LA063 Interview: Reverend Thomas Phillips (LA063Abbott_Side1)
Description
Side 1 and 2: Interview with Reverend Thomas Phillips on 1982-10-01. Abstract for Phillips: [00:00–47:06] Reverend Thomas Phillips of the St. Mark's Chanters speaks about his time singing in quartets, about the beginnings of the quartet, which formed as a way to raise money to help build the church. He explains how his quartet would travel regionally and nationally to raise funds, and goes on to speak about singing for white audiences – 06:23. He speaks about segregation, singing for Pullman cars, his views on race relations at the time – 12:30. They go on to speak about instruction from Alma Lily Hubbard – 25:50, and the different styles that they would use in their quartet, including arrangements by Jim Gales – 27:25. He and Abbott speak about Hubbard's voice and her group, The New Orleans Female Quartet, and its members and history – 29:09. They then speak about the influence of Werlon [?] and Maison Blanche and the different radio programs they would sing on – 34:14. The interview concludes with discussion about other groups and singers, including the Osceola Five – 37:11, James Gales – 38:24, quartet contests – 39:07, and the end of the St. Mark's Chanters. [00:00 - 47:04] LA063Abbott_Side2 continues with Rev. Phillips discussing his singing experiences on River Road and during the Civil Rights Movement. He speaks about his experiences with white people, segregation, and racism in New Orleans, and how that has changed from the past to now. The interview continues with Rev. Phillips discussing how they got the name Chanters and the beginnings of the quartet in 1925 – 27:01. The two discuss New Orleans history, namely the closure of St Mark's Church and how Charity Hospital was built in its place, and other locations that existed in the neighborhood in the 1920s – 29:20. The interview concludes with discussion of other New Orleans singers including Joe Pye – 32:38, barbershop quartets – 34:57, and Depression-era New Orleans – 41:30.