Bio

Born and raised in San Jose, California, Holly Phillips has been residing in Washington State for the last 12 years.  Recent recordings Holly has been featured on in 2008 & 2009, include; The Bergevin Brother's, "Seven Songs for America". Holly has 2 cuts on this album and the musicians playing along with her include; Pat Wright & The Total Experience Gospel Choir, Matt Cameron of Pearl Jam, and many other incredibly talented musicians. Holly also did a seperate recording of a song the Bergevin Brother's wrote for a documentry about Barack Obama. The song is called "I am an American", and was released nation-wide in stores as a bonus feature on the film," Barack Obama, The Man And His Journey".

Holly began to show a very strong interest in music at the ripe age of 3.  She picked up the guitar around 6 years of age, thanks to her Father and Mother who played for fun and for the love of music. Up until she graduated High School, Holly sang the songs she wrote in talent shows and participtated  in band and choir.  She had vocal training from Shelly Franklin in Campbell, CA at, Showcase Music Institute. There she began to learn the basics of recording and was asked to sing on demos of other musicians. During this enregetic time, Holly was asked to be in a World Beat band called, “ African Rain”, fronted by Bob Culbertson and Grammy Award Winner, Babatunde Olatunji.  She performed at such places as, “ The Fillmore West (opening for Zap Mama), The Catalyst" in Santa Cruz, “The Great American Music Hall”, “The Palace of the Fine Arts", and performed with Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead.  Holly was in African Rain for 5 years and while still in High School recorded her first album with Babatunde Olatunji in 1992 . 

            After parting with African Rain Holly went on to play solo and to form a band with some of her friends. The band, “Mr. Herb” went as far to open up for and play with Robby Krieger of “The Doors”, at JJ's Blues, in downtown San Jose, CA.  At the same time, Holly was also recording her first solo album .  She appeared on Central Coast's radio station K-OTTER in 1996, for a one hour singer/songwriter showcase. That same year Holly flew out to New York  and studied with Babatunde. At one of his performances Baba asked Holly to be the opening act for Drums Of Passion at the " Sounds Of Brazil". 

In 1997, Holly moved out to Seattle and began to play at such venues as "The Folklife Festival” in 98’, in 2003 Canada’s GreenPeace Benefit Concert at the “Commodore Ballroom”with Gordy Ryan and his band OBA. She appeared on the Seattle Show, Gimme the Mike in 2004. 

Now in the process of recording her 3rd solo album in 5 years, Holly is booking her own shows and doing everything it takes to keep herself performing.  With a fresh new outlook on life, she can only pursue what is true to her heart and to do otherwise, would be impossible.