we are delighted to announce Phil Young as our featured artist.
Phil Young is a central figure to the area of Harlem. Having lived there for the majority of his life, the 70 year old remarks upon those he has encountered during his 60+ years of playing
“I started drums at 7 – my father played but he went to the Korean war - when he came back the music was over. I’ll be 71 in March – I've been playing since I was 15 professionally. I played with Bobby Blue Bland at 22. Freddie Hubbard, Mary Lou Williams, Maxine Sullivan, Dizzy Gillespie. The Micki Grant show 'Don’t bother me I Cant Cope' on Broadway. 5th Dimension, The Temptations, Warwick sisters, the Drifters, the Coasters, Shep and the Limelites – the list goes on”
Phil ran the very successful Carolina Flower Shop in Harlem for 26 years. Passed through the generations from when his grandfather arrived in New York from Carolina.
“My Grandfather opened it in 1939 and I was born in 48’ so I grew up around the shop. I was happy running it but felt like something was missing, I was being pulled away from music – I saw friends win big awards and I thought, Jesus Christ I need to get back to work! After 9/11 I lost corporate accounts, having redirected the business from being a community business under my granddad to become more corporate account focused. We worked with Chase banks, various corporate businesses, the Transport Authority. 9/11 hurt the business and made me reassess.”
Phil didn’t want to immediately step back in to heavy hitting but found a space at Lenox Sapphire that seemed to fit his desires without the pressures of over-scrutiny.
“It was an opportunity to re-hone my craft, I saw the restaurant was up for music and it would be a setting not to be judged (“I’d been away for a minute” – he laughs). I wasn’t jumping back into the Blue Note – I felt I could work with a band that I wanted to work with, something that was my own”.
Phil set up talks with the owner and they agreed about the residency and how it would continue. He developed a band from there – and after many TV appearances and magazine articles here we are.
On the work that KEYEDUP! is doing:
“KEYEDUP! Are doing amazing things, I really appreciate the work you’ve done and continue to do. KU! is one of my favorite organizations and I want to see you guys succeed 100%”
What else do you have going on outside of your weekly night at Lenox Saphire Harlem (8pm)?
“I’m doing a Blues night on Saturdays at the sister restaurant, Gin Fizz (7pm-10) – known as Phil’s House of Blues. Phil will also be receiving the Men’s Magnitude Award for his work in raising money and awareness for Cancer on February 4th.