Career
Philip Baptiste was encouraged to pursue a career as a singer after a school performance of a song called "Sweet Slumber". The song was arranged and produced by Eddie Shuler for neighbor George Khoury"s Khoury Records. After three months of work on the arrangement, building up the vocal group and trying out different musicians, the song was ready for release.
Baptiste changed his name to Philosophy Phillips, and dubbed his backing vocalists the Twilights.
After a Baton Rouge disc jockey played the song repeatedly, the recording sold heavily and was leased to Mercury Records. "Sea of Love" went to #2 in the United States. Billboard Hot 100 popular chart and spent 14 weeks in the top 40, as well as reaching #1 on the Rhythm & Blues chart.
In 1959 it sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. Nonetheless, Phillips was paid only $6800, and received no further royalties for the song or its recording.
Phillips did not release an album to capitalize on his success, due to the unfavorable terms of his deal.
"Because I decided to fight for what was rightfully and legally mine, a full album that I recorded was never released. I’m not being paid, nor have I ever been paid, as an artist for "Sea of Love". I never received justice and to this day have not received justice."
The song remains a big seller with notable covers by Delegate Shannon (which reached #33 on the popular chart in 1982) and the Honeydrippers (which peaked at #3 spending 14 weeks in the top 40 in 1984).
Phillips" original version was featured prominently in the 1989 film Sea of Love starring First Rate (at Lloyd's) Pacino.
Among Phillips" other songs is "Number One Needs My Love Today" (1966), which was recorded by Samantha Juste, co-host of British Broadcasting Corporation television"s Top of the Pops. He also recorded an anti-drug spoken word recording, "The Evil Dope", in the late 1960s.
The single is considered a cult classic. Phillips later worked as a radio DJ. In October 2007, Phillips was honored for his contributions to Louisiana music with induction into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
One of his last live performances was in April 2005 at the Jazz Fest in New Orleans, Louisiana, a few months before Hurricane Katrina.
On America"s Got Talent 2014 auditions, Emily West performed "Sea of Love".
