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Phil Gates was born in Chicago Ill., into a family of musicians that helped form his music style, and ability. Phil began playing musical instruments at the age of eight, and listening to a wide array of music has always been his main source of inspiration. Phil has played venues from small clubs, to the U.S. Air Force\u2019s \u201cTops in Blue\u201d World Tour, which performed in sixteen countries as well as the halftime show of the NFL Superbowl.<\/p>\n
Phil has performed at many venues all over the world with his band. Also, the band was featured for five consecutive years on Hornblower Cruise\u2019s \u201cFriday Night Blues Dinner Cruise\u201d.<\/p>\n
Phil\u2019s style is reminiscent of the early high energy Buddy Guy, mixed with a special blend of flavors from Jazz, Fusion, New Orleans, and the Chicago, Delta, and Mississippi Blues styles.<\/p>\n
The Phil Gates Band won the \u201cBeale Street Blues Kings\u201d Competition in Memphis, and competed in the Blues Foundation\u2019s International Blues Challenge.<\/p>\n
Phil has been steady contributor to the Blues Community in Southern California. He founded the Los Angeles Blues Society, and has been a valued judge for the Blues Foundation\u2019s International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN, and also at many of the Guitar Center \u201cKing of the Blues\u201d competitions in Hollywood, CA<\/p>\n
Phil has also performed at great venues such as B.B. King\u2019s, Cozy\u2019s, Biscuits and Blues San Francisco, Highway 99 Seattle, WA, The Coach House, CA, The Monterey Bay Blues Festival, The Santa Clarita Blues Festival, The Topanga Canyon Blues Festival, The Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Festival, The Blues Music Awards Blind Raccoon Showcase, The Blues Nights Gossau(Blues Festival in Gossau, Switzerland), The Rock und Blues Festival in Gams, Switzerland.<\/p>\n
Phil had the opportunity in his early years to listen and study great talent. As front of house engineer at the Caravan of Dreams Performing Arts Centre in Fort Worth, Texas, Phil worked with some of Blues and Jazz\u2019s greatest performers to include: Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Albert King, Dizzie Gilespie, Wynton & Branford Marsalis, Kevin Eubanks, Eartha Kitt, Dianne Reeves, Bobby \u201cBlue\u201d Bland, and many others.<\/p>\n
In the studio, Phil has been busy working on the follow up to the successful releases of \u201cPhil Gates Live in the Danube Delta\u201d, \u201cThe Twelve Rhythms\u201d, \u00a0\u201cPhil Gates Live at The Hermosa Saloon\u201d,\u201cAddicted To The Blues\u201d, and \u201cIn The Mean Time\u2026\u201d many of which, though not nominated, were all on the Grammy Ballot in their respective years as one of a few\u00a0titles in their Category.<\/p>\n
Phil is an accomplished session guitarist, performing on such projects as the Philip Bailey CD \u201cLife & Love\u201d, also with artists Kellie Blaise, Billy Shields, Maurice White, Zac Harmon, Preston Glass, L.A. Stlyz and Seabron.<\/p>\n
His session work playing guitar has included many tracks with artists such as: Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle, Melba Moore, Freddie Jackson, Evelyn \u201cChampagne\u201d King, Deniece Williams, Jody Watley, Howard Hewett, Teddy Pendergrass, Brian McKnight, Ruben Studdard and Maurice White.<\/p>\n
As a Producer, Co-Produced the award winning Blues record \u201cThe Blues According to Zacariah\u201d with Zac Harmon, and recently has been a Co-Producer on a CD project with Little Richard. Phil also Produced the \u201cToo Much Car For the Road\u201d CD for Toni Dodd,\u00a0 \u201cUrban Legacy\u201d CD for Julia Jordan, daughter of renowned guitarist Stanley Jordan (who also performed on the CD). Also Phil scored an AFI film \u201cMy Normal Life\u201d. Not to mention he has many CD\u2019s of his own music to include \u201cThis Side Of Me\u201d, \u201cShould I?\u201d, \u201cAddicted To The Blues\u201d ,\u201cIn The Mean Time\u2026\u201d , \u201cPhil Gates Live at The Hermosa Saloon\u201d,\u201dThe Twelve Rhythms\u201d, and Phil gates Live In The Danube Delta\u201d- all available on Apple iTunes, and digital audio outlets world-wide.<\/p>\n
Phil has five endorsements with Ernie Ball\/MusicMan Guitars, Evertune Bridges, Roland Corporation\/BOSS, Lunastone Pedals, Janicek pics, and Ultimate Support music stands respectively.<\/p>\n