1948 and into 1949 was a real depressing time for Phil. His mother was ill and ultimately died of Rheumatic Fever. After visiting her "I would just walk the streets of Oakland and one time I was walking along...and I heard this guy playing a guitar outside the Time Out Club on Broadway and I hadn't heard that kind of music. I had been...kind of an aficionado of the Hit Parade, you know Patti Page, Mario Lanza. Frankie Lane, and Vaughan Monroe, and there were some black overtones to the music but at the time I didn't know that.

"I walked over and stood in the door for a minute and nobody bothered me and I just watched this incredible guy doing all

kinds of acrobatics doing the splits and playing the guitar with his teeth, playing with the guitar behind his back!" T Bone Walker was getting ready for his show that night. Phil soon found KWBR, which later became KDIA, and started listening seriously to the music.

About 1965 when the Beatles and the Rolling Stones came along "I knew enough about the music to realize nobody knows the guys who turned the Beatles and Stones onto the stuff. So I went down to KERS (which later became part of KXPR.) And said "I'd like to do a show. They said sure why not?"

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Seventeen years ago I was attending American River College. I had a calculus teacher who was a bit different. Starting class with "listen you cats" was his favorite. His name was Mr. Givant. He had a different manner than any math teacher I ever had. "Perspective was everything", was one of his mottos.

I happened to be buzzing thru the radio dial one afternoon and caught a voice that sounded familiar. It was a blues show and it took a bit to figure out that this guy was my calculus teacher. His manner now made sense, and I realized this man's story was not like my white bread life.

I have been into the blues ever since, and my persective on life was altered. Phil played Anson Funderburgh and I was hooked.

I left town in 1989 to go to Cal Poly then to Las Vegas. My wife and I returned to the area last May, and I was hoping to catch the blues with with Brother Phil once again.

I am still a bit shocky over hearing the news this morning, but know that Phil had impacted lives that he may not have even known about and he will live in my memory as my blues mentor.

HEY HEY, the Blues is alright!

Every Tuesday afternoon, I was his Sweet Angel. No matter how bad or good I was, no matter what anyone else thought of me, I was unconditionally his Sweet Angel. Do you know how important that made him to me? Do you know what it's like to have that moment to look forward to each week when you know, you just know, that someone is going to be there to tell you that you are the most special girl in the world? God, I'm going to miss that man. We couldn't have been more different, and we couldn't have existed anywhere else in the world but in that little studio at KVMR. Every Tuesday for those couple hours when he'd be doing his Blues show I'd be there in the studio with him looking for the newest alterna-pop/folk/world/rock CD's. I'd be talking about my Jewish Angst and he'd be telling me about his newest grandchild. Because I was his Sweet Angel he had liberties no other man had - he could call me Baby, he had squeezing rights, and he could command a little kiss from me to show off in front of his Blues Bros whenever he wanted to. I loved that man and he respected me. When my first song would come on the air following his show and he would turn towards me and say something like "hey, Baby, that's real nice" I felt like a million bucks. The Phil Givant Seal of Approval was my goal each and every week as I searched for the perfect song to segue from his program into mine - some way to make his listeners mine, and to get him to say "hey, Baby, who's that you're playin?" I swear, I'm lost without him there. Ten years we were together, man. Ten years, a Tuesday at a time, for just a little while, I was his Sweet Angel. And that made me one of the luckiest girls in the world. But right now, I'm one of the saddest. So long Phil. And Thanks.........

Over the years, Phil would sprinkle a few stories of his growing up in Berkeley. Being a Berkeley Boy Myself, I hung on every word. It was here that I learned not only of his love for music but that He also was a Berkeley Playground Supervisor.

I was one of his supervisees.

I visited Phil only once at the station and when asked how he could help me, I responded that the last time we talked it was probably to check out a basketball!

He ushered me into an empty office and we chatted for almost an hour. It will be a VERY fond memory indeed.

Keep on Keeping on My Friend.

Phil on the radio on Tuesday afternoons when I first moved to Sacto helped me to settle in here. Many thanks and best wishes to family and friends.

