he has written/co-written
many songs such as The Brothers Johnson's "Smilin' On Ya" and Lionel Richie's
"Love Will Find a Way" and "Se La".In 2004 he stood in for David Paich with the group Toto and joined
them as a permanent touring member in 2005. He still currently performs as a much requested session
musician as well as running his own entertainment company.
Johnny Mathis recordings The Best Days of My Life (Jack
Gold/Arnold Goland/Carsten Christiansen
