Cornell Phillip

Cornell Emanuel Phillip is the last in the line of eleven children born to Campbell and Mornlight Phillip. His formative years were spent in an environment rich in the practice and appreciation of music as most of his siblings were involved with the creation and or performance of the art form. With a mind programmed for musical excellence, he lapped up the experience, assimilated it and over time spewed it out in a distilled way that earned him the title of Cornell “Fingers” Phillip. At an early age Cornell studied the piano with he sister Valena Letang. His musical growth was nurtured in his artistic–friendly Alma Mata, the St. Mary’s Academy as he and his friends borrowed instruments and played at school and church events. While Cornell was still at SMA, the band WCK was born with the collaboration of the members of a band called Roof Top Connection. The Phillip’s residence was the home of WCK, as it was the workshop for the traditional dance projects of another Phillip son, Daryl. The inevitable cross-fertilization of the traditional and popular trends gave birth to WCK treasures like Culture Shock and Mary- Lou. Cornell was a main contributor to the group’s musical innovation – Bouyon – a musical form which draws life from the Carnival Lopo Kabwit drum rhythms. <br>