1984

Album

Written, Arranged & Programmed  by

Anthony Marinelli

ARTIST  Gregg Phillinganes

PRODUCER  Richard Perry

Co-PRODUCER  Anthony Marinelli

Songs  “Shake It” written by Anthony Marinelli

“Behind the Mask”

“Won’t be Long Now”

“Playin’ Wih Fire”

“I Have Dreamed”

“Lazy Nina”

“Signals”

“Countdown to Lover”

“Shake It”

LABEL Planet Records                            

About the Album

Though born in Detroit, Greg Phillinganes relocated to Los Angles, where he has been among the city's most prolific session musicians. Stevie Wonder heard some instrumental versions of his songs done by Phillinganes and recruited him for the Wonderlove band, where he remained from 1976 to 1981. He met Quincy Jones and the duo worked together on a song for Billy Eckstine, "The Best Thing," in 1976. Phillinganes eventually was featured on every Michael Jackson Epic session, and wrote songs for Paulinho Da Costa, the Brothers Johnson, and Lionel Richie. He toured with Jackson, Richie, George Benson, Aretha Franklin, Paul McCartney, and Jones. Phillinganes played on recordings by Atlantic Starr, Debarge, Donald Byrd, Patti Austin, Diana Ross, and Patti Labelle, among others. He began doing his own recordings in the early '80s for RCA, though he has yet to enjoy a big hit as a leader.

1. -Ron Wynn, All Music Guide    
   

Detroit-born keyboardist Greg Phillinganes has been one of the most sought-after session musicians of the last three decades.

First discovered by Stevie Wonder, Phillinganes served in Stevie's Wonderlove for five years in the late seventies.  He released his debut solo album, Significant Gains, in 1981, landing a hit with "Baby, I Do Love You."  Phillinganes later worked on Michael Jackson's seminal album, Thriller, and took a song rejected for the album as the lead single for his sophomore album Pulse, again hitting on the lower end of the charts with "Behind the Mask."  He also landed a quiet storm hit with his version of the classic Rogers and Hammerstein tune "I Have Dreamed."

Phillinganes spent the next two decades working with musicians ranging from Eric Clapton to Anita Baker.  Then in 2004, he joined the rock group Toto (which, itself, was formed from top session musicians), where he remains to this day.

By Chris Rizik

Reviews/Press