About Phil

On June 24th, 1904 in Linton, Indiana, Wonga Phillip Harris was born. In my opinion, the world was made a better place
because of it. Although born in Indiana, Phil actually spent most of his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee, which accounts
for both his Southern accent and, in his later years, the self-deprecating Southern jokes of his radio character. Phil
began his music career as a drummer in San Francisco, CA., forming an orchestra with Carol Lofner in the late
1920's and started a long engagement at the St. Francis Hotel. His partnership with Lofner ended by 1932. That
year Phil started, led, and sang with his own band in Los Angeles. On September 27, 1927, Phil married actress
Marcia Ralston in Sydney, Australia. The couple adopted a son, Phil Harris, Jr. (born 1935). Phil and Marcia divorced in September, 1940.

Phil's screen debut came in 1933 with the RKO short "So This Is Harris". In my opinion, this event brought Phil into the spotlight and got him recognized as more than just a bandleader, this kid had personality! In 1936, Phil became the musical director of The Jello Program starring Jack Benny (which later became The Jack Benny Program). When Phil's knack for snappy one-liners became apparent Phil was given more of a speaking role on The Jack Benny Program. This role was of a jive-talking, hard-drinking, brash Southerner whose good nature overcame his ego. Phil's nicknaming of Jack's cast, such as "Jackson" for Jack Benny, and "Live" for Mary Livingstone, was unforgettable. Phil's trademark song during the Benny years was "That's What I Like About The South", which was ironic, considering his Indiana roots.

In 1941, Phil married Alice Faye (second marriage for both). The Faye - Harris marriage lasted 54 years until Phil's death. Phil & Alice had two children together, Alice Jr. and Phyliss. In 1942, Phil and his entire band enlisted in th U.S. Navy and they served for the duration of World War II. Phil and Alice were invited to join The Fitch Bandwagon Program in 1946. This program was originally the only vehicle for big bands to be widely heard on the radio. The show became something entirely different when Phil & Alice became popular personalities! Coinciding with the couples desire to settle in Southern California and raise their two children without touring, The Fitch Bandwagon evolved into the popular sit-com The Phil Harris - Alice Faye Show. With Phil as the vain, language challenged bandleader and Alice as the loving wife, abetted by actresses playing their two daughters, the radio series also featured Gale Gordon as their sponsor's rep., Elliott Lewis as that crazy guitarist Frank Remley, and Walter Tetley (from The Great Gildersleeve) as the obnoxious grocery boy Julius. The Phil Harris - Alice Faye Show ran for eight years (1946 - 1954) on NBC, and what a show it was! (See the Phil & Alice page for show details).

After the show ended, Phil revived his music career. He made a number of guest appearances during the 60's and 70's, including the Kraft Music Hall, The Dean Martin Show, Hollywood Palace, and other musical variety programs. Phil worked as a voice actor for animated films, such as Disney's "The Aristocats" as Thomas O'Malley, "Robin Hood" as Little John, and "The Jungle Book" as Baloo the Bear. In The Jungle Book, Phil sang "The Bare Necessities", a performance that introducted Phil to a new generation of young fans who had no idea he was once a popular radio star. Phil also sang with Louis Prima in "I Wanna Be Like You"/ In 1989, Phil agreed to do the voice of Baloo the Bear in the cartoon series "Tale Spin", which was in production at the time. Unfortunately, Phil had aged enough that he could no longer do the voice sucessfully. Phil was replaced later by actor Ed Gilbert. Phil's last animated project was in 1991. This was for the animated film "Rock - A - Doodle" in which he voiced the friendly, laid back farm dog Patou.

Phil's hit song list includes "That's What I Like About The South", "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens", and "The Thing". Phil also spent time in the 1970's and early 1980's leading a band that appeared often in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Phil was a close friend and associate of Bing Crosby. After Crosby died, Phil sat in for his old friend doing color commentary for the telecast of the annual Bing Crosby Pro-Am Golf Tournament.

Phil was a longtime resident of Palm Springs, CA, where Bing Crosby also made his home. Phil was also a benefactor of his birthplace of Linton, Indiana, establishing scholarships in his honor for promising high school students. Phil performed at his old high school, and hosted a celebrity golf tournament in his hometown every year. Phil & Alice donated most of their show business memorabilia and papers to the Linton Public Library.

Phil remained grateful to radio for the difference it made to his professional career and personal life. "If it haden't been for radio, I would still be a traveling orchestra leader. For 17 years I played one-night stands, sleeping on buses. I never even voted, because I didn't have any residence", Phil was once quoted as saying.

Phil died of a heart attack on Palm Springs, CA in 1995 at the age of 91. His wife, Alice Faye, died of stomach cancer three years later. Two years before Phil's death, he was inducted into the Indiana Hall of Fame. Both Phil & Alice are interred at Forest Lawn - Cathedral City in Riverside, Conty, CA.

As Bob Hope used to sing, "Thanks for the memories". You are greatly missed and will always be greatly appreciated.