The T-Bone Walker-influenced Phillips recorded extensively for the Biharis' Modern Imprint from 1947 through 1950. His often-ribald jump blues gems for the firm included Big Legs, Fatso, Rock Bottom, Hey Now, and a version of Big Bill Broonzy's witty standard Just a Dream. Phillips's bandmates were among the royalty of the L.A. scene: trumpeter Jake Porter, saxists Marshall Royal, Maxwell Davis, and Jack McVea, and pianist Lloyd Glenn were frequently on hand. Phillips returned the favor in Porter's case, singing and playing on the trumpeter's 1947 dates for Imperial.
After a 78 of his own for Imperial in 1951 (She's Fit 'n Fat 'n Fine), Phillips bowed out of the recording wars as a leader with a solitary 1954 effort for Combo, Fish Man, backed by McVea's band. ~ Bill Dahl, Rovi