Phil Kelsall was born in Warrington, Cheshire and was fascinated by the organ whilst still at school. There was one in the school chapel and studying this was preferable to sports. Upon leaving school Phil joined Barclay's Bank whilst studying for his ALCM degree which he subsequently obtained.
Phil got to know Ernest Broadbent, then organist at the famous Tower Ballroom Blackpool, and it was Ernest who recommended Phil for the post of organist in the Tower Circus band in 1974. Phil also deputised for Ernest on the Tower's Wurlitzer, and when Ernest retired in 1977 Phil became one of the team of organists engaged to play for non-stop dancing during the 1977 season, and has been there ever since.


Phil made his recording debut the following year with the first of a series of yearly LPs which evolved into CDs and are still produced regularly. He also made his first appearance on BBC Radio on January 8 1978 from the BBC Theatre Organ in Manchester.
Phil is President of the Theatre Organ Club and is much in demand during the winter months for organ concerts. He travels regularly to the USA where he wows them with his unique style of playing.

Blackpool Tower’s Ballroom is home to what must be the most famous and most played Wurlitzer in the world and Phil Kelsall has amazingly now completed 32 years at the Tower, having been appointed in 1975, initially as organist in the Tower Circus band with occasional appearances in the Ballroom. In 1977 Ernest Broadbent the then Tower organist, retired through ill-health and Phil was the obvious choice as the new principal resident organist, a position he has held ever since.

The link between the Tower Ballroom and the BBC has always been a strong one, more recently through the hit series Strictly Come Dancing . The legendary Reginald Dixon broadcasts will be particularly remembered by many and Phil Kelsall was to continue this link when in 1980 he was asked by the BBC to record for the Sam on Sunday shows, following Reginald Dixon’s retirement part way through that series. Phil has also acted as a guest presenter for Radio 2’s The Organist Entertains. Numerous  credits have also included  Radio 4’s long running The Archers and Radio 2’s flagship music programme, Friday Night is Music Night. 

Thanks to Phil for these details