Phil Keaggy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Phil Keaggy
Keaggy performing in 2019
Background information
Birth name	Philip Tyler Keaggy
Born	(1951-03-23) March 23, 1951 (age 74) Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
Genres	Contemporary Christian, Jesus music, Christian rock, new-age, folk, jazz-funk
Instruments	Guitar, vocals
Years active	1966–present
Associated acts	Glass Harp, 2nd Chapter of Acts, Love Song, Paul Clark, Randy Stonehill, Phil Keaggy and Sunday's Child

Philip Tyler Keaggy (born March 23, 1951) is an American guitarist and singer. He plays both acoustic and electric guitars. Phil has released over 55 albums and worked on many other recordings. He is known in both Christian music and mainstream music. He has won the GMA Dove Award seven times for Instrumental Album of the Year. He was also nominated twice for a Grammy Award. Guitar Player Magazine readers have often named him one of the top "finger-style" guitarists in the world. Many people think he is one of the greatest guitarists ever because of his complex and skillful playing.

Phil Keaggy's Early Life

Phil Keaggy grew up in a small farmhouse in Hubbard, Ohio. He was one of ten children. He went to Austintown Fitch High School and finished in 1970. When he was four years old, he had an accident with a water pump. This caused him to lose half of the middle finger on his right hand.

At first, Phil wanted to play drums. He asked his dad for a drum set for his tenth birthday. But his dad came home with a Sears Silvertone guitar instead.

Music Career Beginnings

In the mid-1960s, Phil was part of a band called the Squires. He helped write one of their songs, "Batmobile." In 1966, he joined Volume IV, which became New Hudson Exit in 1967. This band played often in Youngstown clubs. They released a song Phil wrote called "Come With Me."

In 1968, Phil and his friend John Sferra, along with bassist Steve Markulin, started the band Glass Harp. They played at school dances and clubs. This version of the band recorded some demo songs. They also released a single called "Where Did My World Come From?"

Markulin later left the group. Phil and John then found Daniel Pecchio to play bass. Daniel also played the flute, which was used in some Glass Harp songs. After recording new demos, the band worked on their live shows. They looked for a record deal.

A big moment for the band was winning an "Ohio Battle of the Bands." One of the judges told producer Lewis Merenstein about them. Merenstein flew from New York to hear Glass Harp play live. He was very impressed. This led to Decca Records signing Glass Harp to a multi-record deal.

Glass Harp and Solo Journey

On Valentines Day in 1970, Phil's mother was in a serious car accident. She passed away a week later. Inspired by his sister, Phil became a Christian.

In September 1970, Glass Harp recorded their first album, Glass Harp. They recorded it at Jimi Hendrix's Electric Lady Studios. Phil and John Sferra were both 19 years old. All three band members wrote songs. Phil sang most of them. One of Phil's songs, "Can You See Me," showed his new Christian faith.

As artists with Decca Records, Glass Harp opened for famous bands like The Kinks, Iron Butterfly, Yes, and Chicago. Their live shows were known for long, extended solos and group improvisation. They were pioneers of what is now called jam rock.

In 1971, Glass Harp released their second album, Synergy. Phil's Christian faith was again clear in some of the lyrics. He wrote "The Answer" right after he became a Christian.

The band's third album, It Makes Me Glad, came out in 1972. It included a version of the old spiritual song "Do Lord." Phil decided to leave the band after this album. He said they were going in different spiritual directions.

After leaving Glass Harp in 1972, Phil released his first solo album, What a Day, in 1973. He played all the instruments on the album. The title song is still a favorite at his concerts today.

Phil married Bernadette in the summer of 1973. He took a short break from recording his own music. He toured to support other artists like Love Song and 2nd Chapter of Acts.

In 1976, Phil returned to the studio with Love Broke Thru. This album included his version of "Your Love Broke Through." This song became a classic in Christian music. It was written by Keith Green, Todd Fishkind, and Randy Stonehill. The album also featured "Time," a seven-minute song with Phil's unique guitar technique. He created a violin-like sound by picking the string and then quickly raising and lowering the guitar's volume knob.

In 1977, Phil toured the western United States with 2nd Chapter of Acts. This tour was filmed for the live album How the West Was One. The Phil Keaggy Band was also formed in 1977. They released their only album, Emerging, that year.

In 1978, Phil released his first instrumental album, The Master and the Musician. It became his best-selling album.

Music in the 1980s

Phil and his family moved to Leawood, Kansas in 1979. Their first daughter, Alicia, was born there in 1980. They later moved to Costa Mesa, California. Their second daughter, Olivia, was born in 1984, and their son Ian was born in 1987.

