Phillip John Pitt, Born Marylebone, London. No childhood music as such, but mother and father always sang (and not only in the bath), and encouraged we three (brother, sister and your truly) to sing hymns with much gusto.
First hear jazz during the 1950's Ted Heath, Oscar Rabin, and Lou Preager were radio regulars.
Phil was knocked out by George Zack who played piano with Muggsy Spanier and his Ragtime band and began piano lessons (on the strength). But lack of discipline, adolescence etc, rather shortened these. Phil still has a letter from the great man who he tracked down in Arizona.
The Saxophone came along because it was an easy instrument, took lessons from two veteran players, George Curtis and Tom Bonny then joined Kathy Stobartís evening class at the City Library Institute in Central London. That led to the formation of the Willie Garnett student orchestra in the early 70s Phil being an original member and Phil first discovered the Baritone Sax, Ian Cunningham the Baritone man with Miss Stobartís evening class, asked Phil to look after his horn whilst on holiday adding that he could give it a blow if he so wished...., so the love affair with the Big Horn began.
Phil eventually bought Lady Constance the 1830s Conn instrument in 1974, lost it for three years after his flat was broken into, she eventually found her way back to Phil after much heartache, he kids you not.