Roy Phillips
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Roy Godfrey Phillips (5 May 1941 – 24 April 2025) was a British musician. He was a member of The Soundtracks (a backing group of The Dowlands), The Saints and The Peddlers.
Background
Phillips was known as the voice and keyboard sound of well-known popular trio, The Peddlers which was formed in Manchester in 1964.[1][2]
In later years, Phillips was so taken with New Zealand, he decided to move there in 1981.[3] After rejecting living in Auckland, Philips moved to Paihia, where he ran a café for eight years, before moving to Queenstown. From 2002, he lived in Christchurch, after moving there to marry his wife, Robyn.[2]
Phillips died in Christchurch on 24 April 2025, at the age of 83.[4]
Career
1960s
During the 1960s, Phillips was a member of The Song Peddlers which with addition of Trevor Morais became a trio. The lineup also included Tab Martin. The group were managed by Alan Lewis. A single "Rose Marie" bw "I'm Not Afraid" was released on the Philips label in 1964.[5] The group then became The Peddlers.[6][7] Also in 1964, and now known as The Peddlers they had some minor success with their debut single, "Let The Sun Shine In" which was written by Teddy Randazzo.[8][9][10]
Phillips was one of the musicians placed in the 1967 Beat Instrumental Gold Star Awards. He shared the no. 12 spot with Keith Emerson in the Keyboard Player category.[11] Also in the same awards, The Peddlers were placed at no. 18 in the Best Group on Stage category.[12]
The group would go on to have hits with "Birth" and "Girlie".[13][14]
1970s
In 1976, his group, Peddlers which he had led since 1964 broke up.[15] In the same year, Phillips's solo album Mr Peddler was released on Warner Bros. It also had a limited release as a private pressing on the Wild Cherry label as Heavy on the Light Side. The Wild Cherry release differed slightly from the Warner Bros. one.[16][17] Also that year he had a single "My Spanish Sun" bw "The Office Party" out on the Sol-Doon label.[18]
1980s to 1990s
In 1983, Phillips had a single released on the Warrior label which included releases by artists the Mike McGregor Band, Mantra and Herbs. The single was "New Zealand, New Zealand" bw "Takapuna".[19][20] In 1987, his single "Step By Step" bw "All Girl Planet" was released on Zulu Z006.[21] Also in the late 1980s, Phillips headed the Sunday bill at the Sixth Southern Comfort Jazz and Blues Festival that was held in New Zealand over Queen's Birthday Weekend.[22][23]
2000s
In 2006, he appeared on the television show Close Up, interviewed by John Sellwood.[24]
In 2007, a song by Phillips, "Closer" was featured on a Lord Large album, The Lord's First XI. The album also featured recordings by Glenn Tilbrook, Clem Curtis, Dean Parrish and Linda Lewis.[25][26] Phillip's involvement in the project came about as a result of Large's friend, producer/drummer Jones who was honeymooning in New Zealand and had found a new drinking buddy who happened to be Phillips.[27]
His album called Blue Groove (2014) was produced and recorded at Roy's "Groove Room" Studios which he set up at his home in Christchurch after moving there in 2002.[4]
In August 2017, he appeared at Peppers Beachfront restaurant in Gisborne.[3]
Discography (selective)
| Title | Catalogue | Year | Notes # |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Spanish Sun" / "The Office Party" | Sol-Doon SDR 014 | 1976 | [18] |
| "New Zealand, New Zealand" / "Takapuna" | Warrior WAR 1009 | 1983 | |
| "Step By Step" / "A Girl Planet" | Zulu Records Z 006 | 1987 | [28][29] |
