Birthday Wishes To Phil

January 31, 2026, at home

Birthday wishes go my favorite guitarist: Phil Manzanera. He was the guitarist for the band Roxy Music (years active: 1970–1976, 1978–1983, 2001–2011). He also contributed by playing bass guitar, keyboards, and background vocals. Bryan Ferry was the lead singer, keyboardist, and main songwriter. I have many of Ferry's solo CDs; I used to have some on vinyl. My cousin, our friends, and I attended two of his concerts in 1988.

I used to have all of Roxy Music's studio albums on vinyl. I have all of them on CDs; two live CDs; and two DVDs of live performances and music videos.

Manzanera was also the guitarist for the group The Explorers in the 1980s with fellow Roxy Music saxophonist/oboist Andy Mackay, plus Manzanera has recorded many solo albums. James Wraith is the lead singer and keyboardist.

I also have two Explorers CDs (I used to have one on vinyl); and a couple of Manzanera's solo albums on CD, one of which I also have on a cassette tape. Long ago, I had his album collaboration with John Wetton on a vinyl.

His other bands include: 801; Quiet Sun; and Forenzics, none of which I have heard yet.

In this video of his live solo performance on October 17, 1991, in Sevilla, Spain, you may recognize Ray Cooper on tambourine. Cooper was the percussionist in Elton John's first band in the 1970s. He played/plays percussion in many live pop/rock musical performances.

https://youtu.be/s5JyqHWts0w?si=lzxD5oPHzr7bfpMq