He played trumpet in bands led by Louie Bellson, Buddy Morrow, and Billy May.

While waiting to get his union card, a six-month period, Phillips substituted in the bands of Les Elgart, Woody Herman, Dan Terry, Leon Merian, and Jimmy Dorsey.

He took lessons to rebuild his embouchure but worried that if he continued to play he would permanently damage his lip.

Verne Byers felt that the music industry (from the perspective of musicians) fell apart in Las Vegas in 1983.

[2] Phillips died on September 13, 1995, from complications of an aneurysm while conducting a jazz band rehearsal at the Community College of Southern Nevada.

He but spent his final 20 years with his girlfriend, Barbara Camp Russo, who discovered that she had known Carol Phillips from their days as chorus line dancers in Las Vegas.

Saunders's album Be Bop Big Band was dedicated to Phillips and includes several of his compositions.