Was presented the Key to the City of New Orleans in 1976 for stage performances there.
Became friends with classmates Michael Rosenbaum ( "Smallville" ) and Matt Keeslar ( Scream 3 ) while studying improv at The Groundlings School.
Cousin of actor Josh Meyer.
In 1978, he was called by Pat Upton, known for the Spiral Starecase hit song "I Love You More Today Than Yesterday", and asked if Phils band would back up Pat on tour - effectively becoming Spiral Starecase. Phil declined.
Studied acting at The Beverly Hills Playhouse with classmates and friends Shanti Lowry ( "The Game" & charter member of The Pussycat Dolls ), Jennifer Ann Massey ( "The It Factor: Los Angeles" ) and Nasser Faris ( "24" Day 6 ).
Some of his bands posters from the 1970s have been sold on eBay.
Before the Backstreet Boys and
NSYNC , he was in one of the first original Florida "boy bands" -- Freedom Jam -- performing over 700 concerts across the United States and Canada. His stage clothes were custom designed to Phils requests by Tampa Bays Michael Braun who has outfitted the worlds top rockers including Aerosmith , The Allman Brothers Band , Bon Jovi , Chicago , Alice Cooper , Bob Dylan , Jimi Hendrix , Eddie Money , Billy Preston , Bob Seger , Sly Stone , Sonny & Cher , The Temptations , Three Dog Night , and Edgar Winter. His bands cartoon concert poster was drawn by Mad Magazine cartoonist Don Martin.
While playing keyboards for a music/comedy stage show in the late 1970s, the shows production company insured his hands with Lloyds of London for one million dollars.
