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I'm sorry to say that my good friend and teacher Phillip John Lee has passed away :( . He was a great Flamenco Guitarist, a monster player in fact..! He was a gentleman and never said a bad word about anyone, he was always positive in mind, even towards the end he always "hung in there" as he always said..
RE: Phillip John Lee has passed away (in reply to MARTINH)
Hi Ron, Phil was 65, still young really. I think he spent 10 yrs in the States, before this he went to Spain when he was a teenager. You can read about him on his website www.philipjohnlee.com. He was such a strong player. I will miss him much. He had the big C and it was not good at the end :(
RE: Phillip John Lee has passed away (in reply to MARTINH)
Hi Peter..
Phil passed away two days ago, late friday night at home with his brother Dave at his side. I have been helping Phil where I could whenever he needed something he could not do/get himself. I saw him the day before he died and I'm glad his pain is over with...All his close family were there at the end which was nice because they all live overseas.
RE: Phillip John Lee has passed away (in reply to MARTINH)
That is very sad news. Although I never had the opportunity to meet him, Philip John Lee was a great source of personal inspiration because we both came from the city of Norwich in England. When I first learned that someone from my city had gone to Spain and become successful as a recorded flamenco artist it gave me confidence to follow a similar path. I would have loved to talk to him about his experiences and compare them to my own as a non Spanish flamenco guitarist in Spain.
I have a couple of his records. Here are the covers
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RE: Phillip John Lee has passed away (in reply to MARTINH)
Hi Pimientito, yes his dedication to Flamenco was fantastic, I am so lucky to have taken lessons from this man. To be honest, I don't know what I'm gonna do without his help, losing Phil is not only a big blow first and formost to his family but to me too
Posts: 1827
Joined: Jul. 26 2009
From: The land down under
RE: Phillip John Lee has passed away (in reply to MARTINH)
This is very sad news,
One of the first songs i sat down and worked out from a record was a rhumba written by Phillip John Lee. I was fortunate enough to meet him and play it for him while i was in the UK. I called Phillip and told him i was a fan and asked if he would give me a lesson.
I remember having trouble finding his place as it involved tubes, buses and a lot of walking but the trip was well worth it. He shared some great, unique techniques with me that he had developed over the years and enjoyed listening to me playing some of my own ideas to him. When i played the rhumba he said that he could no longer remember how to play it. I think he was surprised and happy it had made it all the way to some guy in Australia.
I feel lucky to have met him. When i left he would not accept any payment for the lesson and gave me his Cd signed as a gift. Thanks for the music Phillip John Lee.
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Phillip John LEE a great loss to Fam... (in reply to MARTINH)
I would like to thank everyone on this site that has taken the time to comment on my uncle's death. My uncle was a true artist and dedicated musician.Money and fame were incidental to him and perhaps this is what made him a bit eccentric.He loved his music and the playing of his guitar.Wherever and whenever he played he left his audiences stunned and yearning for more.We all loved my uncle and his quirky ways. Unfortunately his death was a prolonged and painful one due to late stage kidney Cancer.My mother,My aunt and uncles were with him during his final weeks,days and moments.He fought very hard to stay alive but unfortunatley the cancer had spread too far and too quick.He died March 6th at midnight in his sleep.My only wish and I believe the wish of all that new Phillip is that we do not forget his music,Art and his love of life.Rest in peace my dear uncle you will be remembered![What passion cannot music raise and quell]
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In sweet music is such art,killing care and grief of heart falls asleep or hearing die
Posts: 6447
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy
RE: Phillip John LEE a great loss to... (in reply to TimLee)
quote:
I would like to thank everyone on this site that has taken the time to comment on my uncle's death
Hi, Tim. My deepest sympathies to you and your family. Clearly his passing has touched many.
Would it be OK to add his name to the dedication at the top of this forum? I have also changed our logo for an appropriate duration to express our sympathies.
With luck, it will be there for many years to come.
RE: Phillip John Lee has passed away (in reply to Escribano)
I have his first couple of LPs.
I started working abroad in the mid 70's so I don't know if he ever played in Scotland, or I would certainly have gone to see him.
He was a student of Paco Peña for a while and I when I was talking to Paco about him in the early 70's he said that in his opinion he was definitely the best "foreign" Flamenco guitarist in the UK.
RE: Phillip John LEE a great loss to... (in reply to Kate)
Wow he sounds like a wonderful guitarist, character and human being...my deepest sympathy and condolences to the familly, friends , students and everyone affected.
RE: Phillip John Lee has passed away (in reply to MARTINH)
Just to let you all know that the News Editor of Classical Guitar Magazine (Therese Saba) has been in contact and would like to create an article about Phil and his life and music for an up and coming edition. I have spoken to Phil's brother (Dave) who thought this a good idea, this might be for the May edition. I will give Therese's details to Phil's family so that they can work on this.
RE: Phillip John Lee has passed away (in reply to Pgh_flamenco)
this LP was the first flamenco I ever heard, I took it out of the library by accident.... that's how it all started for me, that record changed my life. And a Norfolk boy too! RIP
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RE: Phillip John LEE a great loss to... (in reply to TimLee)
Please accept my sincere condolances to you and Philip's family. I'm Philip's student back in 1984. I last saw him in February 2008. Please let me know where he has been laid to rest so I can at least pay him a visit next time I'm in Britain.
RE: Phillip John Lee has passed away (in reply to MARTINH)
This is a picture of Philip which I took back in 1984. He was about 40. I last saw him in February 2008, after a lapse of almost 25 years. I learned from his email in January this year that he was suffering from cancer and receiving late treatment. He loved the flamenco guitar too much to die young. Philip is not only famous in Britain, aficionados in the '70s loved him also in Asia: Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and many more, where he sold a lot of his records. I have a copy of Philip's LA Concert. If someone can confirm to me that there is no issue regarding copyright, I can make it available on this forum.
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RE: Phillip John LEE a great loss to... (in reply to frhout)
Hi frhout..
Phil is going to be cremated on Thursday. I will let you know where his ashes will be scatered. I think his family are going to plant a rose bush in Kew Gardens but I'm not 100% sure when this is going to be but will let you know.
Phil's brother (Dave) has had the task of going through Phil's estate, he kindly gave me the LA Concert Guitar (Benito Peg Head). I must say that I started to cry when he gave it to me. I wish I could play it they way PJL did but that would be a dream..!
The news editor of Classical Guitar has contacted me with regards to doing an article in the magazine, maybe in the May issue. I have passed on the familys details to her.
RE: Phillip John LEE a great loss to... (in reply to MARTINH)
Hi Martin Yes, please let me know and the location in Kew Gardens. I just dug up older emails, I think you gave me Phil's phone number a while back as I lost touch with him since the Sinclair Gdns days. I'll try to get a copy of the May issue of Classical Guitar. Thanks for the help and keep good care of the guitar. Francis
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