Biography Steve Phillips (musician)

steve phillips (left) , brendan croker onstage in leeds, 1978

in 1968, after buying first steel resonator guitar, vintage national, played many solo gigs in leeds pubs. then, journalist working yorkshire evening post, called mark knopfler, met him interview. become friends , started playing together. stage name duolian string pickers. went on playing in different pubs. finally, in 1973, knopfler left leeds , moved london become part of brewers droop and, afterwards, founded dire straits, whom reached mainstream recognition.

by mid-1970s, phillips had met bradford-born songwriter, singer , guitarist brendan croker. opened club in leeds pub called packhorse, played guitar. side project, phillips spent spare time painting. finally, in 1980s, phillips persuaded release first album, titled ironically best of steve phillips. recorded between 1977 , 1986, album contained fourteen tracks, 1 of self-composed: rest classic country blues , ragtime instrumentals such artists blind willie mctell, big bill broonzy , blind blake. in 1989, released second album, steel-rail blues, contained more of own compositions arrangements of others songs.

knopfler, famous leader of dire straits, offered produce phillips s next album him. however, following impromptu (and still well-remembered) gig in may 1986 @ famous grove inn in leeds (one of city s celebrated musical venues) in knopfler joined phillips , croker, phillips suggested form band along croker (who had released couple of albums band 5 o clock shadows). idea became notting hillbillies. through group, phillips achieved wider recognition allowed him go on releasing full solo albums , enhance career.

phillips went on releasing albums throughout 1990s. has worked wide group of musicians whom calls on band gigs; @ 1 time called famous 5 known rough diamonds. of these musicians (and other guests) have appeared on albums, except recent, solo (2005) phillips on own. (these recordings difficult find outside uk, despite fact phillips internationally known excellent blues singer , guitarist , has undertaken several overseas tours, notably in italy, spain , scandinavia). in 1996, pickin released; album gathered unreleased demos easy mr steve s bootleggers, mark knopfler, brendan croker , other musicians. these recordings spanned thirty years, 1965 1981.

headstock of 12-string guitar steve phillips

phillips tours solo, occasional gigs rough diamonds. has played other solo blues artists such ray stubbs, doug mcleod , hans theessink. still plays regularly croker , appears knopfler , band, charity fund-raising gigs. when not touring, steve , rough diamonds play tuesday nights @ grosvenor hotel in robin hood s bay, north yorkshire. these informal evenings gather audience , feature friends of phillips , band sitting in or part of gig. music ranges blues rock n roll, country chicago r&b. live album of material recorded @ grosvenor in 2007 issued on 5 november 2012 under name live @ grosvenor (aka grosvenor sessions).

steve phillips & rough diamonds released north country blues on 22 july 2013.

in addition skills musician, phillips noted landscape painter, specialising in scenes around north yorkshire home area. these paintings notable treatment of north yorkshire s distinctive elusive light, , have luminous quality renders them instantly recognisable work. album, been long time gone, has detail 1 of paintings on sleeve.