Phillip Swann

Last updated

Phil Swann
Phil Swann in performance (August 2011).jpg
Swann performing live at his CD release show on August 17, 2011
Background information
Birth namePhillip Douglas Swann
Born(1960-11-08)November 8, 1960
Milton, West Virginia
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • composer
  • producer
  • arranger
  • teacher
  • author
Years active1976–present
Website PhilSwann.com

Phil Swann (born Phillip Douglas Swann, November 8, 1960, in Milton, West Virginia, United States) is an American singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, arranger, teacher and author. His songs have been heard in television, film, and theater, and have been recorded by numerous artists including Clay Aiken, Lee Ann Womack, Eamonn McCrystal, Blake Shelton, Neal McCoy, Rodney Atkins, Kristin Garner and Lee Greenwood. [1] [2] [3] [4] He has also achieved international success as a playwright and mystery novelist.

Contents

Early life

Phil Swann was born to Lewis Swann, a sign painter and engineer, and Nancy (née Douglas). He was raised outside Huntington in the small town of Milton, West Virginia. He has two older siblings, Linda and Greg.

At age 14, Swann began playing piano and singing in local churches, American Legions and civic organizations around the Tri-State area (West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky). When he was 16, he was cast in the long running professional summer stock musical, The Hatfields and McCoys, in Beckley, West Virginia. [5] Upon returning for his senior year of high school, Swann enrolled part-time at Marshall University where he studied theatre and speech in the evenings. He subsequently participated in the college's theatrical productions and concerts. After graduating from Milton High School, he moved to New York City to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. [6] In New York, Swann continued playing piano and singing as a way of supporting himself while in acting school. He performed with bands, played on recording sessions and worked as a solo performer in piano bars throughout the city.

After graduating from college, Swann went on the road acting in various productions but ultimately found playing music more lucrative. He formed numerous bands and performed all over the country in hotels, nightclubs and on the county and state fair circuit. He moved to Muscle Shoals, Alabama to break into the legendary Muscle Shoals music scene as a songwriter and session player. Though his time there was short-lived and unheralded, professional relationships were formed that would later become important in his career. After a brief stint in Nashville, Swann went back on the road playing music, with songwriting being the center of his focus. In 1988, he moved to Los Angeles. [3]

Songwriter

In 1991, Swann was signed to the newly formed Los Angeles based music publishing company Southern Cow Music, a company started by his friend, Hollywood talent agent Steve Bloch. Beyond writing songs for Southern Cow, Swann also listened to other songwriters' songs being pitched to the company. Swann has said in interviews that this period "on the other side of the desk" was one of the most valuable learning experiences in his career. "I started hearing my own songs with the ears of a executive and it changed everything."[ citation needed ] Swann established himself as a prolific and sought-after songwriter through the 90s, garnering cuts on many artists' albums and becoming a fixture in the LA songwriting scene. When Southern Cow Music relocated its main offices to Nashville in 1996, Swann stayed in Los Angeles to head the west coast office as vice president. [7]

For most of the 90s and mid-2000s, Swann split his time between Los Angeles and Nashville, writing songs for the biggest names in country and pop music. He became very active with the Songwriter's Guild of America, initially by holding songwriting workshops for the organization's non-profit foundation, and ultimately being named to the organization's board of directors. Through the guild, he became friends and a collaborator with legendary songwriters such as Jack Segal, Bobby Troop, Vic Mizzy, Donald Kahn, Al Kasha and Ray Evans. [8]

Dreamworks

In 2000, Steve Bloch orchestrated a deal that landed Swann a songwriting and producer contract with DreamWorks SKG, [9] the company owned by Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen. The music division of the company was headed up by iconic music chiefs, Mo Ostin, Chuck Kaye and James Stroud. At the time, the label was having success with artists such as Nelly Furtado, Papa Roach and All-American Rejects along with Nashville artists Toby Keith, Jessica Andrews, Tracy Lawrence and Randy Travis. Swann wrote for the company until its dissolution in 2005. [10] [11] [12]

Theatre

In 2005, actor, writer and Second City alumni Ron West, approached Swann to co-write a musical comedy based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet . A year later,[ citation needed ]The People Vs. Friar Laurence, the Man Who Killed Romeo and Juliet was co-produced by The Second City and the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. The show was a critical and commercial success, and was nominated for three Jeffrey Joseph Awards including Best New Musical.

