Phil Baugh... a tribute

Bio:

Phil Baugh was one of the finest session and club guitar players from the '60s through the '80s, from California to Texas to Tennessee. He was born Dec. 13, 1936 in Olivehurst, just north of Sacramento. He began playing guitar and performing in churches as a child, which led to band and nightclub gigs throughout California.

Phil played with a number of bands including Chuck Mills, Fred Maddox, and Wynn Stewart. In 1964 he landed a recording contract with Longhorn Records in Dallas. Phil and Vern Stovall recorded the album 'Country Guitar', which contained two major hits: "Country Guitar" and "One Man Band."



In 1965 Phil was named Best Guitarist by the ACM, Outstanding Instrumentalist of the Year by Billboard, and Instrumentalist of the Year by Cashbox. He appeared on Merle Haggard's classic 'Swinging Doors' album in 1966, among others.

Phil rejoined the Ray Price band as a lead guitarist in 1969, and recorded his 'California Guitar' album that same year. He moved to Dallas two years later and became a prominent studio musician for commercial jingles and album projects. He recorded his 'Country Guitar II' album around 1974.

Phil moved to Nashville in 1975 and became one of the hottest session players in town. His unique sound stemmed from the Pedal Pitch guitar: a standard guitar with six pedals to raise or lower the pitch of each string via cables, similar to a pedal steel guitar.

Phil helped found the Super Pickers with Nashville studio elite Buddy Emmons, Charlie McCoy, Hargus "Pig" Robbins, Buddy Harman, Johnny Gimble, and Henry Strzylecki. The group appeared on Austin City Limits and a live album was released.

During the early '80s, Phil embarked on a successful producing career in addition to extensive session work, which included the George Jones smash "He Stopped Loving Her Today" in 1980 and so many more. He suffered a coronary in 1985, but continued working in the studio and on TNN's Church Street Station. Sadly, his heart problems persisted and Phil passed away on Nov. 4, 1990. He was only 53.

Member Since:

September 12, 2007

Sounds Like:

BIG NEWS FOR PHIL BAUGH FANS!!!
K-Tel recently released 'Country Great Phil Baugh', 10 songs recorded in 1969 when Phil was with Era Records.
For whatever reason, these wonderful tracks have never seen the light of day... until now!
It currently appears to be available on iTunes exclusively.


You can find the 'Live Wire!' CD at Sundazed.com, a reissue of Phil's 1964 'Country Guitar' album.


The 'Nashville Super Pickers Live from Austin City Limits' CD is available from Rounder Records.

These labels should be applauded and supported for keeping Phil's music on the shelves!

Record Label:

Longhorn, Era, Toro, FlyingFish, Rounder, Sundazed