ROBERT PHILLIPS –   

…….. Coffee Talk

Well, here we are at Porto’s Restaurant/bakery/pastry-heaven for all of humankind.  I’ve been here once before, but not to this location . . . to the one in Glendale, CA.  I don’t even know how many there are; all I care about is that this Hollywood Way/Magnolia Blvd. store continues to carry this delectable apple bran muffin!  ‘Cause WOW, it’s amazing!

 Now on to my true, besides the bit of angelic apple goodness, reason for being here.  Let’s talk with Robert Phillips, the very IJAMR artist interviewee . . .

Mr. Phillips comes to us from Lakeland, FL, where he resides with his wife Elena. They’ve been married for coming up on 32 years . . . Amazing!  Sorry for the sidetracked moment.  Okay, so Robert fell into this seemingly God-sent job of teaching the classical guitar for The All Saints Academy in Winter Haven, FL. just around 12 years ago.  He dedicates his life to disciplining . . . I mean, disciplining his close to 2 dozen students in the art of guitar and music.  Along with teaching here, he fills up his already nonexistent schedule with guitar lessons and scheduled gigs.  Oh, I feel for his wife.  What a Saint she is . . . in more ways than one!

So before Sir Robert moved to Tampa, FL in ‘94, he had been attacking his musical

endeavors in NY.  His time there was no less proactive.  He was playing scattered gigs, listening to many of his songs getting air time on classical & jazz stations, and even writing for the nationally acclaimed, “Guitar for the Practicing Musician.”  Not a bad life if you ask me . . . or anyone for that matter. 

Robert, along with teaching and unforeseen playing gigs, is now in the process of commissioning Michael Colina as his composer/arranger for an orchestral recital featuring our one and only guitarist, R. Phillips.  He is also finishing up with the recording of the hopefully soon to be released CD, “Los Maestros,” which is Spanish for “The Teachers.”

So, now to wrap up on our time together . . . my muffin’s gone, and my mind’s a tether  . . . ball.  Keep looking out for Robert Phillips in life and in the main stream; and if you feel so inclined, book him for a recital, wedding, or just an event that involves people!  He won’t leave you hangin’ with his right-brained playin’.  Check him out @ www.classicalguitarplayer.com . . . how’d he get that web address?

I leave you with a word (well, more than one) from Robert, and a few from my father.     I’m going to combine the two so as to achieve a desired result.  To accomplish your goals in life, Mr. Phillips suggests to “Just Do It,” in order to “Make It Happen.”  The latter was my father.

An by the way, you can listen to Robert’s wonderful music and interact with him at http://www.ijamr.com/RobertPhillips

Have a great and successful day!!

By Ross Merrick