Swann has composed music for the award-winning off-Broadway musical Play It Cool, [13] [14] as well as DeLEARious (another Swann/West collaboration), which received the 2009 Garland Award from Backstage for Best New Score. [15] Other musicals by Swann include In a Booth at Chasen's, Trombone, [16] Neil Simon's Musical' Fools, Shakespeare's Greatest Hits, and It Had To Be You, a musical based on the life and songs of the famed lyricist Gus Kahn. [17] Musical Fools premiered on February 1, 2013, at Ramone C Cortines School for the Visual and Performing Arts in Los Angeles, and has since been produced throughout the world in both professional and amateur theaters. [18]

Production

Swann's production credits include Helen Slater, Laura Hall, Kelly McCleod, Roberta Duchak, Daniel Nahmod, Jennifer Capelo, Adrina Thorpe, Daniela Kuri, The Sweet Potatoes, and Greg Rowles. Swann is also credited as the producer on the cast recordings of his musicals The People Vs Friar Laurence, the Man Who Killed Romeo and Juliet and Play It Cool. [19] [20] Play It Cool was selected as one of eight productions to present at the 2010 National Alliance for Musical Theatre festival in New York City. [21] [22] [23] In 2013, Swann produced the folk rock band The Good Mad's EP Alta. [24]

Educator

Since 1998, Swann has taught on the art and craft of songwriting at UCLA through the school's extension program. He currently sits on the Board of Advisors for the school's music production program. [10] [25] He also sits on the faculty of the Los Angeles College of Music.

Solo career

On May 24, 2011, Swann released his first solo CD, Stale Scotch and Cheap Cigars. It received critical acclaim.

Swann has performed shows in New York City [26] and Los Angeles.

On November 30, 2012, Swann released the EP Age of Opportunity. [27]

Television

Swann has appeared as both an actor and musician in numerous TV shows, most notably playing the character Sam on NBC's Days of Our Lives . [28]

Author

Swann is the author of The Sideman Mysteries, (also known as the Trip Callaway Gig mystery book series) which include, Cold War Copa, Mekong Delta Blues, Tinsel Town Tango, Ships & Salsa and Stardust Shuffle. He is also the author of the one-off mystery thrillers The Song of Eleusis and The Mozart Conspiracy. [29] The Mozart Conspiracy is also published in an Italian translation by TimeCrime under the title Il Codice Amudeus. [30]

Personal life

Phil Swann is married to theatre educator Amanda Swann. They currently reside in Los Angeles.

He is a cousin to country music superstar Brad Paisley. He has no relation, however, to Billy Swan. [3] [28]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller</span> American songwriting and record producing duo

Leiber and Stoller were an American songwriting and record production duo, consisting of lyricist Jerome Leiber and composer Michael Stoller. As well as many R&B and pop hits, they wrote numerous standards for Broadway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marvin Hamlisch</span> American composer and conductor (1944–2012)

Marvin Frederick Hamlisch was an American composer and conductor. He is one of a handful of people to win Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards, a feat dubbed the "EGOT". He and composer Richard Rodgers are the only people to have won those prizes and a Pulitzer Prize ("PEGOT").

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Schwartz</span> American musical theatre lyricist and composer (born 1948)

Stephen Lawrence Schwartz is an American musical theatre composer and lyricist. In a career spanning over five decades, Schwartz has written hit musicals such as Godspell (1971), Pippin (1972), and Wicked (2003). He has contributed lyrics to a number of successful films, including Pocahontas (1995), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), The Prince of Egypt, Enchanted (2007), and Disenchanted (2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Menken</span> American composer (born 1949)

Alan Irwin Menken is an American composer and conductor, best known for his scores and songs for films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. Menken's contributions to The Little Mermaid (1989), Beauty and the Beast (1991), Aladdin (1992), and Pocahontas (1995) won him two Academy Awards for each film. He also composed the scores and songs for Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Newsies (1992), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), Hercules (1997), Home on the Range (2004), Enchanted (2007), Tangled (2010), Disenchanted (2022), and Spellbound (2024), among others. His accolades include winning eight Academy Awards – becoming the second most prolific Oscar winner in the music categories after Alfred Newman – a Tony Award, eleven Grammy Awards, seven Golden Globe Awards, and a Daytime Emmy Award. Menken is one of twenty-one people to have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony.

