Greg Phillinganes

Greg Phillinganes (born Gregory Arthur Phillinganes on May 12, 1956 in Detroit, Michigan) is an active session keyboardist in Los Angeles, California. He is a graduate of Cass Tech.

Phillinganes was discovered by Stevie Wonder who heard a cassette of instrumental renditions of his own songs done by Phillinganes. Wonder recruited Phillinganes for his Wonderlove band, where Phillinganes stayed from 1976 to 1981.

In 1981, he released his first solo album, "Significant Gains". While the album itself was not very successful, he did manage to score a minor R&B hit with "Baby, I Do Love You." Three years later, he released his follow-up album "Pulse", which featured another minor hit (and perhaps his best-known solo hit), a cover of Yellow Magic Orchestra's song "Behind the Mask." This single was much more successful on the Dance music charts. When he later joined Eric Clapton's backing band, Phillinganes would introduce the tune to Clapton, who covered it on his 1986 "August" album. Amidst his solo recordings and touring with Clapton throughout the 1980s, he became well-known as a prominent session musician for a multitude of different artists, performing on many hit albums of the time. His session work has continued into the present.

In addition to Stevie Wonder, Greg Phillinganes has worked and toured with other notable musicians such as Eric Clapton, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker, Donald Fagen, Richard Marx, and Paul McCartney, among others. During 2004, Phillinganes acted as a replacement for David Paich on tour with the band Toto. In 2005, he joined the band and set to helping Toto with their new album.

Partial Discography

* 1977 "Songs in the Key of Life" (Stevie Wonder)
* 1981 "Significant Gains"
* 1981 "The Nightfly (Donald Fagen)
* 1982 "Thriller" (Michael Jackson)
* 1984 "Pulse"
* 1986 "August" (Eric Clapton)
* 2006 "Falling In Between" (Toto)
* 2007 "Falling In Between Live" (Toto)

External links

* [http://www.toto99.com/ Official TOTO website]
* [http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Greg%20Phillinganes.html SOUL WALKING - Greg Phillinganes]