Todd Phillips didn't want this campaign. He resisted for months, and agreed only because Gary wouldn't let it go. That reluctance tells you something about who he is.

If you’re talking about modern bluegrass bass, you’re already talking about Todd Phillips, whether you realize it or not. He's a foundational force behind landmark groups like the Bluegrass Album Band, David Grisman Quintet, The Tony Rice Unit, and Psychograss. Todd has through his whole career helped shape the very essence of the genre, setting the standard for how bluegrass feels and sounds.

We're Upton Bass — makers of double basses and a bass community based in Mystic, Connecticut. Todd is one of the most beloved and recorded bass players in bluegrass history, and over the past year he's become a dear friend of ours. You've heard him, you may just not have known it was him.

A year ago, Parsonage-Turner syndrome, a type of nerve damage in his shoulder put his ability to play on a lengthy hold. No shows, no sessions, no income. He has a young family, a long recovery timeline and difficulty covering living expenses.

If his playing has meant something to you, here's a chance to give something back while he's here to receive it.

In Todd's own words:

I want to thank my friend Gary Upton for suggesting and initiating this page for me. We haven’t known each other long but when I told him about my health issues preventing me from playing upright bass as I have for 55 years, and also that I have a young family, 6 year old and 8 year old, he immediately suggested that he start this GoFundMe page. As much as I resisted and waited, I am finally in a position of no choice having lost most of my income for a full year now. I truly appreciate Gary’s effort and that you are here looking at it.

As briefly as possible, here is what has happened over the last year.

I’m happy to say, the last show I got to play was David Grisman’s 80th

birthday concert (capping the 50 year anniversary of the original DGQ). That was in Seattle on March 25, 2025, but about a week after that in the first week of April last year I had extreme unbearable pain in my left shoulder. I was prescribed oral painkillers and steroids. A few days later the pain got somewhat better but my arm dropped to my side nearly paralyzed. I was initially/incorrectly diagnosed with and underwent treatment for “frozen-shoulder”. I was administered a massive shot of painkillers and steroids through the cartilage straight into the shoulder joint. It didn’t help. No relief.

That began a series of 20 more doctor’s and physical therapy appointments over the next six months, including X-ray, three MRIs (shoulder, spine, and brachial plexus) and an EMG. Finally, the brachial plexus MRI revealed nerve damage and a condition called Parsonage-Turner Syndrome. The specialist I now see says it’s typical to wait about 18 months before significant improvement, though it can be between 1 to 3 years to heal. It’s a rare disease affecting only about 2 people in 100,000. I’ve met one guy that had it and he said his lasted 2 years, so we’ll see.

For the last 12 months I’ve relied on family, friends, and gracious help from the IBMA (thank you), Grand Ole Opry (thank you), and Nashville Musician’s Union (thank you). Even with that, my family and I are in a very deep financial hole due to this condition and having suffered the loss of almost all of my income over the last year. The wellbeing of my kids is in play now so I feel it’s time to reach out. Hopefully my abilities will return by year’s end and I can play some more big-low-musical-notes for all of you.

Thank you