An Evening with Phil Perry
By Liltank Thibedeau (Ricky Davis)
Phil Perry,a soul musician for over 40 years, was a special guest on WkSK 105.5 The heat. It was broadcast live in Second Life at Club Euphoria and on WKSK. Chilly Cummings, the owner of WKSK and UrbanKing aka Reggie the owner of Club Euphoria interviewed him by telephone.
Fitting with Valentines, Phil believes that romantic music is a backdrop for life and it carries a great significance on the moments of life. Mr. Perry says “The economy is bad and we are at war, people need to feel a personal relationship with music. He strives to make that connection with people through his music.”
This personal connection was obvious when the radio station played one of Mr. Perry’s most known hits Baby; I’m for real a duet with Will Downing. The audience sang a long and was moved by the lyrics. Several women in the audience started claiming Mr. Perry as one of their virtual husbands. He felt honored that his music could touch them so deeply that they pronounced their love in the virtual setting.
Mr. Perry grew up in East St. Louis a poor suburb of St. Louis. It was the people of the city that has inspired him not the place itself, bits and pieces of the people there inspired and show up in his music. “It’s not the places that are inspiring but the people”
Several callers got a chance to call in to ask Mr. Perry questions and questions were also taken within Second Life.
The first question came from Urban king who asked what was his musical influences growing up. Music was always a part of him growing up. His mother played a variety of music from Motown to Stax records including her favorites Billy Eckstine and Johnny Mathis. He recalled his teenage years where he listened to some of the most romantic music of R and B genre. Music has been out of public school and it has reflected in the quality of music for teens today. Music doesn’t have the sociological impact today that it has influenced in the past.
It is his mission to bring that connection back through his music. He is determined to make an impact on couples to write and sing songs that deal with everyday life situations. It is signicant to show people what they are missing with the current artists.
The second question came from myself in-world to Mr. Perry in your 40 years of being in the music business how do see how music has affected your own personal growth and how it has affected the world. Mr Perry stated Not a day goes by that music does not affect someones mood. Music bridges memories from year to year it affects every relationship that we are involved in.
Ebony Rae from in world asked how hard was it for you to get into the music business. It was a lot easier for him than artists today. There were a lot more independent radio stations that would play local music. He appreciates the technology of podcasts and the internet to reach wider audiences but they cannot replace the importance of local community radio stations.
In closing the interview Urbanking asked what does he hope to leave everyone that listens to his music. He answered that they will never hear a Phil Perry song without hearing his heart and from his live shows that everyone leaves happy.
To learn more about Phil Perry visit his Website PhilPerry.net
