24 Facts About Greg Phillinganes

Gregory Arthur Phillinganes was born on May 12,1956 and is an American keyboardist, singer-songwriter, and musical director based in Los Angeles, California.

Greg Phillinganes has toured with artists including Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour and Toto, was musical director for Michael Jackson, and has released two solo studio albums.

Gregory Arthur Phillinganes was born in Detroit, Michigan on May 12,1956.

Greg Phillinganes began playing a neighbor's piano by ear at the age of two, beginning lessons a few years later after his mother purchased a piano for him.

Greg Phillinganes took lessons from two different instructors before his mother brought him to Misha Kotler, a Detroit Symphony Orchestra pianist who introduced the discipline and technique Phillinganes required to excel.

Greg Phillinganes was discovered by Stevie Wonder after the drummer Ricky Lawson gave him a cassette of instrumental renditions of his own songs by Greg Phillinganes.

Greg Phillinganes auditioned for Wonder's band, Wonderlove, and played with them from 1976 to 1981.

Greg Phillinganes arranged the Jacksons' 1978 album Destiny and played keyboard on the 1980s Triumph album.

Greg Phillinganes contributed to every one of Michael Jackson's solo albums, and cites the title track from 1982's Thriller as a classic example of his work.

Greg Phillinganes was the musical director for Michael Jackson's Bad and Dangerous concert tours, as well as the Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special.

Greg Phillinganes describes his involvement with the 30th Anniversary Special as particularly emotional considering his long history with the family.

Greg Phillinganes has spoken at length about how much of his life he had spent with the Jacksons, and Michael in particular.

In 1981, Greg Phillinganes released his first solo album, Significant Gains.

Greg Phillinganes criticized the lyrics as being less creative, and said that Significant Gains might be too close to Wonder's sound, calling it "blatant emulation".

Three years later, Greg Phillinganes released his follow-up album Pulse, which featured another minor hit, a cover of Yellow Magic Orchestra's song "Behind the Mask".

When he later joined Eric Clapton's backing band, Greg Phillinganes introduced the tune to Clapton, who covered it on his 1986 August album.

Greg Phillinganes subsequently became a full-time member of the band and contributed to their album Falling in Between.

Greg Phillinganes continued to tour as a member of Toto until the band became inactive in 2008.

When Toto reformed in 2010 to resume touring and working on new material, Greg Phillinganes had been replaced in the lineup by original keyboardist Steve Porcaro.

In 2022 Greg Phillinganes was reunited with Toto when he filled in for Dominic Xavier during the 'Dogs of Oz' tour during the Norwegian shows.

Greg Phillinganes served as the musical director for Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour for its entire run from 2011 to 2014.

Greg Phillinganes was Musical Director for the 2014 Women of Soul performance at The White House featuring, amongst others Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Ariana Grande and Jill Scott.

Greg Phillinganes won a 2015 Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction for his role as musical director for the television special "Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life" and was music director for the 2016 Grammy Awards.

In 2022 Greg Phillinganes were featured in several episodes of the podcast series Stories in the Room: Michael Jackson's Thriller Album Podcast.