Betty O'Kay
Eric Phillips
"Captain Mike"
NEW! Music Rooms! Less time to load page!
Music Room
Music Room 2
Music Room 3
Music Room 1
Hot Rod Lincoln
Family Tradition
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Beatin' My Head Against The Wall
I Don't Want To Spoil The Party
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The Fugitive
Wild Turkey
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Cheeseburger In Paradise
A Pirate Looks At Forty
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Playing
The Keeper Of The Stars
P.S. I Love You
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Music Room 5
Music Room 4
Music Room 6
Ghost Riders In The Sky
The The Captain & The Kid
The BIG BONED GAL
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We FORGOT what this button does, sorry.
DURANGO MANGO
Music For ALL Points WEST!!
Ghost Riders In The Sky Stan Jones 1948
Durango Mango
(points north)
Durango Mango
(points south)
These two links are archives of the original Durango Mango band.
Please click on North (for northern New England) and South (for southern New England)
Durango Mango - southern NE edition
Durango Mango - northern NE edition
Eric Phillips
Chip Riggi
Betty O'Kay
NOTE!! If you are using Google Chrome- you may not be able to hear these sound clips properly. Both songs may play together or, not play at all.
Try using Firefox or Internet Explorer.
It is with deep sadness we inform you of Eric M. Phillips passing.
New England country music stalwart Eric M. Phillips, of Cambridge, Maine, died suddenly on December 15, 2011. He was 59.
Born in Middlebury, Connecticut, the second of four sons of the late Lynn & Edward Phillips, Eric was decorated as an Eagle Scout for Middlebury Troop #6. He was a member of the jazz band with Sacred Heart High School in Waterbury before attending classes at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts.
A well-known and active member of the country music scene throughout eastern New England, he gained recognition and awards for his work on bass, guitars, vocals, and arrangements with bands including White Line Fever, Blackjack, and Durango Mango, a band he formed with his wife, Betty.
While a member of Blackjack, Eric and the band itself were winners of several local awards, including Pony Express awards for Best Band and Best Bassist.
While a member of Durango Mango, Eric received several appreciation awards for his work in promoting country music. He was also a NECMC Hall Of Fame inductee and an Honorary Member.
His passion for promoting music lead him to serve several years as an officer and treasurer for the New England Country Music Club. He was formerly on the executive board as secretary.
Eric also spent seven years promoting music on radio Station WOON 1240 in Woonsocket, RI where he hosted "THE" Theme Show and teamed up with his wife in 1999 to join her on O'Kay's Corral.
Eric is survived by his wife and soulmate, Betty (Okoniewski) (O'Kay) Phillips, of Cambridge, a daughter, Jennifer Walters of Spencer, MA, and a grandson, Stephen James Walters. He is also survived by his three brothers, Bruce Phillips of Victorville, CA; Jeff Phillips of Houston, TX; and Tim Phillips of Naugatuck, CT and former wife Debbie Phillips as well as nieces and nephews; Anna, Tony and Joseph Phillips, Javier Quentario and Keith, Kevin, Jake, Moriah, Hannah and Sarah Cross and George Cross III
Cremation arrangements were made with the Crosby-Neal Funeral Home and Mount Hope Crematory in Maine.
Memorial Services will be held in the future in Cumberland, RI and Uxbridge, MA.
A family-run memorial service will be held in his native Middlebury, CT, in June 2012.
(lovingly written by Tim Phillips)
Rest In Peace my beloved until we meet again.
We will never forget you, Eric
I want to thank everyone who has been so kind to Eric's family during this untimely tragedy. Eric was stricken at home on December 15, 2011 The country music fans lost an awesome man on that day. I lost the best thing that ever happened in my life. You have all been so supportive, you have mine and all of Eric's family's appreciation.
Stay Well,
Betty
All of these cover songs include the late Eric Phillips on lead guitar and vocals-
The new version of our band does not have anything recorded at this time,
but will be included when available.
Tribute videos - Eric M. Phillips
June 11, 1952 - December 15, 2011
Wherever he is, you know he is having a "boat drink" for all of us.
Try as I might, I was unable to post the actual videos on this page.
But you can see them at YouTube by clicking on the links. Sorry for the inconvenience.
This is the only recording of "Time." We had just added it to our play list and never performed it publicly... so Eric (being Eric) pulled it out for to debut on a televised TV show in Cape Cod.
(Eric was good for that kind of thing...)
This was a VERY scary 3 minutes and 20 seconds.
But I am happy that he made us play the song that evening, otherwise I would not have it now.
A dear friend, Laurie MacGregor (Velvet Rose Band) asked me if I would provide a place for memories and comments. I think this is a great idea! If you have anything special you would like to say, please enter it in this book. At our next memorial, we will read your memories and comments. Thank you.