Basil Glen Ballard Jr. is an American songwriter, lyricist, and record producer. He is best known for co-writing and producing on Wilson Phillips' debut and sophomore albums, Wilson Phillips and Shadows and Light, as well as co-writing and producing on Alanis Morissette's 1995 album Jagged Little Pill and Dave Matthews Band's 2001 album Everyday. As a songwriter, he co-wrote songs including "All I Need", "Man in the Mirror", "Hold On", "Hand in My Pocket", and Josh Groban's "Believe". As a producer, he has worked with No Doubt, Shelby Lynne, Goo Goo Dolls, P.O.D., Annie Lennox and others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duncan Sheik</span> American singer-songwriter and composer (born 1969)

Duncan Sheik is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Sheik is known for his 1996 debut single "Barely Breathing", which earned him a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. He has composed music for motion pictures and Broadway musicals, winning the 2007 Tony Awards for Best Original Score and Best Orchestrations for his work on the musical Spring Awakening.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard M. Sherman</span> American songwriter (1928–2024)

Richard Morton Sherman was an American songwriter who specialized in musical films with his brother Robert B. Sherman. According to the official Walt Disney Company website and independent fact checkers, "The Sherman Brothers were responsible for more motion picture musical song scores than any other songwriting team in film history."

Hugh Martin was an American musical theater and film composer, arranger, vocal coach, and playwright. He was best known for his score for the 1944 MGM musical Meet Me in St. Louis, in which Judy Garland sang three Martin songs, "The Boy Next Door", "The Trolley Song", and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". The last of these has become a Christmas season standard in the United States and around the English-speaking world. Martin became a close friend of Garland and was her accompanist at many of her concert performances in the 1950s, including her appearances at the Palace Theater.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Harris (singer)</span> American singer and actor

Samuel Kent Harris is an American pop and musical theatre musician as well as a television, theatre and film actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellie Greenwich</span> American singer-songwriter (1940–2009)

Eleanor Louise Greenwich was an American pop music singer, songwriter, and record producer. She wrote or co-wrote "Da Doo Ron Ron", "Be My Baby", "Maybe I Know", "Then He Kissed Me", "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", "Christmas ", "Hanky Panky", "Chapel of Love", "Leader of the Pack", and "River Deep – Mountain High", among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taran Killam</span> American actor, comedian, and writer

Taran Hourie Killam is an American actor and comedian. He first garnered attention for his brief stint on the Fox comedy series MADtv during its seventh season between 2001 and 2002, followed by his wider success as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 2010 to 2016. He has also appeared in other television series such as Wild 'n Out, The Amanda Show, How I Met Your Mother, New Girl, and in the main cast of Single Parents. Killam is also known for his portrayal of a teen pop star in the 2004 Disney Channel Original Movie Stuck in the Suburbs. He voiced the title character on the PBS children's cartoon series Nature Cat.

Will Holt was an American singer, songwriter, librettist and lyricist. He was known first and primarily as a folk performer during the 1950s, when he made early and influential recordings of such songs as "Sinner Man" and "Lemon Tree", for which he wrote the English lyrics. He later became known as an interpreter of the music of Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht, and made significant contributions to Broadway theatre during the 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ahmanson Theatre</span> Performing arts theatre in Los Angeles, California

The Ahmanson Theatre is one of the four main venues that compose the Los Angeles Music Center. Shows at this theater are produced by Center Theatre Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ariana Savalas</span> Singer, songwriter, and burlesque performer

Ariana Savalas is an American host, burlesque performer, singer, and songwriter. She has performed in burlesque cabarets worldwide, including as the emcee and singer for Dita Von Teese and the Crazy Horse cabaret in Paris.

