Phil Volk
| Phil Volk | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Phillip Edward Volk |
| Also known as | Phil "Fang" Volk |
| Born | October 25, 1945 (aged 71) Burbank, California, U.S. |
| Origin | Nampa, Idaho, U.S. |
| Genres | Pop, rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer, songwriter, band leader, record producer, arranger |
| Instruments | Bass guitar, guitar, keyboards |
| Labels | Columbia, RCA Victor, Sonic Wheel |
| Associated acts | The Chancellors, Sir Winston's Trio, The Surfers, Paul Revere & the Raiders, The Brotherhood, The Great Crowd, Friendship Train, Phil Volk and Tina Mason Band, The American Rock All-Stars, Fang and the Gang, Fang with Family and Friends |
| Website | http://www.philfangvolk.com |
| Notable instruments | |
| Vox Phantom IV, Fender '62 Jazz bass, Club Hofner | |
Phil "Fang" Volk (born Phillip Edward Volk; October 25, 1945) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, band leader, record producer and arranger. As the bassist of Paul Revere & the Raiders from 1965–1967, Volk appeared in over 750 television shows, 520 of which were episodes of the Dick Clark production, Where the Action Is, which aired daily from 1965-67. The band themselves had 23 charted hits and 14 gold albums and Volk was a member of the band during the period of its greatest success. Volk's bass lines, as heard in songs such as "Hungry", "Just Like Me" and "Kicks", helped to revolutionize how the bass guitar was used in rock music. Volk was seen frequently in such fanzines as 16 Magazine, popular during the 1960s.
On leaving The Raiders, Volk formed a new band called Brotherhood with Raider band mates Drake Levin and Mike “Smitty” Smith. This band produced three albums for RCA that were not commercially successful. Following the breakup of Brotherhood, Volk had a stint as a bassist with Ricky Nelson in the Stone Canyon Band, headed several groups of his own, toured the country in a rock-themed stage show, produced music for other artists, and started his own record label. He is currently making personal appearances with his new band “Phil 'Fang' Volk with Family and Friends”.
Phil Volk was born in Burbank, California to Anne-Marie "Mimi" Wagner Volk, a former singer, dancer, and actress and George Norbert Volk, an actor and businessman. His father taught acting at the Pasadena Playhouse and appeared in some films. Volk was one of seven siblings, including brothers George and Danny, and sisters Irene, Marilou, Christine, and Jeannie. When he was a young boy, the family moved to a farm in Nampa, Idaho, about 20 miles west of Boise.
Volk was encouraged to sing by his mother, Mimi. The first complete songs he learned were "(I'd Like to Get You on a) Slow Boat to China" and "If You Call Everybody Darling" (the latter a hit for The Andrews Sisters). At the age of 3, he recorded these songs in a carnival trailer. His mother kept the recording, which Volk loved listening to as a child. Volk later used it in one of the cuts on the "Friendsound/Joyride" album called, "Child Song". Volk took dance lessons and gymnastics. At the age of 13, Volk watched Elvis Presley on the Ed Sullivan Show. Excited by what he saw, he asked his parents for a guitar and they gave him one for Christmas. He learned to play his first song, "Teen Angel" on it, as well as some folk songs. He imitated Little Richard and Buddy Holly.
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