Born in Berkeley in 1957, Phil began performing as a solo street performer after high school, followed by 20 years with various bands in Santa Cruz, before moving back to the East Bay in 1996. After initially working in support of Steve Kimock and Bob Weir & Ratdog, Phil resumed performing regularly in bands and solo in Bay Area venues.

Self-taught on guitar, keys, mandolin, bass, and harmonica, and possessing a soulful vocal style, Phil's initial influences include all the great electric blues artists, classic 60s rock, and SF psychedelic bands (with a special connection to the Grateful Dead since 1970).

The Allman Brothers subsequently became a main source of inspiration, along with a wide variety of folk, blues, rock and soul artists, from Otis Spann, Hot Tuna, Taj Mahal, and Peter Rowan, to Eric Clapton, Santana, and Mick Taylor - to name a few.