Paul Howard Gordon is an American composer of popular songs and music for the theatre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrolled By Radar</span>

Patrolled By Radar (PBR) is a roots rock trio based in Los Angeles. The band blends alt-country, blues and soul with "equal parts British invasion, cow-punk and Americana, songwriting respected as craft".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristen Anderson-Lopez</span> American songwriter (born 1972)

Kristen Anderson-Lopez is an American songwriter. She is known for co-writing the songs for the 2013 animated musical film Frozen and its 2019 sequel Frozen II with her husband Robert Lopez. The couple won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Let It Go" from Frozen and "Remember Me" from Coco (2017) at the 86th and 90th awards respectively. She also won two Grammy Awards at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, and she is signed to Disney Music Publishing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ross Golan</span> American singer-songwriter

Ross Jacob Golan is an American songwriter, record producer and playwright.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UCLA Extension</span> Public continuing education institution

UCLA Extension is a public continuing education institution headquartered in Westwood, Los Angeles, on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles. Classes are held at UCLA, in Downtown Los Angeles, and other locations throughout Los Angeles County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan and Marilyn Bergman</span> American lyricists and songwriters

Alan Bergman and Marilyn Keith Bergman were an American songwriting duo. Married from 1958 until Marilyn's death, together they wrote music and lyrics for numerous celebrated television, film, and stage productions. The Bergmans enjoyed a successful career, honored with four Emmys, three Oscars, and two Grammys. They are in the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

References

  1. ↑ "Season of Romance". Findingclayaiken.com. Retrieved December 7, 2011.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. ↑ "theproducerslab.com". theproducerslab.com. March 27, 2005. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 "Phil Swann – Songcraft With A Little Magic". Songwriters Marketplace. October 10, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ ">>> Lari White". Songwriter Studio. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Broadway Tickets and Discount Theater Tickets for Broadway Shows at TheaterMania.com". Admin.theatermania.com. Archived from the original on December 11, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 5, 2011. Retrieved October 23, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ↑ Interviewed by Doug Minnick. "TAXI A&R Interview: Steve Bloch, Southern Cow Music". Taxi.com. Archived from the original on January 14, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Join Songwriting Greats". Songwritersguild.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  9. ↑ "JUNE047.0" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 2, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  10. 1 2 "UCLA Extension Instructor: Phil Swann". Uclaextension.edu. January 28, 2011. Archived from the original on September 30, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  11. ↑ "National Alliance for Musical Theatre :: 22nd Annual Festival of New Musicals". Namt.org. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Play it Cool, a Hot New Musical, Brings 1950's Jazz-Inspired Tunes to Off-Broadway". Ascap.com. August 26, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  13. ↑ "20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards – Nominees". GLAAD. September 22, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Play It Cool". Backstage.com. September 14, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Garland Winners 2009". Backstage.com. April 24, 2009. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Powerful 'Trombone' Leaves Lasting Impression; New Musical Receives Standing Ovation at Wilshire Ebell Theatre – Sentinel – August 5, 2009 – Id. 62743718 – vLex". Sentinel-los-angeles.vlex.com. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  17. ↑ "'Play It Cool' New Jazz Musical Readings Oct. 19 & 22". Broadway World. October 16, 2007. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  18. ↑ Michael Ciriaco. "A Brand New Musical Based on a Neil Simon Play Premieres at an L.A. High School". L.A. Weekly. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  19. ↑ "A play by any other name ..." Los Angeles Times. May 30, 2004. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  20. ↑ "Laughs come thick and fast in Shakespeare parody – Chicago Tribune". May 21, 2004. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  21. ↑ [ dead link ]
  22. ↑ Russ Elliot (June 1, 2004). "Helen Slater at Musical Discoveries". Musicaldiscoveries.com. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  23. ↑ "Free Music – Internet Radio that Plays What You Want! Listen to Music Online Radio Stations". Jango. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  24. ↑ "The Good Mad interview – Entertainment Focus". Entertainment Focus. February 5, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  25. ↑ "UCLA Extension : Professional Songwriting for the Commercial Market: A Weekly Workout". Uclaextension.edu. Archived from the original on May 24, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  26. ↑ NiteLifeExchange. "Mark Winkler CD Release Party with Special Guest Phil Swann". Nitelifeexchange.com. Archived from the original on November 28, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  27. ↑ "UCLA Extension Instructor: Phil Swann". Archived from the original on January 17, 2016. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  28. 1 2 "Holly Stephey And Phil Swann ...Stale Scotch and Cheap Cigars 08/18 by Red Velvet Media". Blog Talk Radio. August 18, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  29. ↑ Martel, Michael L. (September 30, 2006). The Mozart Conspiracy (9780779501403): Phillip Swann: Books. Blitzprint. ISBN   0779501403.
  30. ↑ "∂| ThrillerMagazine | Il codice Amadeus". Archived from the original on January 8, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2015.

Other sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.