East St. Louis’ Phil Perry returns for Valentine’s Day Lovefest

When the late diva Aretha Franklin compliments you after covering her classic hit “Call Me”, by telling you that “You’re a singing child” and the late James Ingram, after a studio session, tells you that “You ain’t from this planet,” you’d think that would be validation enough for recording artist, songwriter and musician Phil Perry.

However, as I interviewed Perry on the eve of his seventy-third birthday, wildfires raging 20 miles from his LA home, he was more reflective and appreciative of a Catholic nun stumbling upon his talent at his parochial school, which led to his singing midnight masses, where his 80 year-old grandmother listened in awe and, pinching his cheek, told him, “I’m more proud of you than I can utter.” That was his validation.

This, later, inspired Perry’s co-founding of the 1970’s group The Montclairs at Rock Jr. High School in East St. Louis. They went on to record with Archway Records, disbanding in 1975, when Perry moved on to California, where Perry eventually signed with Capitol Records and the rest is musical history; a stellar 52-year career in which he has numerous solo successes, as well as collaborations with such industry giants such as Chaka Khan, Barbra Streisand, Johnny Mathis, George Duke, Quincy Jones, Dave Koz, Will Downing and Gerald Albright.

In 2025, he looks forward to bringing his Valentine’s Day show to Harris-Stowe State University because, in his words, “It’s home and these are the people that gave me a chance to have a career and it gives me a chance to see some of the faces of my youth and to thank those who made me try to be the best that I can be.”

His references to God (during our chat) were numerous, describing his style and talents as “God given and real; and that’s the best I can describe what I do”, going on to say, “There’s no freedom I get anywhere else like I get when I’m singing.”

And unlike his other shows, he has taken to his Facebook page to ask his St. Louis area audience for suggestions of songs for his show set list.

That could be an extensive list, given the 2019 RnB Hall of Fame inductee’s body of work going all the way back to the 1970’s.

Surprisingly, when asked about his reputation as a balladeer, Perry expressed in a pastoral tone, that “Actually, I love singing sad songs because it lifts the sadness off of individuals; and what’s more noble than that?”

As far as his longevity in a fickle business like the recording industry, Perry quickly says that “It’s because of what I do, not because of who I am” going on to attribute it to the lyrical content of songs that he has written or covered, adding that good lyrical content is “the stuff that dreams are made of”, something that he feels is lacking in much of today’s music.

Finally, Perry wants his East St. Louis and St. Louis audience to know that “Without you, there is no me.” So, whether it’s smooth jazz, ballads or sad songs, Phil Perry’s “Glow of Love” show promises to be a homecoming for a native son and proof that home is where the heart is this Valentine’s Day. 

For more information and tickets go to: https://www.hssu.edu/rsp_content_cus_ticket.html.  

Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo.com  X@JamesTIngram