Phil began his journey down a musical path at the age of 10 in Buffalo, New York when he started singing in front of the congregation at church.

In 1970, eight years (and many garage bands later) he became a member of the group “FLASH” with guitarist James Ralston, bass player Larry Swist, drummer Rich Pidanick and Hammond C-3 player Dean Mooney. This band playing all original music written by Dillon and Ralston made it’s mark on the Buffalo Music scene.

In the spring of 1971 they recorded an album’s worth of material with an 18-year-old boy genius in Rochester named Mick Guzuaski.

Tapes in hand, the band headed out to Los Angeles where they showcased at “Gazzari’s”, “The Rag Doll” and performed at the “Love In’s” at Griffith Park, searching for that elusive “Record Deal”. It didn’t come.

In 1975, back in Buffalo he teamed up with John Brady to form the singer/songwriter duo of “DILLON & BRADY”. They raised the bar for acoustic music in Buffalo and topped it off by recording an album produced by session drummer Gary Mallaber which also featured Harvey Brooks on bass guitar, Jay Beckenstein on saxophone, with an appearance on flute by Bobby Militello.

As a solo performer he has shared the bill with Joe Cocker, Bonnie Raitt, Chicago, John Prine, Mose Allison, Jim Messina, Richard Thompson, Tuck & Patti, Pure Prairie League, NRBQ, Diane Schurr, Jesse Colin Young, Livingston Taylor, David Bromberg, Tommy Chong, Father Quido Sarducci and many more.

As a Jingle singer, writer and producer, he has done spots for Fisher Price, The United Way, Xerox, Borders Inc. and The Buffalo Destroyers (Arena Football League.)

Phil has been living in Nashville since 1994, where he writes songs, plays guitar, sings background vocals, and engineers and produces recording sessions as well as running Nickel City Publishing.

In 1999 he co-produced and recorded the critically acclaimed “Ain’t No Stranger” CD by guitarist Jimmy Nalls. This CD features appearances by Chuck Leavell, Wayne Jackson, Mike Henderson, Jack Pearson, Lee Roy Parnell, and T. Graham Brown. The album was nominated for best Blues Album by The Nashville Music Awards (The Nammies) and The Music City Blues Society. He and Nalls also teamed up to produce 2 albums for Rick Moore & The Mr. Lucky Band.

With Nashville luminary Harry Stinson, Phil co-produced the release “I’d Like To Be The Man...” by singer/songwriter Michael McGrew. They also produced the new CD by bluegrass band Ducktown Station.

In 2002 he worked with legendary bass player, Bob Moore on a big band project that saw the likes of Boots Randolph, Bill Purcell and “Ranger Doug” Green.

Phil has had his songs recorded by T. Graham Brown, Lisa Brokop, Jimmy Nalls, Rick Moore, Michael McGrew, Billy McKewen, Dave Duncan, Danny Mack and Yvonne Schmidt.

Phil has been playing acoustic guitar and singing background vocals with T. Graham Brown since 2003 with appearances at “The Grand Ole Opry”, “The Wildhorse Saloon”, “The Trap”, The Bluebird Cafe”, The Ryman Auditorium, Fan Fair, GAC Classic w/Bill Cody, “Tennessee Mornings” with Charlie Chase and “Opry Live” on GAC.

In September of 2000 Phil was inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame; an honor he shares with Grover Washington Jr., Rick James, The Goo Goo Dolls, Ani DiFranco, Harold Arlen, Brian McKnight and Spyro Gyra to name just a few.