Phil Keaggy (born March 23, 1951) is a guitarist and vocalist. He was raised in a small farmhouse in Hubbard, Ohio with nine brothers and sisters, and began playing guitar at age ten on a Sears Silvertone guitar. Keaggy's beginnings go back to the 60's and early 70's when he played in Glass Harp, a band that released several albums on the Decca label and was often seen on stage with bands like Yes, Traffic, Alice Cooper and Iron Butterfly. Glass Harp was a Youngstown, Ohio based power trio that formed in 1968 and consisted of guitarist Phil Keaggy, drummer John Sferra and bassist Daniel Pecchio. After the demise of Glass Harp, Keaggy began recording solo records and has done so ever since. Phil Keaggy is missing half of the middle finger on his right hand due to a childhood accident at age 4 involving a water pump. He is frequently listed as one of the top fingerstyle guitarists by Guitar Player Magazine readers' polls.

Phil Keaggy - The Master & the Musician (Myrrh) 1978

1. "Pilgrim's Flight" (2:22)
2. "Agora (The Markerplace)" (3:26)
3. "The Castle's Call" (:47)
4. "Wedding in the Country Manor" (3:20
5. "Suite of Reflections" (5:45)
6. "Golden Halls" (5:13)
7. "Mouthpiece" (1:18)
8. "Follow Me Up" (4:05)
9. "Jungle Pleasures" (:55)
10. "Deep Calls Unto Deep" (3:52)
11. "Medley: Evensong/Twilight/Forever Joy" (7:05)
12. "The High and Exalted One" (1:48)
13. "Epilogue/Amazing Grace" (8:56)

"Master & the Musician" is a fantastic, acoustic/electric, guitar instrumental album and is actually one of the very first Christian albums I had ever heard. Back in my teen years in the early 80's, the youth pastor from the church my family attended played me this album as an alternative to the "bad" stuff I was listening to. (ie. Black Sabbath, Kiss, etc.) I do confess, while this was no substitute for the hard rock and heavy metal I already listened to, I was more than impressed. I immediately purchased a vinyl copy for myself and it has since become one of my favorite albums ever. Phil Keaggy is a superbly talented guitarist with a unique style. This album is filled with music that expresses passionate emotion and worship with each and every note. So, instead of getting a substitute for something I already liked, I gained a new interest.

The CD version has a bonus track titled "Epilogue/Amazing Grace" that is not available on the LP version that I still own.

Phil Keaggy - Town to Town/Phílip Side/Play Thru Me (Myrhh) 1980/81/82

Phil Keaggy - Wind & The Wheat (Mhyrr) 1987

1. "March of the Clouds" (5:19)
2. "Paradise Dreams" (5:34)
3. "The Wind and the Wheats" (4:33)
4. "Where Travelers Meets" (6:35)
5. "From Shore to Shores" (3:06)
6. "Prayers" (4:22)
7. "The Missions" (5:00)
8. "The Promises" (4:34)
9. "The Reunions" (6:04)
10. "I Love You Lord" (5:28)

Yet another excellent solo guitar instrumental CD from one of the greatest guitarists to ever touch the instrument. Of course Phil is not a metal guitarist, but he holds his own with the best. I also find Phil's music to be perfect for certain times; when metal isn't as appropriate. As with 'Master and the Musician' this CD mixes acoustic and electric guitar passages with brilliant songwriting to create one spectacular listen. Perfect for a quite, late night with the wife.

Phil Keaggy - Find Me in these Fields (Myrrh) 1990

1. "Live Studio Recording # 1" [instrumental] (:19)
2. "Strong Tower" (4:14)
3. "Carry On" (3:14)
4. "Live Studio Recording # 2" [instrumental] (:39)
5. "When the Wild Winds Blow" (5:39)
6. "This Side of Heaven" (4:18)
7. "Find Me in These Fields" (3:56)
8. "Get over It" (6:08)
9. "Calling You" (4:17)
10. "Live Studio Recording # 3" [instrumental](2:32)
11. "Gentle and Strong" (3:37)
12. "Final Day" (3:57)
13. "Live Studio Recording # 4" [instrumental](2:08)
14. "Be in My Heart (4:40)
15. "Live Studio Recording # 5" [instrumental](1:00)

Wow, talk about living in the past. Phil Keaggy borrows heavily from the Beatles and other 60's pop rock influences on this disc. The hooks, however, are undeniable and hold your attention. There are also some noce guitar instrumentals throughout this disc, that make "Find Me in These Fields" a good listen all the way through. I bought this when I was looking for some decent Christian rock and roll. Phil Keaggy is not only one of the best, but one of the few.

