Sid Phillips

Isadore Simon Phillips (14 June 1907 – 24 May 1973) was a British jazz clarinettist, bandleader and arranger. He was once known as "England's King of the Clarinet".

Early life and education Phillips was born in London, England,

Career In 1930, Phillips joined the Denmark Street music publisher Lawrence Wright as staff arranger and began writing arrangements for Bert Ambrose, joining Ambrose's ensemble in 1933 and remaining there until 1937. Later in the 1930s, Phillips played in the United States on radio and freelance in clubs. He served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, then put together his own quartet in 1946 and (under the name Simon Phillips) wrote several pieces for the BBC Symphony Orchestra, including the Overture Russe in 1946, which was conducted by Adrian Boult.

Recordings Phillips's first recordings under his own name were made in 1928, and he continued to record as a leader into the 1970s. His compositions, mostly for the Ambrose band, include Cotton Pickers' Congregation, Night Ride and Streamline Strut.

Family Phillips' younger brother Woolf Phillips (1919–2003) was a successful trombonist, arranger and musical director who conducted at the London Palladium. His two other brothers, Ralph (banjo, double bass) and Harry (trumpet, violin) were also musicians: the four brothers formed The Melodians in 1925. His son, Simon, is a drummer, songwriter and record producer and started his career in his father's big band. His nephew was saxophonist, composer and bandleader John Altman.

In popular culture One of Phillips' songs, "Boogie Man", is included in the 2008 video game Fallout 3 and the 2016 television series Stranger Things. His rendition of the song Heartaches is sampled in the opening track of The Caretaker's final project Everywhere at the End of Time.