Like my father, Phil was also charismatic,
funny and persuasive. Going to the office or doing sleep overs at Philips (Phil’s son) house as kids, I remember him being passionate about movies and setting up the projector for little Philip and me to watch these very ob- scure 1940’s horror movies or seeing Blazing Saddles, which, I believe, was his favorite comedy. When I would go to the Capricorn office, as a younger kid, he was playful and had a verbal banter with me about girls, school and also wrestling--he called it the “The Indian Treatment”- knuckles hitting my chest methodically to a 1, 2 and 3 beat, mak- ing me laugh more than anything; Frankie watched in amusement, as I would try my best to escape from Phil’s attempt to pin me down. Phil also had quite the temper, which I witnessed more than once; he also struck me, in a way, as shy, and someone who could be reserved, despite having what appeared be an extrovert personality. My father and Phil were very close friends and shared a similar sense of humor, deference to the status quo, and their vision for building a multi-faceted com- pany together while, I am sure, having a great time doing it.
Like you said, you were friends with his son. Were you the same age? Share memories of Phillip. Yes, Philip and I were best friends growing up. We were only 4 months apart in age. He and I had a similar sense of humor and lots of fun getting into innocent trouble. We literally did everything together and he was a brother I never had and I think he felt the same way. As he has said himself, Philip literally stayed more at our house, over the long summers, than with his own family. We were very close and it saddens me to think he is no longer with us, but the childhood memories will never go away, which were so many..our first double dates together; going to our first con-
certs and going backstage to get autographs; spending long hot summers in Macon at our pool; walking to Nu Way; trying to flirt with girls at the Macon Mall, and usually not being successful; working one summer at Philips aunts Ice cream shop in Valdosta; spending a summer together in Sweden at my grand- mothers house; spending summers at the Capricorn house in Hilton Head; camping in the woods; going to our first camp together, in north Georgia, are only a few of the many childhood experiences and memories we had together that I will always cherish…
You've worked hard to get Frank into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. What drove you so hard to see this through? Good question--it was important for me to
see it through since my father does not have a voice to share his own wonderful and amaz- ing life and his many accomplishments. Since he passed at 47, some thirty 31 years ago, he has been forgotten for the music history he helped create and as his only son, I felt it was my fiduciary duty to make everyone aware of his vital role in it all; not least that he was an amazing father, who believed in me when few did, having severe dyslexia growing up and not being able to read or write until I was 16. His love and belief in me, as an insecure kid, was so important to who I am now that the least I can do is return the honor.
What does it mean to you now that he is being inducted? It’s a wonderful feeling to know that Frank
is finally getting recognized for his amazing legacy, although long, long overdue. His in- duction is a confirmation of everything I knew about his career and it’s nice that he is finally getting the public recognition he so richly deserves. His legacy and life story is now permanently recorded and will be known by future generations, but most importantly,
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