The autobiography of “possibly the greatest tuba player of all time” (New York Times), the man who “put class in the low brass.” (Clark Terry, jazz trumpeter)
With warmth and humor, tuba virtuoso Harvey Phillips tells the story of his amazing life and career—from his Missouri childhood through his days as a performer with the King Brothers and the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circuses, his training at the Juilliard School, a stint with the U.S. Army Field Band, and his freelance days with the New York City Opera and Ballet. A founder of the New York Brass Quintet, Phillips served as vice president of the New England Conservatory of Music and became Distinguished Professor of Music at Indiana University. The creator of an industry of TubaChristmases, Octubafests, and TubaSantas, he crusaded for recognition of the tuba as a serious musical instrument, commissioning more than 200 works. Enhanced by an extensive gallery of photographs, Mr. Tuba conveys Phillips’s playful zest for life while documenting his important musical legacy.
“Mr. Tuba is not only a memoir, but it is a history of the twentieth century American music world and a resource for all music teachers and music lovers.” —NBA Journal
“A lively and informative read.” —Herald-Times
“[Phillips’s] autobiography is a fitting end to his life’s works, underlined with the same sense of inspiration and integrity that informed all of his musical activities.” —Bloom Magazine