Phil's record label in the early 1980s was Sparrow Records. His 1980 album Ph'lip Side included "Sunday School." In 1981, Town to Town was released, featuring the popular concert song "Let Everything Else Go." Phil often included a hymn on his albums. In 1982, he released Play Thru Me, known for "Morning Light" and the slide-guitar song "Happy."

In 1984, Phil and Randy Stonehill sang a duet called "Who Will Save the Children?" for Stonehill's album. This song became a theme for Compassion International, a Christian child support group. Both artists still support this group.

Phil's album Way Back Home was released in 1986. It had quieter acoustic songs like "Maker of the Universe," a song about Christ. This album also focused on the theme of family.

In 1987, Phil released his second instrumental album, The Wind and the Wheat. This album had a "new-age" sound. It won Phil his first GMA Dove Award in 1988.

In 1988, Phil worked with Randy Stonehill, Russ Taff, and other musicians to create Phil Keaggy and Sunday's Child. This album had a 1960s feel. One song, "I've Just Begun (Again)," was first written by Phil when he was 17.

In the fall of 1989, the Keaggy family moved to Nashville. A few years later, Phil played at Paul McCartney's sister-in-law's wedding. After the wedding, Phil got to jam with McCartney, which was a dream come true for him.

Music in the 1990s

In 1990, Phil released the rock album Find Me in These Fields. It was nominated for a Grammy award. In 1992, he released Beyond Nature, an important acoustic instrumental album. It had a Celtic influence and won Phil his second GMA Dove Award. The album's title came from a quote in C.S. Lewis's book Mere Christianity.

In 1993, Phil worked with talented musicians, including his former Glass Harp bandmate John Sferra on drums. This led to the album Crimson and Blue, a bluesy rock album for the Christian market. It included a cover of Van Morrison's "When Will I Ever Learn to Live in God." Songs like "Love Divine" and "Everywhere I Look" were played a lot on the radio. This album was also released in the mainstream market as Blue, with some different songs. One song, "All Our Wishes," was about Phil and Bernadette Keaggy losing a baby.

In June 1994, Phil released a new version of his 1986 album Way Back Home. It had new recordings of ten original songs and four new tracks. "Father Daughter Harmony" was a duet with his daughter Alicia.

In 1995, a two-volume collection called Time: 1970-1995 was released. It had songs from Phil's whole career, including some unreleased tracks. In the same year, Guitar Player Magazine readers voted him the No. 2 Best Acoustic Fingerstyle Guitarist.

That year, Phil released True Believer, one of his best-selling albums. The title song reached number one on Christian radio charts.

In 1996, Phil released another instrumental album, Acoustic Sketches. He won another GMA Dove Award for it. A second instrumental album, 220, was also released. It had different musical styles, from blues to Celtic. The last song, "Ian's Groove," featured Phil's son on drums for the first time. Also in 1996, his wife Bernadette published A Deeper Shade of Grace, a book about losing their first five children.

In January 1997, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, opened an exhibit. Glass Harp was invited to perform there. On the Fly, an ambitious instrumental project, was also released in 1997. It included "Praise Dance" and the six-part "Way of the Pilgrim." Phil also teamed up with Wes King and Scott Dente for the album Invention, which won a GMA Dove Award in 1998.

Phil Keaggy, his last vocal album of the decade, came out in 1998. It had a more natural, live sound. Several songs showed a Beatles influence, like "Days Like You."

In 1999, Phil released many instrumental albums. The double album Premium Jams had unreleased electric instrumental songs. Majesty and Wonder, a Christmas album with the London Festival Orchestra, won him another GMA Dove Award. He also released the four-disc collection Music to Paint By.

Music in the 2000s

In April 2000, Re-Emerging was released. It was a reunion of the Phil Keaggy Band, updating their 1977 album. In September 2000, Phil released the instrumental album Zion.

In October 2000, Phil, John Sferra, and Daniel Pecchio reunited as Glass Harp for a sold-out concert in Youngstown. The next year, Strings Attached, a live album of the reunion concert, was released.

Also in October 2000, Inseparable was released. It included "Chalice," a collaboration with Glass Harp drummer Sferra. Phil also released Lights of Madrid, an album of Spanish-style instrumentals. It won him a Dove Award for best instrumental album. In November 2000, he released The Uncle Duke project, where he set his uncle Dave "Duke" Keaggy's poetry to music.

In 2001, Phil released In the Quiet Hours and Cinemascapes. These albums had songs from his 1999 four-disc project Music to Paint By. What Matters, a nine-song collection, was also released in 2001 for the International Bible Society.

