John Phillips (musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John Phillips (musician) |
|
|---|---|
Phillips in 1967
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Edmund Andrew Phillips |
| Also known as | Papa John Johnny Phillips Phillips JP |
| Born | August 30, 1935 Parris Island, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | March 18, 2001 (aged 65) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1960–2001 |
| Labels | Dunhill |
| Associated acts |
|
John Edmund Andrew Phillips (born August 30, 1935 – died March 18, 2001) was a talented American musician. Many people knew him as Papa John Phillips. He was the leader of the famous singing group called The Mamas & the Papas.
John Phillips wrote most of the songs for his group. He also wrote "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" for his friend Scott McKenzie. Another popular song he wrote was "Me and My Uncle". Phillips also helped organize the very first Monterey Pop Festival in 1967.
Contents
Early Life and Education
John Phillips was born on August 30, 1935, in Parris Island, South Carolina. His father, Claude Andrew Phillips, was a retired officer from the United States Marine Corps. His mother, Edna Gertrude, had English family roots.
John grew up in Alexandria, Virginia. He went to Linton Hall Military School from 1942 to 1946. He didn't enjoy his time there. Later, he played basketball at George Washington High School and graduated in 1953. He even got a chance to attend the United States Naval Academy, but he left during his first year. He then went to Hampden–Sydney College but left in 1959.
As a teenager, John formed a music group with his friends. They sang doo-wop songs together.
Music Career
Starting Out in Music
In the early 1960s, John Phillips moved to New York City. He hoped to get a record deal there. His first band was a folk trio called The Journeymen. His bandmates were Scott McKenzie and Dick Weissman.
The Journeymen were quite successful. They released three albums and appeared on a TV show called Hootenanny. John improved his songwriting skills in Greenwich Village. This area was a hub for folk music at the time. There, he met Denny Doherty and Cass Elliot, who would later join him in The Mamas & the Papas.
The Mamas and the Papas
John Phillips was the main songwriter and music arranger for The Mamas and the Papas. He created unique harmonies for their songs. The group signed with Dunhill Records.
They had many hit songs that reached the top ten on the Billboard charts. These hits included "California Dreamin'", "Monday, Monday", "I Saw Her Again", "Creeque Alley", "Words of Love", and "Dedicated to the One I Love".
Monterey Pop Festival
John Phillips played a big role in organizing the Monterey International Pop Music Festival. This huge music event happened from June 16 to 18, 1967, in Monterey, California. The Mamas and the Papas also performed at the festival.
The festival was planned very quickly, in just seven weeks. Its goal was to show that rock music was a serious art form, just like jazz and folk music. It was the first major pop-rock music event ever. John Phillips also helped produce the film Monterey Pop (1968) about the festival.
The Mamas and the Papas became very famous. However, the group eventually broke up in 1968. This was due to personal problems among the band members. Cass Elliot wanted to start a solo career. Michelle Phillips was briefly replaced in 1966, but she later returned to the group. The personal issues continued until the group split up. Cass Elliot went on to have a successful solo career.
Later Music and Life
After The Mamas and the Papas, John Phillips released his first solo album in 1970. It was called John, the Wolf King of L.A.. The album had a minor hit song called "Mississippi."
He continued to work on music and film projects. He wrote songs for the 1970 film Brewster McCloud. Between 1969 and 1974, Phillips worked on a musical called Man on the Moon. He wrote over 30 songs for this space-themed show.
In 1975, Phillips was asked to create the soundtrack for the film The Man Who Fell to Earth, which starred David Bowie.
In 1981, John Phillips brought The Mamas and the Papas back together. His daughter, Mackenzie Phillips, joined the group. They toured with different members for the rest of his life.
His autobiography, a book about his life, called Papa John, was published in 1986.
John Phillips also co-wrote the number-one hit song "Kokomo" for The Beach Boys. This song was featured in the 1988 movie Cocktail. It was nominated for a Grammy Award and a Golden Globe Award.
John Phillips spent his final years in Palm Springs, California, with his fourth wife, Farnaz Arasteh. He passed away on March 18, 2001, at the age of 65, due to heart failure. He was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Cathedral City.
Family Life
John Phillips married Susan Adams in 1957. They had a son, Jeffrey, and a daughter, Mackenzie.
Later, he married Holly Michelle Gilliam in 1962. She became known as Michelle Phillips. They had one daughter together, Chynna Phillips, who became a singer in the 1990s group Wilson Phillips. John and Michelle later separated in 1969.
Phillips married actress and model Geneviève Waïte in 1972. They had two children, Tamerlane and Bijou Phillips. Their marriage ended in 1985.
His fourth marriage was to painter and artist Farnaz Arasteh in 1995.
Awards and Recognition
In 1996, John Phillips was honored with a Golden Palm Star. This star is part of the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars.
The Mamas and the Papas group was recognized for their contributions to music. They were inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame on January 12, 1998. They also joined the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000.
Images for kids
-
Phillips in 1967
See also
In Spanish: John Phillips para niños
