English singer, musician, songwriter, record producer and actor most known as the drummer and later lead singer of the rock band Genesis and for his subsequent career as a solo performer. Between 1982 and 1990, Collins achieved three UK and seven US number one singles as a solo artist. When his work with Genesis, his work with other artists, as well as his solo career is totalled, he had more US top 40 singles than any other artist during the 1980s.
He entered the world of entertainment playing in Humpty Dumpty at the age of six, performed in stage play Oliver at 14, toured the U.K. promoting products and was an extra in the Beatles’ Hard Days Night. He joined Genesis in September 1970 and became the lead singer in May 1975 after Peter Gabriel left. Their hits included “In the Air Tonight,” “Against All Odds” and “Another Day in Paradise.” In January 1981, Collins signed a deal for a solo record.
On 5 May 1983, he and the other members of Genesis won the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award. In 1985, he won Best Male Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards and Best Song Musically and Lyrically at the Ivor Movello Awards. In 1986, he was the recipient of Best British Male Artist, Best British Album for Britain and Best Pop Vocal Performance and Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards. He won an Oscar on 26 March 2000 for “Original Song” having written and sung it for the Disney movie, Tarzan. Each year Collins was honored with some achievement award, performed at sold-old concerts, made guest appearances on movies and TV talk shows, did voice-overs for major film studios including Disney and wrote songs that were placed on the top 10.
He and his first wife separated in 1981. A second marriage produced a daughter, Lily Jane, born 18 March 1989, joining half-siblings, Joely and Simon.
At 50, Collins and his third wife, 24-year-younger Swiss-born Orianne Cevey, 28, had their first child together. Nicholas Grev Austin was born on 21 April 2001 in Geneva, Switzerland, where his parents (who had been married since 24 July 1999) lived. “It is difficult to express just how happy Orianne and I are with the arrival of little Nicholas,” said Collins, whose 1999 “You’ll Be in My Heart” took the Academy Award for best song. His spokeswoman said that British rocker is currently working on a studio album and a new animated feature for Disney.
The British musician and his wife Orianne welcomed their son Mathew [sic] on 1 December 2004 in Geneva. They announced their separation on 15 March 2006 after six years of marriage. Phil has 5 children. Nicholas, born 21 April 2001, joined Genesis in 2021, for “the last tour” called “The last Domino.” Nic plays also as drummer.
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