New neighborhood musician moves into The Shoreham

By B. David Zarley | Staff Writer

November 15, 2017

Detroit native Phillip-Michael Scales has earned the title of Lakeshore East’s Musician in Residence and is moving into the neighborhood. Scales intends to bring his own personal flavor to his performances, which he describes as “bluesy and soulful” to special Lakeshore East events hosted by Megallan.

Scales’ catchy interpretations of popular songs, paired with his bright smile, won the crowd this fall in the Lakeshore East Legend Contest at the 11th annual Magellan Rewards Festival, landing him the prize of living rent-free for one year in the Shoreham.

Scales said he looks forward to playing music for a living. “It’ll be great to have a place to call home full-time,” Scales explained. “[To] just be able to dedicate what I would put towards rent to more music and more creativity.”

In addition to performing in New Eastside, he hopes to offer instruction and encouragement to budding musicians in the neighborhood. According to an email from Magellan Community Relations Director Vanessa Casciano, “Phillip-Michael will be performing mostly at our Lakeshore East Magellan Property Managed buildings, but he will be a part of the Drunken Bean and all Lakeshore East Park events.”

Fellow musician Molly Coleman, who met Scales at the exhibit at the Superior Artist in residence contest last spring, believes Scales deserves his role because of his professionalism.

“He is humble and grounded,” Coleman wrote in an email. “He takes what he does seriously and he does it with style and poise. He’s got that charm going for him, for sure.”