Phil Collins

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• Genre: Adult Contemporary
• Phil Collins Website

About

In 1970, Phil Collins answered a "drummer wanted" ad in the back of Melody Maker magazine, auditioned at the home of Peter Gabriel's parents and joined a band called Genesis just as they emerged as one of the world's best progressive rock bands. When Gabriel quit the band in 1975, Collins became the singer, a tenure that spanned 21 years and produced many chart-topping songs, such as "Invisible Touch" and "Land of Confusion." His 1980 first solo album, Face Value, was a huge commercial success due in part to the FM radio staple "In the Air Tonight." His Grammy-winning "Against All Odds" and 1985's No Jacket Required made him a darling of the emerging MTV generation. Collins was seemingly everywhere during the 1980s.

He performed at two Live Aid concerts on the same day in 1985: London's Wembley Stadium and Philadelphia's JFK Stadium, where he drummed with a reunited Led Zeppelin. Shortly after disbanding Genesis in 1996 he formed the Phil Collins Big Band and released one record, A Hot Night in Paris. He won an Oscar in 1999 for "You'll Be in My Heart" from the Disney film Tarzan. That year, Collins appeared as himself in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.

- Nate Baker