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Mom was fond of jazz piano. My uncle played jazz trumpet. They would spin Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis and other great jazz records all the time. As babies we listen to sound, duplicate it in our mind and then mimic it. Everybody does it; it's not a unique skill. Just that I was doing the same thing with complex time signatures, harmonies and scales I was hearing without even knowing the difference!
At six I began studying music, piano and voice with Joanne Montesanti in the church choir. I performed piano recitals and a lead vocal role backed up by the church choir on the radio.
Then another uncle showed me his tape recorder. It was like magic to me. I still can't get over it.
At eleven I began writing and recording songs. I think everyone goes through some sort of pubescent rebellious phase in their life. Songwriting was my way to become an adult, free-thinking individual.
In high school, band director Frank Montesanti encouraged me to learn saxophone. Throughout high school, I performed in the school band, the school chorus, took guitar lessons, and performed folk masses in church. Conveniently, I also learned to play drums, electronic keyboards, synthesizer and anything I could get my hands on to record my songs.
I majored in Business Administration at Boston University. I did it to please my dad because that's where he went to college. I soon switched to a Broadcast and Film major in the School of Public Communications where I studied filmmaking and acting. Yes, Howard Stern was one of my classmates. Talk radio chose Howard, a music career chose me. It's the simplest way I can put it. That's why I eventually left BU for Berklee College of Music where I earned my Bachelor of Music Degree in 1979.
MUSICIAN
I've had a successful career as songwriter, keyboardist and singer in several top local music groups. The most notable was The Probers. Songs I wrote were played by top local radio stations such as WBCN, WBRU and WHJY. We opened for many national acts such as Joan Jett, The Joe Perry Project and Clarence Clemons.
We toured as the opening act for The Tubes in large venues such as the Providence Civic Center.
I also worked on the award-winning charity benefit recording Rhode Island Bandwagon with the likes of John Cafferty (The Beaver Brown Band).
With the band Skydaddy we even found ourselves high up in Epic Records' NYC offices, contracts spread out over a huge corporate conference table. This is but one of several situations where I've come "that close" to fame and fortune but instead tasted the bitterness of ink that never dries. Today there is no link to Skydaddy.
PRODUCER
In the early '90s, I opened my own recording studio, Saucer Sound. Over the years, I've put together a strong team of creative people at the studio. I continue to work as a recording engineer, producer and arranger. I've had the pleasure and the agony of creating commercials for radio and television. I've had the honor of working with many great musicians, including the legendary rockabilly artist Sleepy LaBeef. Several recording artists that I have recently produced such as the very successful Boston band The Eclectic Collective are currently being considered by major labels.
ACTOR
I'm looking forward to once again being a performing artist, on stage and in film. It's a real honor to work with David Singer and the StoryPump group. I have the opportunity to fully express myself as a musician, producer, actor and well, you name it.
A film crew prepares to shoot a scene from "Run Grammie Run!".
I'm very excited by what we've done and we're just getting started. Comedy? Yes, but I'm taking this very seriously!
Belting out a celebratory tune during filming of "Run Grammie, Run!". Jeff Phillips (in wheelchair), is embraced by Marianna Scarpellini.
DAD
I am proud of my son Skyler, who is now studying Business Law and International Relations at New York University. He has been helping me doing promotion and marketing for Saucer Sound and also working in the film business doing casting for David Singer.
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