Local musician Steve Phillips, a saxophone-playing DJ, is redefining wedding entertainment across Houston with his unique and unforgettable blend of live music and DJ expertise. Specializing in creating elegant and energetic experiences, this “Smooth Sax DJ” transforms weddings into magical events filled with romance and high-energy celebrations.
From soaring rock sax solos to electrifying dance tunes, Phillips crafts the perfect soundtrack for every moment of your special day—from the ceremony to the cocktail hour and all the way through to a packed dance floor. Though based in Texas, Phillips’ talents take him across the U.S. and even internationally, ensuring couples everywhere can experience his exceptional artistry.
“The way I got into this was, I had been a wedding musician for about thirty years prior to this. I’d performed in wedding bands and as a soloist on saxophone. While I was performing, I would see other DJs show up, and I got to talk to them about what they do. I said, ‘You know, I think I could do this and be a big part of someone’s special day,’ especially with the experience and knowledge I’d gained over those thirty years,” Phillips shares.
But it wasn’t just his experience that drew him to this unique niche.
“The reason I’m in the wedding industry to begin with is, it’s always been something that appealed to me because God ordained marriage. To be able to be a part of that celebration and be in the memory of those couples for that special moment in their life meant a lot to me,” he marvels. “It led me to realize that the talent that God has given me is something that I should be sharing with people who really need that. Once I realized what I could do and what it took to get into it, I jumped in.”
Phillips’ love affair with music began in sixth grade band when he picked up the saxophone to impress a girl.
“I ended up falling in love with the horn. As I got into high school, I became an All-State musician, and I became a music major in college. It snowballed from there,” he recalls.
At a Wedding
Phillips’ process is uniquely tailored to each couple’s vision.
“Usually, the day will start out with me providing audio services for a wedding ceremony. Sometimes, I’ll play saxophone or flute during the ceremony. I offer that to my clients and sometimes they want it and sometimes they don’t. Then, once we get done with the ceremony, we move on to a cocktail hour scenario, where I’ll play saxophone solo with backing tracks through a PA system so I can walk around and play this music to entertain guests during that time frame.”
Guests quickly find themselves captivated.
“I’ve found that most guests prefer that to pre-recorded music. It’s personable; it’s a classy touch. I’ll do that for an hour, hour-and-a-half, and then we’ll move to the wedding reception. Near the end of dinner, we’ll start our dance set. I do DJ work while playing music that gets people up on the dance floor in a celebratory mood. Then, I’ll queue a few songs and come out with the saxophone on the dance floor to lift up the energy,” he explains.
“When I play on the dance floor, it really raises the energy of the room. The guests dancing absolutely love it when the saxophone comes out onto the dance floor. It heightens energy and makes for a great, magical memory for all of the guests and the wedding couple.”
What Sets Him Apart
What makes Phillips stand out from the rest? According to him, it’s a combination of his live music aspect and his wealth of experience.
“The saxophone and live music aspect is a part of it. Another part of that is just my experience in the industry; almost nothing rattles me. Bringing that experience has a very calming effect on planners and wedding couples as they’re working with me. Almost never does a wedding come off exactly how you want it. There’s always something going on causing stress or problems.
Really, what it comes down to is, you have wedding entertainers and wedding vendors who are able to adapt in those situations and take a situation that could really tank a lot of other parties and turn it into something that is a good memory. We can turn those things into wins,” Phillips says.
Favorite Moments
Phillips’ favorite part of any wedding? When the formality fades, and the celebration truly begins.
“One of my favorite moments in any wedding is when people are starting to relax and move past the formalities. They’re dancing on the dance floor, and when I come out with the saxophone, watching just the spirit of the room change. It’s not because I’m necessarily anything special, but the fact that I’m out there brings an energy that people want to express and release. It’s like a light going off, and an explosion in the room of energy. That is a lot of why I’m there. I feel like what I bring to the table is that, as opposed to a regular DJ playing music, I can come out and interact personally with those guests on the dance floor. That’s my favorite part of the night.”
He adds, “There are a lot of really special moments that are scripted, that are planned, that are really nice, but I think that some of the best moments are the unscripted, high energy, ‘let’s have a lot of fun’ moments.”
Preparation is Key
For Steve, preparation begins months in advance.
“I prepare, usually, months in advance. I have meetings with the planner, if there is one, and the couple, to find out musical taste, preferences, genres liked/disliked. I try to get a feel for what kind of spirit and what kind of flow they would like. With that information in hand, as I process through that over the next few months, I’m thinking of different songs to add in, different ways to mix songs together to get the vibe they’re looking for, look for different ways I can enhance that, as a musician as well, on the saxophone. As we get closer to the event, I’m putting together all of the sets on my software, I’m practicing the songs on my saxophone that they want, making sure that all of my equipment is ready. A comfortable process is at least six months. Bare minimum, I could throw something together in a month. Anything shorter than that is flying by the seat of my pants.”
A Word of Advice
To couples planning their weddings, Steve offers some sage advice: “When you’re going to hire entertainment, whether it’s a DJ, a musician, whatever, please consider that one of the most memorable parts of your evening is going to be that entertainment. Period. I think there are other things that are important, but don’t skimp out on or shortchange your entertainment. Make sure it’s what you want and it’s a significant part of your budget, because having the wrong entertainment will completely ruin a lifelong memory. I’ve read a survey about that, that said, ‘Seventy percent of couples wish they would have spent more on their entertainment after the fact.’ That’s one of those things that people sometimes want to spend the least on.”
He concludes, “You also want to make sure that that entertainment is the right entertainment. Someone who cares, someone who has the right experience, someone who brings the energy and the professionalism and the polish that you want for that night.”
With his charisma, passion, and unparalleled talent, Steve Phillips—Houston’s Smooth Sax DJ—ensures your wedding day will be a masterpiece of music, energy, and unforgettable memories.
Instagram: @smoothsaxdj
Website: https://smoothsaxdj.com
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@smoothsaxdj
