At the early age of 10, Phil June took violin lessons. He attended The Indiana Teachers College and The Conservatory of Music, known today as Indiana State University.
In the summer of 1926, the June family moved to Wickliffe. Phil played violin for the Presbyterian Church and would then go to the Catholic Church and play for their Sunday services.
Phil attended Wickliffe High School, where he played first violin for the school orchestra and where he also played basketball and football. It was during this time that Phil began teaching himself to play alto, tenor, soprano and baritone sax as well as B-flat and E-flat clarinet. This prompted him, during his junior and senior years to organize a small band to play for public dances in the school auditorium.
Phil's dad wanted him to have a more reliable profession than being a musician. So, he arranged for Phil to serve an apprenticeship in barbering during high school. Phil's skills as a barber was a great help to his family when his father's health began to fail. Phil began practicing barbering after school and on weekends in order to help support the family.
Phil graduated from Wickliffe High School in 1929. After graduation, Phil continued to play with his own band as well as to perform with many top Cleveland bands.
Then, on Oct. 9, 1942, he married Dolores Marie Beck at the Immaculate Conception Church Rectory in Willoughby. Upon returning from his honeymoon, Phil learned that he had been drafted.
He served as a Staff Sergeant on the General's staff in the U.S. Army during World War II, from 1942 until 1946. Also, during World War II, Phil played as a member of the 83rd Infantry Division Army Band.
Upon his return home from the Army in 1946, he opened Phil June's Barber Shop in Wickliffe next to Valley's Restaurant. He continued with his music career, performing with the famed Palace Theatre Orchestra which had regular radio broadcasts heard across the United States.
In 1957, he built a new barbershop on the corner of Euclid Avenue and Silver Street, where he and his employee barbers worked until 1987.
Phil formed his own band in 1958. Since music was his real love, he barbered on the appointment system while the other barbers worked on the "walk-in" system. This allowed him the flexibility to play music as the leader of the Phil June Orchestra at country clubs and events throughout the Greater Cleveland area. Phil became known as the "Guy Lombardo" of Lake County.
In his last years as a performing musician, he rehearsed and lead the Phil June Big Band, which performed for record crowds at locally-sponsored events throughout the tri-county area.
He was a member of the Cleveland Local No. 4 and Lake County Local No. 657 of the American Federation of Musicians and served on the executive boards of both unions. In 1997, he received a plaque for 50 years of membership in The American Federation of Musicians Local No. 657.
On Sept. 16, 1995, Phil June was inducted into the Provo House Hall of Fame by the Honorable Julie Morales, Mayor of the City of Wickliffe. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Church in Willoughby and of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Wickliffe.
In February 2006, Phil decided to move to East Peoria, Ill., to be closer to his son, Richard and his family. He resided at Riverview Retirement Community in East Peoria until his death and was a member of St. Thomas The Apostle Catholic Church in Peoria Heights, Ill.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Dolores; parents, Joseph and Leonarda June; four brothers and their spouses, Sam (Patricia) June, John (Mildred) June, Sattum (Lucille) June and Victor June; two nieces, Betty June and Carol Williams; and nephew, Tom June.
He is survived by his two daughters, Judy (Larry) Tegner of Willoughby, Diane (John) Clevenger of Lexington, Ky.; son, Dr. Richard P. (Laura) June of Peoria, Ill; eight grandchildren, Elizabeth Clevenger, John (Sherri) Clevenger, Jim (Allison) Hughey, Sandra Hughey, Jacob (Laurie) Hughey, Jody (Keegan) Haselkorn, Kelly June and Austin June; two great-grandchildren, Stella Haselkorn and Kaitlyn Clevenger; nieces and nephews, Jackie (Daniel) June, Kathleen June, Patricia (Jerry) Bauer, Bonnie (Gary) Glover, Mary Roberts, Joyce (Chuck) Dense, JoAnn (Bill) Marshak, William J. (Helen) June and Jeff (Beverly) June; his deceased niece's husband, Jim Williams; and his deceased nephew's wife, Maria June.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8, 2008, at Orlando-Donsante Funeral Home, 29550 Euclid Ave., Wickliffe. The Most Reverend Bishop A. Edward Pevec will celebrate a funeral Mass in Phil's honor at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, 29850 Euclid Ave., Wickliffe. Military burial will follow at Western Reserve Memorial Gardens in Chester Township.