“I was nervous at the very beginning. I had butterflies the whole day before, but as soon as I got up on stage my nerves were nowhere to be found. I knew right then that this is what I wanted to do.” Phillip Thomas was 18 years old when he walked out on stage for the first time in his hometown of Harlingen, Texas, but the doorway that led him there opened up nearly a decade before at the very susceptible age of 9 years old. It was the guitar that first laid its hooks deep into his young music psyche followed quickly by the drums, and from the 6th grade on, the impact of his new found talents bound and dragged him through seemingly endless years in search of his very own band. This proved to be quite the daunting task as only two styles of music were appealing to the local boys his age: heavy metal and Tejano. Being both a hormonally charged teenager and of half Spanish descent, Phillip loved both styles naturally, but it was country music that gripped him the tightest.
“Once I got old enough to listen to my own music, country is what I loved. I marveled at the story telling.” By his high school senior year Phillip found and enlisted his first two band mates and spent the next two years carving out a regular touring path throughout the valley, which led to an opening spot for the legendary Willie Nelson on South Padre Island in November 2008. After receiving accolades on his performance from the master storyteller himself, any doubt he may have entertained quickly diminished, leaving a now 20 year old Phillip Thomas feeling blessed by the sage’s hand. Other performance opportunities quickly followed including opening slots for acts such as Mark Chestnut, Johnny Lee and prominent alt-country heavy-hitters, Reckless Kelly.
All throughout this journey of self discovery, Phillip embraced his distending musical talents that now included mandolin, banjo, songwriting, and perhaps the most important ability of all…singing. It was Phillip’s voice that first caught the ears of producer/manager Johnny Garcia, also from the Rio Grande Valley, whose work in the country music industry shines as brightly as the stars he has worked with. His tenure as band leader, music director and lead guitar player for Trisha Yearwood, and lead guitar player for Garth Brooks, are two prime examples of his contributions. Others include production credits for artists such as Collin Raye and Mindy McCready, lead guitar credits on records for Trisha Yearwood and Martina McBride, and touring gigs with Collin Raye and Joe Nichols. Johnny immediately recognized the enormous potential tailing young Phillip, and after signing him to his own independent label (Busy At Play Records), began production on Phillip Thomas’s debut release
YOU WON’T BE LONELY LONG. According to Johnny,
“Phillip has “it”…the gift. He has all the elements: good looks, great personality, stage presence, and the main thing you don’t get a lot anymore…he can sing. I really believe in this one.”
Musically, Johnny’s intent for this record was to touch equally on both the Texas and Nashville sound and he was able to deliver that raw, yet melodic feel with accurate aim. Released in May 2009,
YOU WON’T BE LONELY LONG is 10 tracks steeped in that rich lyrical craft that is expected from the collaboration of such an impressive group of solid songwriters including Johnny Garcia, Leslie Satcher, Troy Powers…and as it turns out…Phillip himself. The record’s 1st single,
“Livin’ Life At The Bottom”, was released on June 15th and is already generating radio spins, indicating a fast track to the top according to the Texas Regional Radio Report and the Texas Music Chart. Check out
www.phillipthomasmusic.com or
www.myspace.com/phillipthomasmusic to get a quick dose of this animated, tongue-in-check groove.
“Reminiscent of Rodney Crowell, Phillip Thomas brings a fresh voice to the Texas Music scene backed by a maturity in talent that surpasses his age. We're excited to follow this young man through his career! Check him out!” -Dawn Dale, Program Director/KFAN Radio
how'd it go in kingsville?!
