Phillip-Michael Scales
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As a kid, Phillip-Michael Scales didn’t understand the significance that his Aunt’s close friend, who called him “Nephew” and he called “Uncle B,” was B.B. King. That significance became clear as he picked up guitar, so decidedly shied away from soloing and most things blues. Instead, Scales fell in love with songwriting when an English teacher told him “A great writer can make their reader identify with anyone.” The trouble was he couldn’t find his story in the blues. With a fierce independent streak and a passion for performing, Scales fronted his own indie bands, wrote and recorded his own music, and worked to make a name for himself on his own terms. All the while, his Uncle B just smiled a knowing smile and encouraged him to “stay with it.” As Phillip-Michael began to discover “the blues” in his private and personal life, their relationship grew closer. It wasn’t until Uncle B passed away, that Scales began incorporating more of the blues into his music. “These days I’m finding more of my story in the blues. A lot has led me here between politics, my identity, and the idea of Legacy.” The result is a sound he calls “Dive Bar Soul” which takes a bit of indie rock storytelling and couples it with the passion of the blues.
