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Ernesto McKenzie Phillips

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Ernesto McKenzie Phillips Famous memorial

Birth
Crownsville, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, USA
Death
25 Mar 2004 (aged 50)
Baltimore Highlands, Baltimore County, Maryland, USA
Burial
Timonium, Baltimore County, Maryland, USA Add to Map
Plot
unknown
Memorial ID
View Source
R&B Musician, Songwriter, Music Producer. A native of Crownsville, Maryland, Ernesto Phillips was a member and a singer of the musical group, 'Starpoint.' A graduate of the Arundel High School in Gambills, Maryland, the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland, the Anne Arundel Community College, and an attendee of Howard University, he helped form the group in New York City in 1969, which also included Lionel Job, Kayode Adeyemo, George Phillips, Gregory Phillips, Orlando Phillips, and the late Renee Diggs (companion of Ernesto Phillips). The group was originally called 'Lieyndiana' and only included the Phillips brothers before they added Diggs as there lead singer. The group met Renee early in there career and after hearing her wonderful singing voice, they immediately installed her as the group's lead singer, and changed there name to 'Starpoint.' The group began doing rehearsals, writing sessions, and eventually touring and doing other performances, sometimes with the likes of Isley O'Kelly and Luther Vandross. The group were signed to a Polygram Record Label, on the Casablanca/Chocolate City Records in 1980, and together the group recorded four albums on that label. There seventh album, and single, 'Object Of My Desire,' were released in 1985. The album which was recorded on the Elektra/Asylum Label (Warner Brothers Label) sold over 600,000 copies while the single for 'Object Of My Desire,' went gold. They soon followed this up with there Restless tour, but there success and joy was short-lived. During the tour Renee was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, and the rest of the tour was cancelled. The band eventually disbanded. In 1990, Renee returned to music as a solo artist releasing her debut album, "Oasis" on the Capitol Records Label. The album wasn't released by the Capitol Records Label, but it was eventually released in Europe on the Expansion Records Label. She also went founded an organization that dealt with her illness. The longtime companion of fellow bandmate Renee Diggs, Phillips and Renee often wrote songs together. A talented trumpet player, and music producer, Phillips went onto discover the likes of Toni Braxton and produce Kimberley Scott and Milli Vanilli. Prior to his death Phillips continued to work and even counseled troubled teenagers at the Sheppard Pratt Psychiatric Clinic in Ellicott City, Maryland. On March 25, 2004, Phillips suffered a stroke and passed away at the age of 50. On March 18, 2005, less than a year later his companion and fellow bandmate Renee Diggs passed away from a heart problem at the age of 49. Other recordings by 'Starpoint' include, 'Let Go,' 'I Got The Love,' 'I'm So Crazy ('Bout You), 'Give Real Love A Try,' 'Behind Your Back,' 'It's So Delicious,' 'Somethin' In Your Eyes,' 'Put Your Love On Me,' and 'Don't Be So Serious,' among many others.
R&B Musician, Songwriter, Music Producer. A native of Crownsville, Maryland, Ernesto Phillips was a member and a singer of the musical group, 'Starpoint.' A graduate of the Arundel High School in Gambills, Maryland, the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland, the Anne Arundel Community College, and an attendee of Howard University, he helped form the group in New York City in 1969, which also included Lionel Job, Kayode Adeyemo, George Phillips, Gregory Phillips, Orlando Phillips, and the late Renee Diggs (companion of Ernesto Phillips). The group was originally called 'Lieyndiana' and only included the Phillips brothers before they added Diggs as there lead singer. The group met Renee early in there career and after hearing her wonderful singing voice, they immediately installed her as the group's lead singer, and changed there name to 'Starpoint.' The group began doing rehearsals, writing sessions, and eventually touring and doing other performances, sometimes with the likes of Isley O'Kelly and Luther Vandross. The group were signed to a Polygram Record Label, on the Casablanca/Chocolate City Records in 1980, and together the group recorded four albums on that label. There seventh album, and single, 'Object Of My Desire,' were released in 1985. The album which was recorded on the Elektra/Asylum Label (Warner Brothers Label) sold over 600,000 copies while the single for 'Object Of My Desire,' went gold. They soon followed this up with there Restless tour, but there success and joy was short-lived. During the tour Renee was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, and the rest of the tour was cancelled. The band eventually disbanded. In 1990, Renee returned to music as a solo artist releasing her debut album, "Oasis" on the Capitol Records Label. The album wasn't released by the Capitol Records Label, but it was eventually released in Europe on the Expansion Records Label. She also went founded an organization that dealt with her illness. The longtime companion of fellow bandmate Renee Diggs, Phillips and Renee often wrote songs together. A talented trumpet player, and music producer, Phillips went onto discover the likes of Toni Braxton and produce Kimberley Scott and Milli Vanilli. Prior to his death Phillips continued to work and even counseled troubled teenagers at the Sheppard Pratt Psychiatric Clinic in Ellicott City, Maryland. On March 25, 2004, Phillips suffered a stroke and passed away at the age of 50. On March 18, 2005, less than a year later his companion and fellow bandmate Renee Diggs passed away from a heart problem at the age of 49. Other recordings by 'Starpoint' include, 'Let Go,' 'I Got The Love,' 'I'm So Crazy ('Bout You), 'Give Real Love A Try,' 'Behind Your Back,' 'It's So Delicious,' 'Somethin' In Your Eyes,' 'Put Your Love On Me,' and 'Don't Be So Serious,' among many others.

Bio by: The Silent Forgotten


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