My friend, Phil Givant, fellow d.j. at KVMR, was one of my very favorites, who always greeted me with "Hey Baby how're you doin'?" It was always a pleasure to count on that sweet greeting every time I saw him. He indulged everyone when they wanted to meet a blues musician he'd brought into the radio station. "Sure baby come on in" he'd say when I'd rush down to the studio with my copy of an album I'd want autographed. He had a big heart and a real soft spot. Also, one time the (former) Operations Manager at KVMR just couldn't get some numbers to add up so she asked Phil if there was some kind of formula to use, to get her numbers to make sense. He said "Sure baby, you just (he took the pencil) do this, this, and this." And there it was. She was so impressed and relieved - and then he went upstairs and did one of his great blues shows. I will miss those shows on Tuesday afternoons and I will miss Phil. It's a big, big loss. I'm lucky I have some tapes. My prayers are with you. God bless Phil.

Phil listens and Lives with to The Angels today and forever. He seemed to be a Man without Prejiduce, and a Man with Love for All. He remembered the Forgotten, the Downtrodden, and remembered Bunny and I as well, for 20 years. He was a Shining example of Acceptance, of Understanding, and of Compassion. All the great artists of the world, and of All Time, could not produce a Greater Dream. All our LOVE to Phil and Everyone who was, and Is, In Love With Phil. Phil - "Keep On Keepin'On"

Sad news about Phil, I know I first played the fest in 78 with Mississippi Johnny Waters, & he'd done at least a couple prior to that. I do remember one, in about 89, when he introduced Rod "Brothers & Sisters, how 'bout it for a soul brother all the way from Los Angeles, Rod "the Gingerman" Piazza"!!! Rod turned pure RED. His rambling soul brother intros will never be forgotten. I also remember the look of "I've seen this all before" when we backed Jimmy Rogers & he was so drunk he played Mojo twice in a 30 min. set, plus could barely start the tune (but he sure played his ass off the next night).

It's not only with great grief that I post this message about one of my greatest mentors Mr. Phil Givant, but also with great pride for having been able to call him a friend. One of his favorite story he relayed to me on several occasions, was in reference to his induct of Little Milton in to the Blues Hall of Fame. Seems that one of Little Milton's biggest admirers was Chris Cain, and how at the end of the presentation, how Chris got upon his knees in front of Milton on the stage and bowed and his kissed his feet, praising him. The look in Phil's eyes was twinkling, in that kool cat way, as he'd give ya that big Phil Grin.

When I help found the Sierra Blues Society, Phil was, hands down, the choice for the first Honorary Life-TIme Membership. He was not only an undying supporter of the blues, but of human rights and equality. His passion for education stood as the tread to hold humanity together. You could hear it in any conversation he had with any body, any time, any place! A man's measure of respect, to me, is what he gets without asking for it. And he will always have all of mine.

I am sitting here at my computer at home, and as I often do, I tuned in to KVMR for the webcast...I had come to take "Blues with Phil" for granted, as had so many listeners and past listeners of KVMR. Phil's intro and outro were familiar and reassuring, somehow. I know that his steady and long standing presence and influence at the station will be sorely missed. I urge all of the listeners of KVMR to take a moment for self-reflection and to make a promise to continue to support the station in any and every way possible. The blues is alive and well on KVMR--long live the blues! I am with the KVMR Family today in remembering our own "Blues Power", Phil Givant. Please pass along my condolences to Phil's families--the one at home and the one in Nevada City.

Sorry to get the news about Phil Givant passing. I listen to him for a long time on Tuesdays from 2PM to 4PM on the blues show. He did a lot for blues and will be truly missed.

I came to know Phil through the blues society several years ago. He was always so ready to share his knowledge of the blues. He was not one to mince words but his heart and soul were always true. I remember telling him once how I wish I could get inside his head for one day just to learn all he knew about blues and his blues experiences. He just kind of laughed that off as if what he knew wasn't really so interesting. That was just like Phil; humble yet knowing. He was a loving family man. He cherished Cathy and all the kids. I was over one day when he was playing with two to the granddaughters. He seemed to be having fun. So much more to say. God bless you Phil. We will surely miss you. Thanks for the legacy you've left.

