Phil Collins' ascent to the status of one of the most successful pop and adult contemporary singers of the '80s and beyond was probably as much of a surprise to him as it was to many others. Balding and diminutive, Collins was almost 30 years old when his first solo single, "In the Air Tonight," became a number two hit in his native U.K. (the song was a Top 20 hit in the U.S.). Between 1984 and 1990, Collins had a string of 13 straight U.S. Top Ten hits.
Walt Disney asked him in to compose the songs to their latest animated feature "Tarzan", the resulting single, "You'll be in my Heart", was a major US hit and earned him a prestigious Oscar award. They even threw in another Grammy and a Golden Globe. He is currently working on three new Disney projects.
An unquestionably gifted musician, Collins first pursued an acting career, enrolling in a stage school with which his talent agent mother was affiliated. From here, he landed an uncredited extra role as a screaming fan in The Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night" (1964). He abandoned acting for many years to focus on music, but those who watched Collins' stage theatrics and hammy music video performances were not surprised when he began taking small guest acting parts
During the '80s, Collins balanced his continuing solo work with Genesis with enormous success. In 1992, Genesis released We Can't Dance and began an extensive tour. Upon its completion Collins released Both Sides in 1993, and the record became his first album not to produce a major hit single or go multi-platinum. In 1995, he announced that he was leaving Genesis permanently.
In Nov 82 his second album "Hello I Must Be Going" hit the number 2 spot, and provided him with a number one single, an uptempo cover of the old Supremes song "You Can't Hurry Love". Many old time Genesis fans found all this three minute pop song stuff hard to swallow, but the sales of both band and solo artist kept on rising. And as Collins once said "You don't wear the same clothes you wore ten years ago do you?" Some old Genesis fans obviously did.
Phil Collins' ascent to the status of one of the most successful pop and adult contemporary singers of the '80s and beyond was probably as much of a surprise to him as it was to many others. Balding and diminutive, Collins was almost 30 years old when his first solo single, "In the Air Tonight," became a number two hit in his native U.K. (the song was a Top 20 hit in the U.S.). Between 1984 and 1990, Collins had a string of 13 straight U.S. Top Ten hits.
While Collins was a capable and likable actor, he proved, from his hit love theme for "Against All Odds" to his moving song score for Disney's "Tarzan", that his most notable work in film made the most of his musical gifts. While he failed to score an Academy Award (losing to Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called to Say I Love You"), the track has proven more enduring than the film itself.
A natural performer Collins attended stage school, and was soon playing in London's West End as the Artful Dodger in the musical Oliver. The cheeky Cockney image from Dickens camenaturally and would stand him in good stead during his future successes. He soon formed a band called The Real Thing and played his first gigs.
Phil Collins' ascent to the status of one of the most successful pop and adult contemporary singers of the '80s and beyond was probably as much of a surprise to him as it was to many others. Balding and diminutive, Collins was almost 30 years old when his first solo single, "In the Air Tonight," became a number two hit in his native U.K. (the song was a Top 20 hit in the U.S.). Between 1984 and 1990, Collins had a string of 13 straight U.S. Top Ten hits.
With a remarkable combination of middle-of-the-road appeal and talent and vision that has produced some of the better music of his time, composer-singer-drummer-actor Phil Collins has made an indelible impact on the entertainment industry. Truly one of the hardest working men in show business, he has written for and performed with two legendary and vastly different bands, found great success as a solo artist and nursed a budding acting career, all at the same time.
While Collins was a capable and likable actor, he proved, from his hit love theme for "Against All Odds" to his moving song score for Disney's "Tarzan", that his most notable work in film made the most of his musical gifts. While he failed to score an Academy Award (losing to Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called to Say I Love You"), the track has proven more enduring than the film itself. As a vocalist, Collins dueted with Marilyn Martin with the Stephen Bishop penned 1985 hit "Separate Lives" from "White Nights".
"Both Sides" from Nov 1993 was very much a solo album with Phil playing all the instruments and wearing the producer's hat, it topped the UK charts but peaked at 13 in the US. Genesis then had their biggest ever album. 'We Can't Dance' sold over 15 million copies and they had so many hit singles that some older fans were hanging up their flares in horror. The resulting tour filled the worlds biggest stadiums, and maintained the position as the world's top live act.
While all of this solo success certainly kept Collins busy, it didn't keep him from his original band - Genesis. 1986 saw Genesis release the chart-topping album "Invisible Touch", an unprecedented success for the band, with five of the album's eight tracks becoming top selling singles. In the five years between "Invisible Touch" and Genesis' next release, 1991's "We Can't Dance", Collins released his fourth solo album, 1989's "...But Seriously", and earnestly tried his hand at an acting career.
For the Live Aid concerts of 1985, he played a set at Wembley Stadium, jumped on The Concorde and flew to America, where he played in the much anticipated but, as it turned out, very disappointing Led Zeppelin reunion. Even Phil couldn't work miracles. He did however stamp his mark all over the Band Aid single "Do They Know its Christmas".
Because of his unfaltering dedication to his craft and his place in Genesis, one of the most influential rock bands of the day, Collins managed to win both popular success and the respect of fellow musicians, hitting the top of the pop charts while also being called upon to perform with such modern legends as Eric Clapton, Sting, Robert Plant and Quincy Jones. His musical credibility and capability have served well many a film that has procured his songwriting services.
Phil Collins was born January 31st, 1951 in Chiswick, England. He got his first drum, one of those noisy tin ones, at the age of 5. His first proper kit came when he was 12, and whether in front of the mirror or the TV he would be drumming along to any music he could.
A natural performer Collins attended stage school, and was soon playing in London's West End as the Artful Dodger in the musical Oliver. The cheeky Cockney image from Dickens camenaturally and would stand him in good stead during his future successes. He soon formed a band called The Real Thing and played his first gigs.
Because of his unfaltering dedication to his craft and his place in Genesis, one of the most influential rock bands of the day, Collins managed to win both popular success and the respect of fellow musicians, hitting the top of the pop charts while also being called upon to perform with such modern legends as Eric Clapton, Sting, Robert Plant and Quincy Jones. His musical credibility and capability have served well many a film that has procured his songwriting services.
With a remarkable combination of middle-of-the-road appeal and talent and vision that has produced some of the better music of his time, composer-singer-drummer-actor Phil Collins has made an indelible impact on the entertainment industry. Truly one of the hardest working men in show business, he has written for and performed with two legendary and vastly different bands, found great success as a solo artist and nursed a budding acting career, all at the same time.
