My exposure to varying music styles came from my Brooklyn summer camp’s “boom box” which alternated between all things Rolling Stones and Frankie Smith’s “Double Dutch Bus” (I still know the words…) Most identified with their music and lifestyle, I remained happily neutral. Both the rockers and the hip-hop junkies were my friends.

1986. The Mets win the World Series and along comes, “Licensed To Ill”. The Beasties were Brooklyn and made music that screamed my music sensibilities. Sure, the novelty of knowing all the words to “Paul Revere” eventually faded, but it certainly helped pass the time riding the B9 bus to and from high school.

Radio was never fully on my radar until I discovered Long Island’s 92.7 WDRE. Depeche Mode, The Smiths, Talking Heads, U2, Sinead O’Connor, The Clash were all part of this fascinating radio community that captured my imagination and shifted my music passion into another gear. Yes, bring me Edelweiss!

Not necessarily among the “academic elite” during my Brooklyn College years, I did, however, find an opportune spot inside the college radio station (the tapes are destroyed, right Skeery?) and somehow parlayed that magic (coupled with an initial identity misunderstanding) into a several year promotion gig at Z100. Who knew “Brian Phillips” was the name of an important radio executive? This “Brian Phillips” became an executive of T-Shirt distribution, vehicle maintenance and coffee making.

West, West, The Escape Club claims its wild. I spent several years basking in the warm Southern California sun. Professionally, I was a mediocre traffic reporter, a TV paramedic on “Chicago Hope” and a DJ on a music station programmed by one of my MTV VJ heroes, Mark Goodman. The depth of Goodman’s radio and music acumen was only superseded by his fantastic hair.

New Jersey and its celebrated tolled highways called and I found myself at the Jersey Shore, spending several years with an Alternative radio station (WHTG, 106.3) as the Music Director and morning show co-host. Morning radio is one animal, record reps are another. (All programming decisions were made independently (sans socks) and not in connection of any promotional consideration described therein…) four people just laughed.

While not consuming Wasabi Peas, watching episodes 30 Rock, SNL or Dexter, honing my made-for-instructional-video softball swing, going to a concert or deejaying in various Hoboken and Jersey Shore bars, I’m here weeknights at 101.9 RXP, New York’s Rock Experience.

 Phillips@1019rxp.com