Air Week: January 31-February 6, 2022

Gene Phillips

This week, the “Juke In The Back” is proud to shine the spotlight on guitarist Gene Phillips, one of the unsung heroes of the 1940s Los Angeles Rhythm & Blues scene. Born in St. Louis in 1915, Gene came out to LA as part of the Mills Brothers ensemble in 1941. He remained in LA and made a name for himself as a local guitarist. After befriending trumpeter Jake Porter, who was doing some session work for the Bihari Brothers at their new label, Modern Records, Phillips began getting session gigs at Modern. Soon he was part of their house band, eventually landing his own session as a leader in 1946. This led to a string of mostly jump tunes, done in the Louis Jordan style. However, unlike Jordan, Gene Phillips failed to storm the national charts. He released some great and worthy R&B records and Matt The Cat is filling the “Juke In The Back” with the upbeat jive of Gene Phillips on this week’s program.

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