Philip David Charles “Phil” Collins (born 30 January 1951) is an English singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, record producer and actor….who is a member of the Brittish Royal Victorian Oder….as he is best known as the drummer and lead singer in the rock band Genesis….who as a solo artist between 1983 and 1990….scored three UK and seven US number-one singles in his solo career….for when his work with Genesis, his work with other artists, as well as his solo career is totalled….Collins had more US Top 40 singles than any other artist during the 1980s.His most successful singles from the period include “In the Air Tonight”, “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)”, “One More Night”, “Sussudio” and “Another Day in Paradise”.
Born and raised in West London, Collins played drums from the age of five and completed drama school training….which secured him various roles as a child actor….then he pursued a music career by joining Genesis in 1970 as their drummer and becoming lead singer in 1975 following the departure of Peter Gabriel. Collins began a solo career in the 1980’s….which was initially inspired by his marital breakdown and love of soul music….when he released a series of successful albums including Face Value in 1981 …. No Jacket Required in 1985….and But Seriously in 1989…as Collins became one of the most successful pop and adult contemporary singers of the ’80s and beyond. He also became known for a distinctive gated reverb drum sound on many of his recordings.
After leaving Genesis in 1996….Collins pursued various solo projects before a return to Genesis in 2007 for the Turn It On Again Tour….to which in 2011, he retired to focus on his family life, but continued to write songs. He announced his return to the music industry in 2015….and he will perform live for the first time in 10 years with a European tour in July 2017….including a five night residency at the Royal Albert Hall in London….and his biggest ever solo show in Hyde Park, London.
Collins’ discography includes eight studio albums that have sold 33.5 million certified units in the US and an estimated 150 million worldwide….which makes him one of the world’s best-selling artists. He is one of three recording artists….along with Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson….who have sold over 100 million records worldwide both as solo artists and separately as principal members of a band. He has won seven Grammy Awards….six Brit Awards….two Golden Globe Awards….an Academy Award….and a Disney Legend Award.In 1999, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003….the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010….the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 2012….and the Classic Drummer Hall of Fame in 2013. Despite his commercial success and his status as a respected and influential drummer….music critics are divided in their opinion of his work and he has publicly received both criticism and praise from other prominent music artists.
Regardless of all that has been said or not said about Phil Collins…..any artist that has sold over $150 million in record sales is worth listening to over and over again….and certainly deserves his place in Imasportsphile history.
