Catalyzes the adenylation of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (pHBA) to form p-hydroxybenzoic acid-AMP (pHBA-AMP), which is converted directly to p-hydroxybenzoyl-S-FadD22 (pHBA-S-FAdD22) thioester intermediate in a CoA-independent manner by attack of the phosphopantetheine thiol of FadD22. This intermediate primes the biosynthesis of the phenolphthiocerol (PPOL) by presenting the pHBA starter unit for elongation by Pks15/1. PPOL is an important intermediate in the biosynthesis of phenolic glycolipid (mycosid B). 4-hydroxybenzoate + ATP + holo-[4-hydroxyphenylalkanoate synthase] = 4-hydroxyphenyl-[4-hydroxyphenylalkanoate synthase] + AMP + diphosphate Lipid metabolism; fatty acid biosynthesis. Belongs to the ATP-dependent AMP-binding enzyme family.