Gene Phillips (born Eugene Floyd Phillips, July 25, 1915, St. Louis, Missouri)[1] was an American jump blues guitarist and singer.[2]
He was influenced by, and a fan of, Louis Jordan, Wynonie Harris, Duke Ellington and Count Basie, Big Joe Turner and Jimmy Rushing.[2]
He joined the St Louis bands of Dewey Jackson and Jimmy Powell and was later taught lap steel guitar by Floyd Smith.[2] He later went on to join Lorenzo Flennoy's Trio.
In late 1945 he recorded with Lucky Thompson in a band also featuring Marshall Royal and Charles Mingus.[3]
His Rhythm Aces, the band he used on his Modern recordings for the Bihari Brothers, included Jake Porter, trumpet; drummer Al "Cake" Wichard; Maxwell Davis, Marshall Royal, Jack McVea, Bumps Meyers, Willard McDaniel, Lloyd Glenn, Bill Street and Art Edwards.[4]
Some sources claim Phillips died in 1990.