Music

Music....

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Prior to this band, I sang with the Multi-Cultural Center Band (Lahti, Finland). In this band I was also the lead (only) singer. We performed for corporations and municipalities. Our song repertoire was Broadway, Evergreens, and Jazz.

Prior to either of these bands, I had an act called The Extasy Project. It consisted of a guitar player, a DAT tape and me. We did revamped versions of Disco and Rock covers. The music was Euro-Beat dance.

My latest projects have been with the Tap Jelly Blues Band... singing Blues, naturally. And most recently with the Riverside Rascals... Louisiana style Jazz band.

So far this year... I have confirmed dates with Jerzy Dubiel and possible various other musicians. I have also been asked to perform with about three other well known musicians… but, these have not been confirmed. Until they are... will not start counting chickens.

In America I began singing, as a little girl, along with my five sisters. I was a soprano... hated my voice. I wanted to be an alto like my #2 sister, Cecelia. Luckily, I was one of those people who learning came to easily. I could smell a book… comprehend and understand it. The way I saw it... the world was full of Brown people with talent... the field was crowded. I need to do something that I could excel in unperturbed... I chose business. For this reason… I did not seek a musical career in America.

I once won 2 fifths of wine and $25 singing "You Light Up My Life" in a Rock'N'Roll Bar. Go figure. Either I was really great or they felt sorry for me. The competition was awesome.

The only time (in America) I sang as a career was after this incident. I was asked to join a band called RAZ. I thought "why not?" We did it for the money and it didn't last very long. Everyone in the band was really into something else.

I started singing in Finland because was the only one… of five profession… I was capable of using due to the problem of language. I have written several songs for The Extasy Project. Some have been recorded. I create the posters, newsletters and brochures for the bands. I also design (and on occasion sew) the outfits I wear.

MUSICAL PROFESSION LINKS

Musical Interlude...

Mr. Edgar Winter performing at SpoodeeODee's in New York

Story...

This was one of my favorite "hang-outs" in New York. I spent most of my time in the VIP Room where just about every one was famous. One night a friend of mine, Paulie Herman notice a friend of his he called Nicky. I saw only the back of the guy as he passed where we were sitting. Paulie asked me if I knew Nicky to which I replied I did not. He the said... boys, Phyllis doesn't know Nicky! Paulie and the other "gangsters" (TV and movie actors who portray gangsters) grabbed me and rushed me to the back room to meet Nicky. Paulie said Nicky… this is Phyllis.

They had made such a presentation that I was (for once in my life) speechless. I just looked at him and said… “I don’t know what to say now… but… he (Nick Nolte) finished the sentence… “I know… you like my movies”. I blushed… said “well I do”… left the room and went downstairs.

The night the pictures above were take… I had convinced a friend of mine… Desiree Baglivo to go to SpooDee’s with me. She was heavily into rock music… usually they had dance music. Reluctantly… Desi went with me. I had “my table” where we were sitting. A man and his friends asked it they could share the table with us. I answered, “of course”. Desi grabbed my arm and asked me if I knew who the man was… I did not. He was Robert Plant. At least once in Desi’s life… she was glad she listen to me. Miss Baglivo was one of Robert Plant's most devoted fans!