Phil Perry

Philip Eugene "Phil" Perry (born January 12, 1952 in Springfield, Illinois) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, musician and a former member of the soul group The Montclairs from 1971 to 1975.

BIOGRAPHY

Discovered by Catholic nuns while singing High Masses in his Catholic Church (St. Elizabeth in East St. Louis), and a high school talent show Favorite, Phil Perry wrote and recorded his first single 'HEY YOU' w/ a local group called the Montclairs, based in East St. Louis, Illinois. At that time, the singing group was signed to the Archway Records label, just before Perry turned 17 years old in 1969. The song is considered to be the first of a classic soul collection of Perry 'Old School' singles popular in the 1970's.

In 1972, The Montclairs recorded under the Paula label with minor soul ballads that included "Dreaming's Out Of Season", "Prelude to a Heartbreak", and "Begging's Hard To Do". The Montclairs left Paula Records and disbanded in 1975. Perry later moved to California with former Montclair, Kevin Sanlin, and teamed up as a duo, that had a short stay with two albums, at Capitol in the early 1980s (produced by Chuck Jackson and Dr. Cecil Hale). One song 'Just to Make You Happy' had a respectable level of success in radio.

In the 1990s, he had his first number-one R&B hit "Call Me" (previously recorded and written by Aretha Franklin), a remake of the 1970 hit, as well as the top forty R&B singles "Amazing Love" and "Forever" (written by Brenda Russell) all from the hit album, Perry's first solo release The Heart of the Man (1991), even though he has released many albums since his breakthrough in 1991. Phil Perry is also featured on many GRP Records projects, and is considered to be a GRP ALL-STAR featured with such smooth jazz icons as guitarists Lee Ritenour and Russ Freeman and pianist Don Grusin.

He is a featured vocalist on recordings by Michel Colombier, Don Grusin, Dave Grusin, Freddie Hubbard, George Duke, Najee, Bill Withers, Barbra Streisand, June Pointer, Johnny Mathis, The Benoit-Freeman Project (David Benoit & Russ Freeman), Sergio Mendes, Bobby Womack, Chaka Khan, Fourplay, George Benson, and Will Downing, to name a few. Solo hits also include "Love Don't Love Nobody" and "One Heart, One Love". He is also featured on the Bebe's Kids soundtrack singing a track with the late Renee Diggs. Other film song credits include 'Roots", "Pretty in Pink", "Short Circuit", "Mr. Wonderful", "Nice Girls Don't Explode", Riding Bean, "Captain Ron" and a cameo appearance in the 2009 release of the Harrison Ford film "CROSSING OVER".

In 1991, he released his first solo album on Capitol and toured with label mate, Dave Koz for the next 2–3 years. He continued to make 4 more albums and then on September 11, 2001, Perry was scheduled to perform at the World Trade Center, for the lunch hour jazz concerts between 11 am and 1 pm. His 5th solo album Magic was released that day, as well. As fate would have it, Perry was spared the devastation of the terrorist attacks on the two towers. However, for the next few years, he sunk into an artistic depression, and did not record again until invited by longtime friend, Don Grusin, whom he joined in September 2003 for a collaborative venture titled "The Hang". This CD/DVD project was nominated for a Grammy, and included Dave Grusin, Harvey Mason, Patti Austin, Natali Renee, Abraham Laboriel, Alex Acuna, Ernie Watts, Lee Ritenour, and others.

In 2006, former co-producer of the Magic album, Chris 'Big Dog' Davis, urged Perry to record a collection of R&B hits, titled Classic Love Songs as an independent one-off project for Shanachie Records. Since that time, Perry has recorded four projects for Shanachie with 'The Big Dog', including the recent duo project with the great Melba Moore. In 2007 he toured the country with saxophonist Dave Koz. That same year he released his acclaimed album "Mighty Love," for which he was voted the 2007 Male Vocalist of the Year, in the SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards. In 2008, Perry recorded a duo album with Tony Award winning vocalist, Melba Moore, titled "The Gift of Love". The album was voted Duo Album of the Year award inthe SoulTracks Readers Choice Awards.

After returning from South Africa Perry became ill during a performance with Pieces of a Dream, in October 2009 at Southern Connecticut State University. False rumors began to circulate that he had died. While there is no definitive medical reason for the collapse, Perry was treated at a local New Haven hospital, and released with the strong recommendation that he take some time off and rest. His fan base nearly doubled after the incident. In 2010, "Ready For Love' was released by Shanachie. Inspired to write, after his health warning, this excellent album featured more Phil Perry originals than in any of his earlier releases, which pleased Perry, the songwriter, immensely.

March 2013 heralded the release of "Say Yes", the 10th solo album, and the 5th on Shanachie. The album charted in the Top Ten on Billboard and A.C. Smooth Jazz charts, as well as receiving Smooth Jazz TOP VOCAL credits. Two years after its release, Say Yescontinued its steady climb to become one of Billboard's 2014 top smooth jazz singles, featuring Perry in a classic duet cover of Where Is the Love? with Chanté Moore.

