About Captain Mellow

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Phil Clore, known to listeners as Captain Mellow, is a lifelong advocate for the arts and a celebrated voice in Atlanta’s jazz community. A producer, broadcaster, writer, and educator, Clore has spent decades using radio, journalism, and event production to spotlight both national jazz legends and Atlanta’s homegrown talent.

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In the early 1990s, Clore began his work as a freelance writer, contributor, and reporter for Soundgood Magazine (Honolulu, Hawaii) and Strictly Jazz Magazine (Atlanta, Georgia). His dedication to arts and culture led him to work with the National Black Arts Festival, the City of Atlanta’s Bureau of Cultural Affairs, the Jazz Education Network (JEN), and the Southern Arts Federation.

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As co-founder and former board president of the Southeastern Organization for Jazz Arts (SOJA), Clore helped create platforms for jazz performance, education, and preservation throughout the Southeast. His work with SOJA included partnerships with events such as the Mardi Gras Jazz Festival, Summer Solstice Jazz Festival, and the Smithsonian’s Beyond Category Duke Ellington exhibition.

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A longtime member of WRFG 89.3 FM’s Jazz Department, Clore served as program host, producer, and department manager, bringing insightful interviews and timeless music to Atlanta audiences. His production excellence earned him recognition from the Georgia Association of Broadcasters (GABBY Award) and the Communicator Award of Distinction. In 1999, his production work ranked fifth nationally for radio submissions.

Phil Clore has also served as:

• Member, Jazz Journalists Association and State of Georgia Press (since 1997)

• Panel Member, Southern Arts Federation (Atlanta, 2002)

• Media Advisory Board Member, Brenau University Department of Mass Communications (2003–2005)

• Public Relations Chairman, Hawaii International Jazz Festival (1994)

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Throughout his career, Captain Mellow has blended his passion for storytelling with his love of music. The Lion’s Den continues that tradition — opening the vault to share interviews, conversations, and performances that capture the very soul of jazz.