Delbert ( Del ) Phillips was born in North Vancouver B.C. during the same year Albert Einstein died. There is no further connection.

At age 4 Del heard his first recognizable song on a Rocket Radio jammed in his ear. It was Johnny Horton's Battle of New Orleans. Del, the youngest of 3 boys and a girl, moved with Mom & Dad to Lake Cowichan British Columbia, a tiny logging village in 1960. He played Tuba in the school band. ( It is in this logging industry environment that Del grew up and relates in his first CD. Released in 2005, The Delbert Windowpain Suites. )

Del was hit in the larynx by a hockey puck at age 18. It was thought he would never be able to speak properly again. A year later he left the Veneer Plant at the BCFP Sawmill in Youbou and began a career as a Radio Announcer at CHPQ Parksville. That’s where he met his Potter and life partner, Shirley. In the following years Del worked at various commercial radio stations in BC. Del was eventually hired at CBC Radio Prince Rupert. During 5 years on the North Coast Del hosted various programs and interviewed hundreds of people. Del worked along side Canadian Broadcasting icon Peter Gzowski, during the spring of 1987, as production assistant and operator for a North Coast National Broadcast.

In 1988, Del & Shirley and sons Arlen & Tynan moved to Denman Island B.C. where Del worked for CBC Radio on contract for the next 8 years training new broadcasters primarily with CBC Radio Western Arctic in Inuvik, North West Territories. In 1991 daughter Jori joined the family. He then began a second and most rewarding career working as a Bridgewatch Deckhand & Engine Room Assistant on the MV Quinitsa for BC Ferries.

Writing and performing Poetry and Lyrics was always a passionate hobby for Del and in the fertile environment of Denman Islands vast music and arts community, Del Thrived. Del co-produced the first Randy Duncan album “ Bear Stories “ in 2000, co-writing the tune 'Madelines Eyes.'

In 2005 Del co-produced the second Randy Duncan album “ A Monday Night “ and co-wrote four of the tunes on the Album. The same year he released his first solo album, a mixture of original poetry, spoken word and songs.

Since that time Del has collaborated with musicians Randy Duncan, Kevin Mitchell, Scotty Donaldson, Tom Kirwin, Richard Sauve, Cafe Pete Keher, Ray Ulovec and Conrad Campbell in a series of musical projects. In 2016 Del co-produced and co-wrote 3 songs on Scotty Donaldson’s acclaimed album, “ Lucky Old Sun. “

That album was recorded and primarily produced by award winning musician Marc Atkinson at his Barn Studio on Hornby Island.

That’s where Del was introduced to and began a very fruitful collaboration with Marc, which has resulted in the 13 song album “ Gentle Molecules “

Marc recorded, produced, played all instruments and co wrote all 13 songs. Randy Duncan, Scotty Donaldson and Peter Keher co-wrote 3 of the songs.

The tunes are Canadian Folk, some with a country flair, some with a Celtic vibe. Others defy definition by taking a journey into experimental progressive folk.

Del has been influenced by a plethora of singer/ songwriters and tips his cap to his top 33. In no particular order.

Ian Tyson
Gordon Lightfoot
Bob Dylan
Neil Young
Woody Guthrie
Paul Simon
The Beatles
Peter Gabriel
Tom T. Hall
John Prine

Ian Anderson/ Jethro Tull
Alanis Morrisette
Hank Williams
Cyndi Lauper
Harry Nilsson
Bernie Taupin
Jimmy Webb
Gord Downie
Jeff Lynne
R.E.M.

Richard Thompson
Ron Sexsmith
Colin Meloy/ Decemberists
Leonard Cohen
Bruce Cockburn
Ron Hynes
John Fogarty
Joni Mitchell
Crowded House
Kate Bush

Dan Mangan
Lorde
Billy Eilish