Shawn Phillips

Infobox musical artist
Name =Shawn Phillips


Img_capt =
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born = birth date and age|1943|02|3
Died =
Origin = Flagicon|USA Texas
Instrument =
Voice_type =
Genre = folk rock?
Occupation =
Years_active = 1960s - present
Label =
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.shawnphillips.com/ shawnphillips.com]
Current_members =
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

Shawn Phillips (born February 3, 1943) helped define folk-rock in the 1960s and progressive-new-age rock in the 1970s.

Shawn Phillips has almost twenty albums to his credit (of which millions have been sold) and a host of associations with some of the most respected names in the industry including Donovan, Paul Buckmaster, J. Peter Robinson, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood and many others, yet he is virtually forgotten except by his cadre of loyal fans. The Texas-born singer/songwriter was called "The best kept secret in the music business," by the late rock impresario Bill Graham.

Beginning in the 1960s, Phillips made noteworthy contributions to popular music. He performed at the "Isle of Wight" festival in front of half a million people, sang on the Beatles 'Lovely Rita (Meter Maid)' song, and was cast to play the lead in the original production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" (he had to withdraw due to his heavy recording and touring schedule.) In February 1969 Phillips wrote and performed, with The Djinn, the music for the controversial Jane Arden (director) play Vagina Rex and the Gas Oven at the Arts Laboratory on Drury Lane.

Throughout the 60s Phillips worked the folk music scene in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury, New York's Greenwich Village, and London. In 1967 Phillips moved to Positano, Italy, where he remained throughout the 1970s, writing some of his most well known work. This period produced the albums 'Contribution', 'Second Contribution', 'Collaboration' and 'Faces".

Four of his albums "Faces", "Bright White", "Furthermore" and "Do You Wonder" made it into the Billboard Top 100. In addition, the singles "Lost Horizon", "We" and "Woman" made Billboard's top 40. One of the most sought after Christmas songs is Phillips' 1970 45rpm release of "A Christmas Song" on A&M 1238. The track is now available on the re-issue of "Faces".

His album "No Category" featuring his longtime collaborators Paul Buckmaster and Peter Robinson was released in 2002.

In 2007, his first live album, 'Living Contribution' was released, along with a Live DVD of the same title.

Today Shawn lives in Port Elizabeth, South Africa with his wife Juliette and their young son Liam. He divides his time between writing, touring, and his work as an emergency medical technician (EMT), firefighter, and sea rescue worker.

Discography

2002 - No Category

1995 - Another Contribution: Anthology

1994 - If the Truth Kills

1992 - The Best of Shawn Phillips: The A&M Years

1990 - Best of Shawn Phillips

1983 - Beyond Here Be Dragons

1978 - Transcendence

1977 - Spaced

1975 - Rumplestiltskin's Resolve

1974 - Do You Wonder

1974 - Furthermore 1973 - Bright White

1972 - Faces

1971 - Collaboration

1970 - Second Contribution

1970 - Contribution 1964 - I'm a Loner 1965 - Shawn

External links

* [http://www.shawnphillips.com Official website]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIvUjexgvak&feature=related On Rainbow Quest with Donovan, Pete Seeger, and Rev. Gary Davis]