Phil Gates
Bio
Phil Gates was born in Chicago Ill., and was raised with Blues music. Brought up in a musical household, Phil got settled in on the guitar at about the age of twelve. Since then, Phil has been busy in the music industry. Phil was the guitarist for the Air Force “Tops in Blue” World Tour, which performed the NFL's SUPERBOWL Half-Time Show.
Later, arriving in Los Angeles, Phil has been playing a lot of guitar in the studio, and heard at many of the L. A. Clubs with his band, The Phil Gates Blues Band, or with others, playing Blues, and R&B, at venues like B.B. King's Blues Club, and House of Blues, Hollywood, CA. He has a distinctive lead guitar & rhythm guitar style that has been on numerous records and CD’s. From guitar tracks on the Philip Bailey CD "Life & Love”, to lead guitar work with Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire. Producer Preston Glass has called Phil in for guitar work on Preston’s own CD, and on numerous session dates, like the new Kellie Blaise CD, as well as Billy Shields, the Stylistics, and Seabron's CD’s. As a Blues guitarist, Phil has honed his tone, playing wailing Blues and Slide guitar. The Phil Gates Band won the SoCal Blues Society "Battle of the Blues Bands" in 2008, and went to Memphis, TN for the International Blues Challenge. There the Phil Gates Bleus Band won the "Beale Street Blues Kings" Award. This band continues to gig almost every week, year round. Phil's new Blues CD “Should I?” is an editor's pick, and on the top selling CD lists for CD Baby (West Coat Blues). Available now on CDBaby, and iTunes. Phil also played on, and Co-Produced a Blues record with Zac Harmon :The Blues According to Zacariah”, which was voted "Best New Blues Artist" on XM Radio. Phil’s first two CD’s "This Side Of Me" and film score “My Normal Life” are available on Apple iTunes, and CD Baby. His site www.philgates.com has more info, photo’s and music. Enjoy! Phil can be reached by email at music@philgates.com Visit http://www.myspace.com/philgatesmusic to see more videos!