ɐ pɹəfˈɛʃənəl sˈɔŋɹaɪɾɚ, fˈɛlps tˈʊɹd ðə nˈeɪʃən æz ɐ ɡˈɑːspəl sˈɪŋɚ, ɪn ɐ kwɔːɹtˈɛt wɪð hɪz bɹˈʌðɚz.
A professional songwriter, Phelps toured the nation as a gospel singer, in a quartet with his brothers.