Although I never met Phil I did get to talk with him from time to time while he was on the air doing his show. I always learned something from him and that enriched my life. I can't say that about all the people I've met in my life but it's true with Phil. Rest well Phil and we'll keep on keepin on........God Bless

I remember Phil inviting me to perform at the Sacremento Blues Festival years ago. He always had kind words and a strong appreciation for women in the blues. Last year, I saw him again at the Sierra "Ladies of Mercy BBQ & BLUES" I have that T-shirt on right now. I always have respected Phil's knowledge of the blues from past to present. We kissed when I last saw him and I wished him well. Only God knows best. If any of you DJ's have my Gimme That Old Time Religion CD, please play either Amazing Grace or Walk Around Heaven All Day in honor of this great blues man.
God Bless Your Soul - Phil!

HAY PHIL...KEEP ON KEEPING ON!!!

I met Phil when I worked at Tower Records on Broadway. At that time I was buying the blues, folk and ethnic records for the store. I remember him asking me about my familiarity with the different musicians represented in the selections we sold. He would "school" me with stories about the contributions that each made. My passion for the music grew with each conversation I had with him. I was always in awe of his incredible knowledge and I always looked forward to his next visit to the store. After I left the store, I had his radio show, which was like an on-going graduate course in blues musicology. I am going to preserve the countless tapes I made of his shows. I attended the last seven Sacramento Blues Festivals. It was a great thrill to see so many great musicans live. Sacramento was so lucky to have that festival, and everybody knows that they wouldn't have happened without Phil. The influence of this passion for the music will remain a lasting legacy.

Phil on the radio on Tuesday afternoons when I first moved to Sacto helped me to settle in here. Many thanks and best wishes to family and friends.

Phil's legacy for me will always be contained in the sentiments he expressed at the close of every one of his shows on KVMR's Blues with Phil. Phil was one of the very few blues promoters (an appelation that grossly unerstates his relationship and contributions to the music)who used his passion for the blues and the musicians to promote civil rights and justice for black americans. At a time when the majority of young white blues fans came to the music as simply good feeling music or "boogie" dance rhythms, Phil insisted on respect for the black musicians who created the music out of the cauldron of racism, poverty and oppression. For that more than anything I honor his memory. My deepest condolences to the family and his many friends.

I really appreciated how Phil treated my granddaughter Tasha. He was always very sweet to her and I know that she liked him as well.

Phil and I were both on Tuesday afternoons for a couple of years and I always enjoyed our discussions about politics and other subjects. When I went to Central America to investigate the US Army School of the Americas Phil was generous in helping me raise the money to go.

He was a really good guy!

We love you, Phil. And, we will miss your special view of the blues. I was at that very first Sac Blues Festival in Land Park in 1976. I was thrilled to find you on KVMR years later. I know you will be diggin the blues in the other dimension and groovin with your pals. I'll see you on the other side when I make the trip. The Blues is here to stay, Phil.

When Ken Crow, the first broadcaster to bring blues, bluegrass and gospel to KVMR (now deceased) learned that Phil Givant's station was changing format, he told Station Manager Arthur Coehn about it and urged him to bring Phil to the station. Arthur did exactly that. I was a new broadcaster at the time and I asked Arthur how it was that someone could be given a show without going through the broadcaster training class, community radio indoctrination and certification process, Cohen simply said, "My job is to put on the best radio I can. Everything else is to help make that happen." Phil's sad passing marks not only an end to his scholarly bluesmanship and keen sense of fairness to all peoples, it also sadly marks the demise of "best radio first." He and his era are missed.

First and formost I want to wish you my deepest sympathy on Phil's passing. But I also wanted to let you know that even up until the end, Phil was still winning new fans and influencing people. I know he has a huge list of "long time" fans and admirer but he has won my heart too in just these last few years. I have only been listening to Phil since August of 1998 and the first time I heard him I knew he was "THE PROFESSOR", he taught me more about the songs, artist and history of the blues than I ever thought one man could know. I credit Phil with my greater appreciation of all types of music and I will certainly miss him. One of my high-lights involving Phil is when I won tickets on his show to a live performance and he announced, "we have a winner, a true blues lover, sweet angel Marlene Elliott" ...Phil was a sweet angel and very much loved. God bless ...