Phil Keaggy - Beyond Nature (Myrrh) 1991

1. "In the Light of Common Day" (3:52)
2. "County Down" (5:44)
3. "Symphonic Dance" (5:44)
4. "Addisonís Walk" (4:04)
5. "I Feel the Winds of God Today" (4:48)
6. "Fare Thee Well" (5:42)
7. "Fragile Forest" (4:24)
8. "Brother Jack" (4:54)
9. "As Warm as Tears" (6:05)
10. "Place of Springs" (6:29)
11. "In the Light of Common Day" (4:11)
12. "When Night Falls" (4:08)

One of Phil Keaggy's awesome solo instumental albums filled with sweeping melodies and beautiful acoustic guitar passages. This is the most listened to disc in my Phil Keaggy collection. The music is mellow but creates the right mood for late nights with my wife. Enough said! (-:

Phil Keaggy - Crimson & Blue (Myrrh) 1994

1. "Shouts of Joy (5:54)
2. "World of Mine (5:38)
3. "Everywhere I Look (4:26)
4. "Love Divine" (2:23)
5. "Reunion of Friends" (4:11)
6. "All There Is to Know" (3:47)
7. "When Will I Ever Learn to Live in God?" (6:40)
8. "Stone Eyes" (7:01)
9. "I Will Be There" (6:51)
10. "Don't Pass Me By" (3:44)
11."John the Revelator" (8:04)
12. "Doin' Nothin'" (8:25)
13. "Nothing but the Blood" (2:41)

I really like Phil's instrumental albums a lot more than his pop rock albums. "Crimson and Blue" is a mixture of both because it contains the pop rock song but also contains some great guitar jams. The album is filled with 60's and 70's rock influences but this time around it's less "Beatles-pop" and more "Jimi Hendrix-rock jams." (OK, maybe Hendrix is stretching it.) "Doin' Nothin'" is an extended guitar jam that shows off Phil's technique, almost gaining a Jimi Hendrix sound here and there. "Crimson and Blue" also features the Van Morrison tune, "When Will I Learn (To Live in God)" and a cover of Badfinger's "Baby Blue."

Phil Keaggy - Revelator (Myrrh) 1994

1. "Everywhere I Look (3:09)
2. "John the Revelator" [radio mix] (4:58)
3. "Doin' Nothin"' [alternate take/swamp version] (5:48)
4. "John the Revelator" [extended strat mix] (8:02)
5. "The Further Adventures Of..." [instrumental] (12:46)
6. "Celebrate" (2:14)

"Revelator" is a digi-pack disc with outtakes from the "Crimson and Blue" sessions. I actually like this disc a bit more that "Crimson & Blue" as there is more emphasis on guitar-rock jams. Includes radio mixes that are edited versions of the originals songs but the extended jams show off Keaggy's incredible guitar playing abilities. "The Further Adventures Of..." is a blues rock jam that features original Glass Harp drummer John Sferra. A collector's item that went out of print almost as quickly as it was put into print.

Phil Keaggy - True Believer (Myrrh) 1995

1. "True Believers" (4:36)
2. "Wild Heart" (5:01)
3. "Only You" (Can Wash My Sins Away) (4:31)
4. "Salvation Army Band" (4:09)
5. "Don't Let Go of My Heart" (4:09)
6. "Son of Man" (4:38)
7. "And on That Day" (5:05)
8. "Be Thou My Vision" (4:51)
9. "Have Mercy Lord" (4:01)
10. "Survivor" (7:30)

More pop rock from Keaggy, but this one is even more mellow than some of the past releases. I was hanging around after a show my band did in TX when somebody just walked up and gave me this disc. Free is good.

Phil Keaggy - 220 (Sparrow) 1996

1. Animal" (4:49)
2. Arrow" (6:02)
3. Montana" (4:44)
4. Tennessee Morning" (3:55)
5. The Great Escape" (7:12)
6. Stomp" (4:40)
7. Highland" (5:52)
8. Beyond This Day" (4:22)
9. Ian's Grove" (3:35)
10. Watt Ever (220 Jam)" (3:18)

Phil Keaggy departs from his usually lighter instrumental fare here. Instead he offers up a electric, amplified instrumental, thus the album title. Phil is not overly flashy, but he is a phenomenal musician who knows how to use his talents. What he has that other lack is the ability to combine his phenomenal skill with emotion. There are many great guitarist who have outstanding technical ability and can solo with the best of 'em, but they last song writing skills or they lack the emotion to do anything but shred. This is what I like about Phil. He is the best of both worlds and tends to be the artist I look to first when I am in the mood for some instrumental music. The songs have many textures and emotions, with each song possessing it's own personality. The style ranges from bluesy, to country/southern rock, to celtic. Despite this, the album flows together and is a solid listen from beginning to end. Yet another perfect album to listen to while kicking back and doing nothing else but enjoying the music.

Phil Keaggy - Jammed! (Phil Keaggy Music) 2006

1. "Route Canal" (3:37)
2. "Phlagan's Flow" (2:07)
3. "Kegworth Speaks" (9:06)
4. "Blueberry Jam" (1:23)
5. "Zee Blues" (4:37)
6. "Sherlock Ohms" (5:36)
7. "Elect Rick" (2:28)
8. "Joyphil" (2:51)
9. "Revisited Jelly" (5:31)
10. "Watt Ever" (4:46)
11. "Prehistrobie" (2:17)
12. "Kegworth Reconsiders" (2:23)

"Jammed!" is appropriately titled because the music contained herein indeed does jam! This is Phil Keaggy letting lose with some killer ELECTRIC GUITAR jams! I love Keaggy's acoustic stuff, but have been waiting years for him to put out a new electric set. The instrumentals here include some great jams from hard-edged progressive rock to blues to straight our rock and roll jams. My favorite tracks are the hard rocking "Phlagan's Flow" and the ten minute "Kegworth Speaks" which is just an all out jam.

Back to Index