NORCROSS ARTIST FINDS DIVINE INSPIRATION WITH PIANO

Artist name: Keith Phillips. Age: 37: instrument: piano (one selection on his CD "Nightfall" includes keyboard, drums, strings and electric bass he had arranged).
Location: Norcross
Genre: Acoustic instrumental, new age or solo piano.

1. How did you get your start? Phillips began taking piano lessons at age 6
while living in Athens. He continued studying piano while living in in Greenville, S.C., and won a music scholarship to Brevard Music Center in North Carolina, where he spent two summers learning from nationally and internationally know musicians. When he returned to Athens in 1980, he played jazz piano in high school, which led to composition study at the University of Georgia.

Phillips won both music and academic scholarships to Furman University in Greenville, where he said Amy Grant, a previous student, "was an inspiration."

Phillips completed his education in business at the University of Georgia. While in Athens, he performed in several cover bands, including the R&B band The Common People, the acoustic rock band Shadowcaste, and the country band The High Country.

Today, Phillips teaches piano at East Cobb's 6,000-member Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta.

2. How would you describe your sound? "My music has a calm, relaxing
influence but it also is designed to be stimulating at a higher volume," Phillips
said. His pieces are primarily solo piano composition that include classical,
Irish dance and slow ballad stylings.

3. Who are your influences? Phillips names David Lanz, a multimillion-selling artist out of Seattle, who also consulted him on his album "Nightfall," and said he also has many influences from playing all the major classical piano composers. He credits Floyd Cramer, who he said influences every mainstream pianist, such as Elton John, Billy Joel, and Bruce Hornsby.

"I also have picked up many influences by playing in church over the last 16 years, Snellville Methodist being one of those churches," he said.

4. How does your songwriting process work? "I sit down at my Roland digital
piano, which is attached to a music sequencer, or recorder. Once a tempo is set, I pick a key to play in , such as C major. I hit the record button and improvise whatever comes to mind. This recording is saved on the disk drive of my sequencer. I then take the disk to my computer and then edit it to be printed out as sheet music for playing for refining," he said.

5. What's the craziest thing that's ever happened at a show? Phillips
remembered playing inn a country band in Athens a few years ago with his mother in attendance."There was a loud group of people next to her, and she asked
them to be quieter so she could hear her son play. Of course, the women in this
group didn't care for that too much and let her know, but somehow my mom
avoided any confrontation that evening with them," he said.

6. Which of your songs do friends like the most? The first selection,
"Contentment," with a variety of moods displayed, is popular with the people he
know, Phillips said. Also the upbeat "Irish Song" has a few votes as most popular. Others like the song, "Journey," which has hints of Bruce Hornsby, and includes drums, bass and strings.

7. How far do you want to take it? I committed to the project of recording a
CD in order to share music with those around me, family , friends, and piano students and parents," he said. "I felt my playing had a healing effect on me
and was curious if others would experience that feeling also."

8. Who are you listening to now? Since completing his first CD, Phillips said he has gotten on the Internet to explore the styles of many of the solo pianists out there. "I was familiar with Jim Brickman, George Winston, David Lanz, Yanni and John Tesh already, and these guys remain my favorites," he said. For listening in general, on the first CD, Phillips said he listened to Point of Grace and Avalon, Christian artists, with a positive, upbeat sound.

9. A random question: Whose gown was prettier at the Oscars- Nicole Kidman or Catherine Zeta-Jones? "I don't know," Phillips admitted, "But whatever was worn, I think I'd rather see it on Catherine Zeta-Jones."

10. The last word: "I do have a motto to create relaxing music for a stressed-out world. And I do hope my music can make someone's day a little brighter for listening. I think that's what music can do fur us," he said.