“The blues is a rich heritage that celebrates life in all of its glory and complexity. Phil Gates brings a fresh perspective and voice to America’s greatest native art form with the determination and talent to move it forward as a vital, living cultural treasure.”
Dave Rubin, Guitar Edge Magazine
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 the Blues has always been one of his main sources of musical inspiration. Phil has played venues from small clubs, to the U.S. Air Force’s "Tops in Blue" World Tour, which performed the halftime show at the NFL Superbowl.
Phil Gates regularly tours in Europe and the States for festival and club dates, and performs locally at many of the best Los Angeles Blues Clubs. Also, Phil is featured every Friday night on Hornblower Crusie’s “Friday Night Blues Dinner Cruise”. This event started in April 2007 for the summer, and because of the success, and usually sold out shows, Phil’s contract got extended through 2011. Phil’s style is reminiscent of early Buddy Guy mixed with a special blend of flavors from Jazz, Fusion, and the Chicago, Delta, and Mississippi Blues styles.
Phil recently won the “Beale Street Blues Kings” Competition in Memphis, and competed in the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge.
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's greatest performers to include: Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Albert King, Dizzie Gilespie, Wynton & Branford Marsalis, Kevin Eubanks, Eartha Kitt, Dianne Reeves, Bobby "Blue" Bland, and many others.
In the studio, Phil has been busy working on the follow up to the successful release of “Addicted To The Blues” which, though not nominated, was on the Grammy Ballot this year as one of only 56 titles in the Best Traditional Blues Category. Phil intends to build on this wave with his new 2011 CD “In The Mean Time…”.
The new CD titled “In The Mean Time…” has Phil exploring even new explosive forays into the Blues, by combining his deep passion for the Blues with other music styles available in his vast music ability. There are straight Blues songs, Blues songs combined with the heart of New Orleans, and others blending in Funk, and even some Hendrix influenced approaches.
More free to explore his guitar virtuoso style in this platform, “In The Mean Time” provides a new look into Phil Gates, as he continues to write and perform creative and fresh original songs that are garnering attention world-wide.
Phil is an accomplished session guitarist, performing on such projects as the Philip Bailey CD "Life & Love", also with artists Kellie Blaise, Billy Shields, Maurice White, Zac Harmon, Preston Glass, L.A. Stlyz and Seabron, and earlier a track with Maurice White's artist Keni Jackson. His latest session work is playing guitar on many tracks of a new project for Time Life entitled “Songs for Worship: Soul” This included artists such as: Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle, Melba Moore, Freddie Jackson, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Deniece Williams, Jody Watley, Howard Hewett, Teddy Pendergrass, Brian McKnight, Ruben Studdard and Maurice White.
As a Producer, Phil has also produced a song of his with Karen Briggs, also Phil Co-Produced the award winning Blues record "The Blues According to Zacariah" with Zac Harmon, and recently has also Produced the “Urban Legacy” CD for Julia Jordan, daughter of renowned guitarist Stanley Jordan (who also performed on the CD). Also Phil scored an AFI film “My Normal Life”. Not to mention he has four CD’s of his own music “This Side OF Me” and “Music From the film “My Normal Life” , “Should I?”and the latest is “Addicted To The Blues” which is an editors recommend, and on the top selling CD list for West Coast Blues on CD Baby. This latest CD was also on the 2011 Grammy ballot. These are also available on Apple iTunes
Phil has three full endorsements with Ernie Ball/MusicMan Guitars, Evertune Bridges, and Ultimate Support music stands respectively.
Phil is a dedicated, hard working professional that has proven time and time again, that his being dependable, and being able to work well with others can be an asset in wide array of musical endeavors.
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