How it all started

Around 2002, my company sent a group of us to work at an offsite customer’s facility. Suddenly, one of the guys stood up and announced, “Hey Phil! You need to start a band. You could call your band, ‘Phil G and the G Strings’!” Yes, a joke! But then, around 2014, after I had retired, I decided, “Hmm… That’s pretty catchy!” So, I adopted that as my artist name. By the way, the “G” stands for “guitar”. LOL!

History

I have been writing songs since about 1998, and playing guitar almost that long. When I started writing, I tried to “copy” Nashville writers. Then I discovered that was pretty futile. So, I started writing songs I thought others might like. They are a folksy, country style. I hope you enjoy listening to them as much as I enjoy playing them for you.

I started out playing in song circles in Denver, CO, before I moved to Lake Butler, FL, in 2004. Then, I started playing open mic at a club, called Loosey’s, In Gainesville, FL. around 2014 until they stopped around 2018. Then I found another open mic at a club called, The Bull, in Gainesville. I’ve been playing there most weeks ever since.

I have played at Holiday Inn West End, Douglas Corner, and Bobby’s Idol Hour, in Nashville, TN, a few times over the years. I’ve also played the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival open mic at the Flora-Bama in Perdido Key, FL, every year since 2013. Well, except for the COVID year, 2020. I go over to the Flora-Bama occasionally just to play a Monday night open mic.

In 2012, I moved to Ocala, FL, with my wife of almost 50 years. Just over a decade later, I’ve finally decided maybe I would like to try playing my own 1-2 hour shows, sharing my original tunes in a more intimate, personal setting.