I had the pleasure of working with Phil during the McCarthy campaign in late '67 and early '68 (I think in Indiana, maybe South Bend). He was a very good performer in that he talked very intelligently with his audience: articulate, clever and smart. In my mind, Phil was a genius. He sang for both McCarthy and Kennedy, because, in his words, he wanted a decent democrat to win the party nomination. He played guitar well. I find myself at odds with those who have said otherwise; however, most performers have some bad performances. I saw Phil play over a dozen times, and only one performance was what ya could call bad. Hey, shit happens. His melodies are generally catchy, and his phrasing is perfect. He was encouraging to me, and so many years later, he still holds a place in my heart.

Bruce Murdoch