John formed a jazz based quartet called The Smoothies in the late 50's. The group was noted for their plaid jackets, and they got a spot on American Bandstand. In 1961, the Smoothies broke up and John joined up with Dick Weisman and fellow ex-Smoothie Scott McKenzie to form the Journeymen. They recorded three albums and got modest sales.

John did have a family during this time. He was married to a woman named Sue and had two small children Mackenzie and Jeffrey. But, that was all about to change when he met the beautiful Michelle Gilliam. Two weeks after meeting her, he fell in love with her. She was 17 and he was 26, but he divorced his wife and married Michelle on December 31, 1962.

The Journeymen broke up shortly after, and John realized that if he made a new band, with Michelle as a singer, they'd make a lot more money. John convinced her to start singing and he set out to find a leader for the group. He found Denny Doherty and later met Cass Elliot. John, Michelle, and Denny left for St. Thomas to have a vacation and fine tune their sound. Their plan was simple: work out the musical kinks at their St. Thomas friend Duffy's place Creeque Alley and use John's American Express Card until it got maxed out. Cass joined them on the island later, but John wasn't convinced she could be part of the group, because she was a tone less than what he wanted for the harmony. But, thanks to a metal pipe, Cass made the notes and the group was on its way to success.

Unfortunately the credit card became nothing more than plastic and they were broke. Cass left first, and the others soon joined her in California. Soon they had an audition with famous hit making producer Lou Adler. Though to John it looked like it wasn't gonna work, Lou loved the group, signed them instantly, and gave them...money! They became the Mamas and Papas and recorded magical music and John finally got his big break.

John and Lou were a great team. John began writing some really intricate and beautiful harmonies, and created what was called "The Fifth Voice," a harmonic sound that was mixed in. But, John and his group hit a sour note when Michelle told him that she had slept with Denny. The group tried to carry on, but Michelle made a mistake when her boyfriend showed up at a concert, in front of her ex John. John became so angry that he fired Michelle from the band. Her replacement, Jill Gibson, didn't work and John took Michelle back, as well as in marriage. The group hit a downward spiral and broke up. Michelle and John parted their ways also, this time for good.

By this time John was a full blown drug addict. He wasted all of his money and valuable posessions for drugs. It cost him his fortune and damaged his health. However, John still tried to work musically and reformed the Mamas and Papas in 1981. The group still tours on occasion today.

John is now remarried. He is writing and recording again, and has a new group. He survived a liver transplant and now is sober and healthy. Sadly, he doesn't speak to Michelle, despite the fact that they had a daughter together, Chynna Phillips Baldwin. He did act respectably to Michelle when The Mamas and Papas were inducted in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.