Chicago born Phil Ciancio began his musical journey at Maine East High School - Park Ridge, IL with saxophone, clarinet and voice.
After attending Michigan State University, Phil joined some of Chicago’s hot bands. One of them, The Motown Sound, was honored as the opening act for a young Stevie Wonder Act at the Aragon Ballroom in 1969.
Throughout the ‘70s and into the '80s, Phil toured and recorded with Buddy Raymond and The Changing Times, The Phase Four, The Lane Gang, The Paul New Show, Singing Sam and The Sparks, and The Bob Perna Revue. In 1975 while touring in Europe, Phil performed as a solo saxophonist in Frankfurt's ‘Blumengarten’.
In 1982 Phil ended his touring career taking a sabbatical from musical performance to start the plan to create a tooling and manufacturing business. Which he birthed in 1985. After 16 years as owner/president of Mars Mold and Tool Inc. in Schaumburg IL, Phil ended that venture by selling the company in 2001. Shortly thereafter with a renewed passion, Phil once again returned to the "music scene" performing as an artist and entertainer while spending time helping aspiring musicians as a tutor/mentor.
in 2020 Phil and his wife Debi relocated onto East Tennessee's the beautiful Cumberland Plateau Fairfield Glade Resort Community. There, he continues demonstrating his vast experience and passion for music's beauty and power.
Phil and producer/guitarist Mario Massi released the “Blue Monday” album in 2010 - a fusion of jazz and rock originals. Phil in Massi's Studio, added a second album Mr. PC “Straight From the Heart” being completed in 2012. also, Phil is featured with alto and soprano saxes on Billy Denk's 2014 "Prairie Fire" album. And, once again on Billy's 2017 album "Pieces of Light" with tenor and soprano saxes.
Phil as an Artist/Endorse/Clinician for SAX DAKOTA is authorized by PJLA Music to demonstrate PJLA Music's entire product line. To date (2022) Phil performs at all venues with a SAX DAKOTA Tenor SDT-XR 52, a DAKOTA Alto Sax SDA-XG-303, and a DAKOTA SDSS-XG 707 Soprano Saxophone.