The 11th solo release from Perry on the Shanachie label - "A Better Man" - was #1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart the first week. The album is being described as possibly Phil Perry's greatest creative endeavor, and in defiance of recent health issues, 'The Maestro' features flawless vocal performances of original and classic RnB compositions which continue to place the Legendary singer/songwriter, in a class all his own. Phil Perry's latest release is entitled "Breathless".

The 12th solo release on Shanachie is BREATHLESS, which features Perry's signature style and ability to cover a hit song, and make it his own. On this, he has redone ONE LESS BELL TO ANSWER (Bacharach/David); LOVES IN NEED OF LOVE TODAY (Stevie Wonder); and IS IT YOU (Tagg/Ritenour).

Perry composed, wrote and performed several songs for the Japanese anime OVA Riding Bean with friend and co-writer, David "Creatchy" Garfield.

Perry, Kevin Sanlin, James Ingram, and Howard Hewett are singing the background vocals on the Carl Carlton hit, "She's a Bad Mama Jamma".

Perry makes a cameo appearance in the Harrison Ford 2009 film Crossing Over

In 1992, Phil performed with an stellar ensemble of singers/musicians in the Earth Voice Concert w/ Lee Ritenour, Lisa Fischer, Brenda Russell, James Ingram, Michael McDonald. etc.

Perry has performed in Russia on three separate occasions w/ Russian pianist Sergey Chipenko and his Trans-Atlantic Orchestra.

Other countries where Perry enjoys great popularity are Japan, Malaysia, Manila, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, Swaziland, and South Africa

==PHIL PERRY MUSIC DISCOGRAPHY==

• “The Heart of the Man” (1991); Capitol 92115
• “Pure Pleasure” (1994); GRP/MCA 4026
• “One Heart One Love” (1998); Private Music/Peak 82163
• “My Book of Love” (2000); Private Music/Peak 82181
• “Magic” (2001); Peak 8504
• “Classic Love Songs”(2006 Shanachie - producer Chris 'Big Dog' Davis)
• “A Mighty Love” (2007 Shanachie - producer Chris 'Big Dog' Davis)
• “Ready for Love” (2008 Shanachie - coproducer Chris 'Big Dog' Davis)
• “The Gift of Love” (2009 duo album w/Melba Moore) Shanachie - producer Chris 'Big Dog' Davis)
• “Say Yes” (2013 Shanachie - producer Chris 'Big Dog' Davis)
• "A Better Man" (2015 Shanachie - coproducer Chris 'Big Dog' Davis)
• "Breathless" (2017 Shanachie - coproducer Chris 'Big Dog' Davis)

The Montclairs featuring Phil Perry

• "Dreaming Out of Season" (1972) Paula Records 2216
• "For Those Who Love'

Phil Perry & Kevin Sanlin

• “For Those Who Love” Perry & Sanlin (1980); Capitol
• "We're The Winners" Perry & Sanlin (1981); Capitol

Phil Perry & David Garfield

• "Together in the Arms of Love"
• "Deep Within Each Man" presented by Shorinji Kenpo (Japan)
• "Road Buster" [1989 RIDING BEAN anime]
• "King of the Road" [1989 RIDING BEAN anime]
• "Running the Road" [1989 RIDING BEAN anime]

==FILM/TV SOUNDTRACKS==

• "Bad Mamma Jamma" [featured in 9 motion pictures]
• "Still It's You" duet w/ Wendy Moten [Mr. Wonderful]
• "Road Buster" [1989 RIDING BEAN anime]
• "King of the Road" [1989 RIDING BEAN anime]
• "Running the Road" [1989 RIDING BEAN anime]
• "The National Anthem," as performed in an on-camera cameo in CROSSING OVER, a Harrison Ford film, available on DVD
• "Mr. Wonderful" (Theme song - STILL IT'S YOU) duet w/ Wendy Moten]
• "Arthur on the Rocks"
• "Short Circuit"
• "Bebe's Kids'
• "The Color Purple"
• "Pretty In Pink"
• "Cop Rock" [television series cameo appearance]
• "The New Redd Foxx Show" [television series/reoccurring regular]

==SONG COVERS by ARTISTS==

• "Maysa Leak - "Last Chance For Love" [2015 album BACK 2 LOVE]
• "Bobby Caldwell - Perfect Island Nights", (2007 album A PERFECT ISLAND NIGHT]
• "NAJEE - "Romance the Night Away" (2007)
• "NAJEE - "Just To Fall In Love"
• "Noel Pointer - "East St. Louis Melody" [1981 album ALL MY REASONS]
• "Aretha Franklin - "United Together" [1980 album ARETHA]
• "Aretha Franklin - "Take Me With You" [1980 album ARETHA]
• "Aretha Franklin - "Together Again" [1980 album ARETHA]
• "Patti Austin - "That Secret Place"
• "Lee Ritenour - "Malibu"(1989)
• "Osamu Kitijima - "Say You Will" (duet w/ Rena Scott)
• "Osamu Kitijima - "Time For Falling in Love" (duet w/ Rena Scott)