| Title | Catalogue | Year | Notes # |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr. Peddler | Warner Bros. Records Z 26001 | 1976 | New Zealand release[30] |
| Heavy On The Light Side | Wild Cherry WCHLS 26776 | 1977 | Private press release of Mr Peddler[31][32] |
| That's Way 'Tis | Beyond Sound | 2006 | [33] |
| Blue Groove | 2014 | [34][35] | |
| Standard Procedure 1 | 2019 | [36] |
| Act | Album title | Catalogue | Year | Song | Notes # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lord Large | The Lord's First XI | Acid Jazz Records AJXLP182 | [37] |
Citations
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- ↑ Jazz Forum, Issues 116-121 – Page 11
- ↑ a b Stuff.co.nz, 16 June 2013 – Mood music for the meth-lab – Grant Smithies
- ↑ a b The Gisborne Herald, 24 August 2017 – Smooth grooves with Peddler Roy Phillips by Mark Peters
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Mersey Beat – On My Liverpool Beat (cont.), FLAMINGOS By Bill Harry
- ↑ AllMusic – The Peddlers – Music Biography, Credits and Discography
- ↑ KinemaGigz – Peddlers 'Biogz P' : The Peddlers
- ↑ 45Cat – The Peddlers – Discography, UK
- ↑ Making Time – The Peddlers
- ↑ Tootoot – Peddlers, The, Details
- ↑ Beat Instrumental, Feb. 1967 – Page 20 BEAT INSTRUMENTAL'S 1967 GOLD STAR AWARDS, KEYBOARD PLAYER
- ↑ Beat Instrumental, Feb. 1967 – Page 21 BEAT INSTRUMENTAL'S 1967 GOLD STAR AWARDS, Best Group on Stage
- ↑ AllMusic – The Peddlers, Artist Biographyby Bruce Eder
- ↑ Billboard, 30 May 1970 – Page 74 Billboard HITS OF THE WORLD, NEW ZEALAND SINGLES
- ↑ Nostalgia Central – Music – 1960s, Peddlers, The
- ↑ Discogs – Roy Phillips, Discography, Albums
- ↑ Popsike – ROY PHILLIPS/PEDDLARS – HEAVY ON THE LIGHT SIDE – RARE PRIVATE PRESS JAZZ LP, Description
- ↑ a b Global Dog Productions – 45 Discography for Sol Doon Records – UK
- ↑ AudioCulture, 8 May 2013 – Warrior – Simon Grigg
- ↑ When the Pakeha Sings of Home: A Source Guide to the Folk & Popular Songs of New Zealand, By Mike Harding – Page 77, Page 84
- ↑ The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television – Catalogue → 21510, Step by step
- ↑ Jazz Forum, Issues 116-121 – Page 11
- ↑ Tommy Adderley (1940–1993): The Man and His Contributions to Pop, Jazz, and Rock Music in New Zealand, By Christine Mintrom – Page 149
- ↑ The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound – Catalogue → TZP326971 CLOSE UP – ROYPHILLIPS
- ↑ Discogs – Lord Large – The Lord's First XI
- ↑ Scoop.co.nz, Wednesday, 19 July 2017 – The Voice of ‘the Peddlers’
- ↑ Bisikleta Productions, Friday, 17 July 2009 – PAUL WELLER PENNED TUNE DONE BY LORD LARGE
- ↑ Discogs – Roy Phillips, Discography, Singles & EPs
- ↑ 45Cat – Roy Phillips – Discography, All Records
- ↑ Discogs – Discography, Albums
- ↑ Popsike – ROY PHILLIPS – Heavy On The Light Side VINYL LP
- ↑ Popsike – 70s Easy Listening Pop Piano ROY PHILLIPS heavy on light side Rare UK Vinyl LP
- ↑ National Library of Australia – 2006, English, Sound, Recorded musicedition:
That's way 't is (sound recording) / Roy Phillips.
Phillips, Roy, 1943- - ↑ NZ Musician – Home > Roy Phillips: Blue Groove
- ↑ Gisborne Herald, 24 August 2017 – Smooth grooves with Peddler Roy Phillips By Mark Peters
- ↑ GetJazz.net – Roy Phillips – Standard Procedure 1 (2019)
- ↑ Discogs – Roy Phillips, Credits
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References
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External links
- Template:Trim/ Template:PAGENAMEBASE at IMDbTemplate:EditAtWikidataScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at Discogs