Phil Volk

Phillip Edward Volk (born October 25, 1945) is an American musician. As the bassist of Paul Revere & the Raiders from 1965 to 1967, Volk appeared in over 750 television shows, 520 of which were episodes of the Dick Clark production, Where the Action Is, which aired daily from 1965 to 1967. The band themselves had 23 charted hits and 14 gold albums and Volk was a member of the band during the period of its greatest success. Volk's bass lines, as heard in songs such as "Hungry", "Just Like Me" and "Kicks", helped to revolutionize how the bass guitar was used in rock music. Volk was seen frequently in such fan magazines as 16 Magazine, popular during the 1960s.

On leaving The Raiders, Volk formed a new band called Brotherhood with Raider bandmates Drake Levin and Mike "Smitty" Smith. This band produced three albums for RCA that were not commercially successful. Following the breakup of Brotherhood, Volk had a stint as a bassist with Rick Nelson in the Stone Canyon Band, headed several groups of his own, toured the country in a rock-themed stage show, produced music for other artists, and started his own record label. He is currently making personal appearances with his new band "Phil 'Fang' Volk with Family and Friends".

Phil Volk was born in Burbank, California to Anne-Marie "Mimi" Wagner Volk, a former singer, dancer, and actress and George Norbert Volk, an actor and businessman. His father taught acting at the Pasadena Playhouse and appeared in some films. Volk was one of seven siblings, including brothers George and Danny, and sisters Irene, Marilou, Christine, and Jeannie. When he was a young boy, the family moved to a farm in Nampa, Idaho, about 20 miles west of Boise.

Volk was encouraged to sing by his mother, Mimi. The first complete songs he learned were "(I'd Like to Get You on a) Slow Boat to China" and "If You Call Everybody Darling" (the latter a hit for The Andrews Sisters). At the age of 3, he recorded these songs in a carnival trailer. His mother kept the recording, which Volk loved listening to as a child. Volk later used it in one of the cuts on the Friendsound Joyride album called, "Child Song". Volk took dance lessons and gymnastics. At the age of 13, Volk watched Elvis Presley on the Ed Sullivan Show. Excited by what he saw, he asked his parents for a guitar and they gave him one for Christmas. He learned to play his first song, "Teen Angel" on it, as well as some folk songs. He also imitated Little Richard and Buddy Holly.

At Nampa Junior High School, Volk met Drake Levin, who had moved from Chicago, in their 9th grade journalism class. At a noon dance in the school gym, the girls asked Volk to sing along with a recording of "Donna". While Levin and the girls loved the performance, many male students did not and threatened to "pants" Volk and cut off his hair after school. Levin helped him find a way out by allowing Volk to climb down a drainpipe from the second floor to escape to his father's car. The two boys were friends from that point on. At age 14, Levin came to visit at the Volk family farm, where he and Volk wrote their first song together. Levin came to live with the family for a time after his parents' marriage broke up. Levin stated that George Volk taught him some guitar licks while he lived there.

The first time Volk saw Paul Revere perform with his band was at a variety show at Nampa High School. His older siblings were already well-acquainted with the group, who always drew large crowds when performing at area dances and clubs. Volk was impressed with the energy and showmanship of the band. Shortly after, his family moved from Nampa to Boise.

While attending Borah High School in Boise, Volk ran track. At the Idaho State Track and Field Meet in the spring of 1963, he was on two first-place relay teams, helping set state records in the 440 and 880 yard relays. He was fired from the band he belonged to at the time, The Chancellors, for attending this meet instead of joining them for a gig. He also performed the role of Conrad Birdie in the school musical, Bye, Bye Birdie in 1962. Volk also ran for Student Body President, but lost in a close recount election.

Volk's parents left to live in Europe when Volk was 17. His father was now selling insurance to soldiers stationed overseas. Volk left Boise in September 1963 for college at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado. Intending to be a music major, he studied classical music and opera. In the meantime, he kept playing guitar in a band in his fraternity.