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BTS060: Phil “Bad Mister” Clendeninn

Written by Blake Angelos on April 20, 2022. Posted in Behind the Synth.

Behind the Synth showcases the people bringing you Yamaha synthesizers. In this episode, Blake and Nate celebrate the career of Phil “Bad Mister” Clendeninn. Phil recently retired from Yamaha after 35 years. We chatted with him about growing up in the Bronx, NYC (“the Boogie Down” as Phil calls it) and his formative years. We discussed his college years at Syracuse University, his work as a founding member and keyboardist for the band Tarika Blue, his work as a recording engineer in NYC and the circumstances that brought him to Yamaha in 1987. It’s been an honor working with Phil over the years. He’s mentored many people in the industry and within Yamaha. Check out our hang with the Baddest Mister of them all!

Yamaha Synth · BTS060 Phil “Bad Mister” Clendeninn

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Global Stage: Jens Skwirblies

German songwriter and keyboardist Jens Skwirblies is a powerful keyboardist with impressive credits. Piano lessons started for Jens at the age of six and by his teens he was playing in several rock bands. He studied music and English at the Christian-Albrecht University of Kiel and started playing keyboards with Ian Cusick, the singer and bassist for the band Lake. Over the years Jens has performed with Bobby Kimball (TOTO), Paulo Mendonca, Alex Ligertwood & Tony Lindsay (Santana), Barclay James Harvest and more. Check it out:

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