About Brian Phillips

For as long as he can remember, music has been a part of his life.  “I remember my dad frequently playing the piano growing up.  I had a bedroom in the basement, and there were nights that I would fall asleep hearing my dad play in the room upstairs”.

  Born in Indianapolis, IN, and raised in Carmel, IN, Brian began playing music in elementary school.  “I started with the piano”.  After several weeks of piano lessons, Brian decided it was time to move on.  “The joke, as the family tells it, is that I was asked to stop taking piano lessons…at the request of my teacher”.  Later, Brian moved onto participating in the Jr. High Band, playing the saxophone for three years before moving to choir for his Freshman year.  “I quickly found that I loved singing.”

Three years performing with the Carmel H.S. Ambassadors Show Choir only furthered his love of music, singing, and performing.  Brian moved onto Indiana State University, where he performed with the Sycamore Singers, while attaining his degree in Criminology.  It was at Indiana State that Brian met his future wife, Julie.  “I was a single college student for all of four weeks,” Brian jokes.  “I met Julie within the first couple of weeks of my first year, and we immediately connected.  I truly believe that God had a plan, and it was for us to be together.  I never looked back!”

Shortly after graduation, Brian began his career as a Police Officer with the La Porte Police Department, in La Porte, IN.  “I put music on hold.  I only sang in the car, and occasionally in church.”  An experience Brian had during the fifth week of training at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy had such an effect on him, that it changed his focus in law enforcement, but would ultimately take another ten years to fully realize.  “A classmate of mine died in the gym during physical fitness training.  His name was Jimmy Miller.  He was the “old man” of the class, but you’d never know it.  He was liked by everyone.  His smile was contagious.”  Jimmy’s death from a heart attack at 51 brought his class together for his funeral.  It was Brian’s first Police Officer funeral, but would not be his last.

In the months that followed, more funerals came.  “Before my first year was over, I had been to three Officer’s funerals.  They are very emotional.  They show us how fragile we are, and remind us how dangerous our job is.” 

 

Brian began to feel a strong pull to help, but how?

Years passed.  Then, in 2006, Brian learned of an upcoming contest, called Hoosier Star, which offered selected participants the opportunity to perform with the La Porte County Symphony Orchestra.  Brian auditioned, and was chosen to be one of six “Adult Finalists” to perform with the Orchestra.  “The cat was out of the bag then! Up until that time, no one at the police department knew that I liked to sing.  But in the end, my co-workers were very supportive.”

Through connections made by performing in Hoosier Star, Brian met the necessary people who helped him realize a dream: To record an album honoring fallen police officers.  The album, titled “Tribute”, was made as a benefit project, with 100% of the proceeds going to the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial Fund in Washington D.C, and Indiana C.O.P.S.  Brian wrote the song “Why Do Heroes Have To Die?” for the album, which has touched the lives of officers as well as surviving members of fallen officers.  “The comments I get from the song are amazing.  To hear someone tell me how the song has touched them makes me feel like I have helped in some small way”.

Following the release of “Tribute”, Brian was asked to perform at the National Peace Officer’s Memorial Service held on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol in 2007, and then for the 2009 Candlelight Vigil held at the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial.  “It was the most rewarding, and humbling experience of my life.  To be there at the Memorial, signing a song I wrote honoring our fallen officers, while more than 25,000 officers, friends, and surviving family members looked on, is something I will never forget.”

Brian continues to work for the La Porte Police Department and performs when requested for services dedicated to fallen officers.  He lives in Northern Indiana with his wife and three children.

 

Looking for Brian Phillips' Music? You can purchase online from my site, or also enjoy limited selections via iTunes

Looking for the "Why Do Heroes Have To Die?" Single? Purchase and Download on iTunes now!
(Remember that 100% of the proceeds go to The National Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial and Indiana COPS!- Thanks for supporting!)