1979 Phil sees a vivacious blonde (Blanche) in a backless dress and asks her to dance. Gets her phone number and writes songs to her poems. Meanwhile, his ad for musicians attracts calls from Eric, Roman and Bill. A band is formed.

1980 Blanche joins the group and they premiere on Valentine's Day, opening for Bohemia. By the end of the year the band has released its first 45 ("Autosex" b/w "PRL-8-53") and they are one of the biggest headliners in Chicago.

1987 Phil goes to UCLA to study film scoring, conducting and orchestration.

1988 Attracted by the beautiful sandstone and towering red rock cliffs, Phil moves to Springdale, Utah, the gateway to Zion National Park.

1989 Phil begins to compose "alternative classical" music. Over the next 16 years, several CDs of his compositions are released, he wins a number of prestigious grants and commissions, and his works are performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Bang On A Can, the Aspen Music Festival, and London's Royal Opera House. www.bimstein.com

1993 Phil, who was warned by a Chicago friend that he might never be accepted in his small Utah town, is elected mayor. He serves two terms.

2000 Phil misses songwriting so he forms the "chamber folk" ensemble blue haiku, consisting of oboe, English horn, violin, guitar, bass and vocals.

2002 blue haiku releases their first CD: heat beneath the sand.

2005 Phil's second CD of alternative classical works will be released by Starkland, he's been awarded a grant from Continental Harmony he's recording a second CD with blue haiku, and he's ready for a brand new wave with Phil 'n' the Blanks.