Phil began piano lessons at age ten but two years later in the seventh grade changed over to trumpet and has been playing trumpet ever since. “I fell in love with the trumpet watching “I Love Lucy” on television when I was a kid. Lucy’s husband on the show was Ricky Ricado, a Cuban American singer/band director.”
Phil credits his high school band director and Wilson legend, Dr. Andrew Preston, for helping him develop his love and deep appreciation for music. Phil has performed with the Atlantic Christian College band (now Barton College), the Wilson Community British Brass Band, the Wilson Symphony, in church orchestras, for weddings, and counts it an honor to play Taps at funerals for military veterans. On August 7, 2014, he invited five musician friends to his home and that night the Moonlight Swing Band was formed.
Phil holds degrees from Emmanuel University, Atlantic Christian College, and East Carolina University. While visiting Cuba during the summer of 2015 a dream of his came true when he got to play with a Cuban band. It was a church band, not Ricky Ricardo’s, but nevertheless, it was a Cuban band.