Photo by Julia Li

March 13th, 1958 – May 2nd, 2021

It is with deep sadness, I report that my long-time friend and veteran musician Phillip Sampognaro, known professionally as Phil Naro. passed away last night due to cancer. Phil died way too young and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Phil was charismatic and larger than life, and a friend to all that knew him. His music touched so many lives. Phil had a golden voice; he was always being sought out to guest on someone’s album or to join a band on a more permanent basis. He has worked with the likes of Talas, Lee Aaron, Peter Chris, Bryan May, Druckfarben, and Miron among others.

I can still remember the day he called me for the first time. I was sitting in my home office when the phone rang, I was taken back a bit as I had been a fan of his since the ’80s and we were friends through social media for many years before the call in early March 2010.

Phil was reaching out to see if I would be interested in releasing the latest effort by DDRIVE a band he fronted from his hometown of Rochester, New York. On June 1st, 2010 Melodic Revolution Records released 3D, over the years I had the privilege of working with him on various projects

PHIL NARO’s MELODOC REVOLUTION RECORDS RELEASES

DDrive – 3D -2010
Phil Naro – History Revisited – 2010
DDrive – Critical Mass – 2010
Jim Crean – Velvet Crush – 2011
ifsounds – Dont go – 2010
Various Artists – Alchemy – 2011
24k – Cracking the Vault – 2012
Various Artists – A Year in The Revolution Alchemy 2012
Phil Naro – Somewhere Out There – 2013
DDrive – Intermission – 2013
Filthy Lying Bastards – Mama I’m Coming Home for Christmas – 2013
Various Artists – A Year in The Revolution Alchemy 2013
KINGs – KINGs – 2014
CTP (Colin Tench Project) w/Phil Naro – 2014
Corvus Stone – Corvus Stone ll – 2014
Backhand – Through The Turbulence – 2014
Various Artists – A Year in The Revolution Alchemy 2014
Colin Tench Project – When I’m Dreaming Of You – 2015
Unified Past – Shifting the Equilibrium – 2015 
KINGs – Hot Razors In My Heart – 2015
Various Artists – A Year in The Revolution Alchemy 2015
DDrive – To Live To Love – 2016
Various Artists – A Music Revolution The First Decade 2006 / 2016
Joe Mac’s American Garage – Scream – 2017
Phil Naro – Shangrila Hotel – Unreleased Recordings

MORE MUSIC BY PHIL THAT WE DISTRIBUTE

Black Pearl – Kickin The Can (Single) 2020
Black Pearl – Pennies From Heaven 2018
Miron – Lacrimosa – 2015
Druckfarben – Second Sound – 2014
Blood of VanGogh – Blood of VanGogh – 2013
Druckfarben – artifact (DVD) 2013
Druckfarben – Druckfarben – 2011
The Phil & John Show – Cover Art 2006
Phil Naro – Press Play – 2004
Phil Naro – Glass Mountain – 2003
Phil Naro – Ten Year Tour – 1999
Blood Red Flower – Last Link To The World – 1997

Thank you for your friendship and the gift of music, rest in peace, my friend.