Phillinganes, Greg (12th May 1956-Present)

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 Twoby 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
Gone, Gone, Gone (L. Russell Brown/Lance Hayward)

Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams recordings
Emotion (Barry Gibb/Robin Gibb)
S CBS 6164B (UK 45)

Sources:

Phillinganes, Greg (12th May 1956-Present)

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