Washington Phillips

Born: January 11, 1880 in Freestone County, Texas

Died: September 20, 1954 in Teague, Texas (Aged 74)

Phillips was a pioneering gospel performer in the 1920s. He recorded sixteen songs, some of which amount to highly specific and detailed gospel sermons. The songs were recorded between 1927 and 1929 and feature Phillips' voice self-accompanied by an unknown zitter-like instrument, which has been variously identified as a Dolceola, a Celestophone, a Phonoharp and also is considered by some to be an instrument entirely home-made by Phillips. It creates a unique sound on these recordings that makes them immediately recognizable. He died of head injuries sustained in a fall down a flight of stairs at the welfare office. He is buried in an unmarked grave in Cotton Gin Cemetery, six miles west of Teague.