After graduating high school, Phil earned his undergraduate degree in Elementary Education. He taught in Jefferson Parish for twenty years. During that time he established Gifted and Talented programs in numerous schools in the parish. He really enjoyed teaching children.\r\n\r\nHe later earned his Master\'s degree in Administration and Supervision of Schools from the University of New Orleans. However, when he was around thirty years old, Phil decided to learn to play the piano. One night he played and was asked to come back as a regular. He soon quit teaching and played regularly at the Pontchartrain Hotel \"making more money there than when I was teaching!\" Thus began Phil\'s career as a full-time, professional musician.