In 2002, Hymnsongs was released. It was mainly a collection of classic hymns. The album was dedicated to Todd Beamer, a passenger on United Airlines Flight 93 during the September 11 attacks. Todd was a fan of Phil's music.

In the same year, Phil sang on Randy Stonehill's Edge of the World album. Bernadette Keaggy also published Losing You Too Soon, an updated version of her book about losing her children.

In 2003, Phil released It's Personal, an album where he set poetry by Keith Moore to music. He also released Special Occasions, a collection of music for birthdays, weddings, and graduations. That same year, Sparrow Records released a compilation album called History Makers. Also in 2003, Hourglass was released, the first album of new material by Glass Harp since 1972.

Phil also released an album with guitarist Muriel Anderson called Precious Gems. It had instrumental improvisations. Stanley Jordan played on some songs.

In 2004, Glass Harp released Stark Raving Jams, a triple-disc collection of live performances and unreleased studio recordings. Phil also released two live DVDs: Phil Keaggy in Concert: St. Charles IL and Philly Live!

In 2005, Glass Harp's first three studio albums were reissued on CD. Phil also released an expanded edition of The Uncle Duke Project.

Keaggy in 2006

In 2006, Phil released Freehand, a sequel to Acoustic Sketches. He and Randy Stonehill also released Together Live! as an album and DVD. Phil released three more instrumental albums that year: Jammed!, Roundabout, and Two of Us with Mike Pachelli.

Phil also released a vocal album, Dream Again, in 2006. His son Ian co-wrote and sang on "Why," and his daughter Alicia sang a duet on "Micah 6:8." Glass Harp reunited for a concert to celebrate their first DVD, Circa 72.

In April 2006, Phil started a free podcast on his website and iTunes.

On October 29, 2007, Phil was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. He also released Acoustic Cafe, an album of cover songs. Many songs were duets, like the Beatles' "In My Life" with Randy Stonehill. Later that year, Phil released another acoustic instrumental album, The Song Within.

2007 also marked the 30th anniversary of The Master and the Musician. The album was re-released with a bonus disc. Phil toured to support the anniversary. The next year, he released Phantasmagorical: Master and Musician 2, a sequel to his 1978 album.

In 2008, Phil won the Gold Level Award for "Best Spiritual / Worship Guitarist" from Acoustic Guitar Magazine.

In June 2009, Phil and Randy Stonehill released a new studio album called Mystery Highway. They played concerts as "The Keaggy-Stonehill Band." Phil also contributed to the album CPR 3. In October, Phil released an instrumental album with pianist Jeff Johnson called Frio Suite. In December, he released his third Christmas album, Welcome Inn.

On March 27, 2010, Glass Harp released their fourth live album, Glass Harp Live at the Beachland Ballroom 11.01.08. In late 2010, Phil worked with former Monkees member Micky Dolenz for his solo album.

In the fall of 2010, The Phil Keaggy Trio released their first album, Inter-Dimensional Traveler. This project is a mix of ambient jazz and funk.

Phil continues to record and tour regularly. He is also working on a record with guitarist Jason Truby.

Rumors About Jimi Hendrix

For many years, there have been rumors that famous guitarists, especially Jimi Hendrix, made comments about Phil Keaggy. The most common rumor says that on a TV show, someone asked Hendrix, "Who is the best guitarist in the world?" Hendrix supposedly answered, "Phil Keaggy."

However, this has been proven untrue. Audio from Hendrix's only appearance on The Tonight Show in 1969 does not mention Phil Keaggy. Other versions of the story also say Hendrix made similar comments in magazines or on other TV shows, but these are also false.

Phil Keaggy has always said these stories are not true. He noted that it was impossible for Jimi Hendrix to have heard him play. Glass Harp recorded their first album around the time Hendrix passed away. Phil believes it's just a rumor that people keep telling.

In 2010, Glass Harp bassist Daniel Pecchio called it a "true urban legend." He said people still claim to have tapes of Hendrix saying it, even though it's not true.

Phil Keaggy's Family Life

Phil Keaggy's son, Ian, was the bass player for the band Hot Chelle Rae. This band had a Top 10 hit song in 2011. Ian left the band in 2013 to start his own solo music career.

Phil Keaggy's nephew was married to Christian singer-songwriter Cheri Keaggy.

Phil Keaggy's sister was Mary Ellen Kay, a former TV and film actress who passed away in 2017. Phil says she helped him discover his Christian faith.

Discography

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See also

In Spanish: Phil Keaggy para niños