Phil Collins is a cult English actor, drummer, record producer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist. He began experimenting with drums at the tender age of five. His first contact with fame and popularity was his work as a drummer for the famous pop-rock band Genesis. The young Phil Collins showed his interest in drums during his school days when he was a drummer in a stage school band.
The musician, whose genres are pop, progressive rock, soft rock, and jazz-fusion, later released several solo albums, including hits such as I Don’t Care Anymore, You Can’t Hurry Love, Another Day in Paradise, One More Night, Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now), Two Hearts and In the Air Tonight. Between 1982 and 1989 he won seven number-one singles in the USA and three in the UK. The sum total of his work with both Genesis and other bands, as well as his prolific solo albums, is proof that the veteran musician has recorded more US TOP 40 singles than any other well-known singer in the 1980s.
Phil Collins Age and Early Life
The legendary singer was born on January 30, 1951, as Philip David Charles Collins in Chiswick, Middlesex, London. His father, Philip Austin Collins, was an insurance agent, while his mother, Winifred June Collins, was a theater agent. Phil is one of three children; he has a brother – Clive Collins, who grew up to be a cartoonist and a sister who became an ice skater.
He began playing drums at the age of five, first with a drum set, before moving on to a makeshift drum, which was followed by a more challenging set – a gift from his parents. Phil attended Barbara Speake’s stage school of the same name and began professional acting training at the age of 14. As a teenager, he formally studied the basics of drumming, but he initially learned the basics under the tutelage of Frank King and Lloyd Ryan.
ALSO READ: Fan Bingbing Bio, Net Worth, Plastic Surgery, Where Is She Now?
His Career
Phil began his career on the set of Oliver!, a London stage production in which he played the infamous Artful Dodger. Later, music took over his occupation and he entered the studio as a drummer for the iconic band Genesis and later became a singer. The young artist took over the vocals when the then leader Peter Gabriel quit in 1975. He scored a hit with the song Invisible Touch.
Phil Collins’ debut solo album, Face Value, was released in February 1981 and the album, which had the support of the popular single In The Air Tonight, became a huge hit. His second album, released in November 1982, was entitled Hello, I Must Be Going. It included hit singles like I Don’t Care Anymore, and You Can’t Hurry Love.
The soundtrack of the film Against All Odds was a single called Two Hearts, which Phil Collins released in 1984. The song earned him a Golden Globe nomination and an Oscar nomination for best original song. In the same vein, No Jacket Required, his third album, increased his popularity around the world through his massive success. With the film Buster, Collins recorded his debut cameo on the big screen.
Phil Collins Net Worth
Over the years, the music icon has accumulated a staggering net worth of $260 million over his career in the entertainment industry. Considering how fruitful his career has been, this amount is not surprising.
Is He Gay?
If Phil Collins suddenly came out with an explanation of his gay status, it would certainly come as a surprise. Although the singer has repeatedly refuted rumors about his possible gay status, there is still a lot of speculation in the media. But for the record: Phil Collins is not gay.
ALSO READ: Justin Jackson Girlfriend, Wife (Brooke Copeland), Parents, Height
Phil Collins’ Wife, Daughter, and Son
Phil Collins was married to three women and had four children. His first marriage was with Andrea Bertorelli in 1975; they met when they were children but were separated when Andrea’s parents moved to Canada. They met again at the age of 18 at a Genesis performance in Vancouver and finally tied the marriage knot in England at the age of 24. Their son, Simon Collins, was born in 1976. Like his father, he grew up to be a drummer and singer in the progressive band Sound of Contact. Andrea also has a daughter, Joely, from a previous relationship who became a film producer and actress. Unfortunately, Phil and Andrea were divorced in 1980.
The musician married his second wife, Jill Tavelman, in 1980. The couple divorced in 1996 after giving birth to a daughter, Lily Collins, born in 1989. His third wife, Orianne Cevey, is a Swiss citizen; they married in 1999, had two sons, Matthew and Nicholas Collins, but were finally divorced in 2008. In January 2016 the couple reconciled and got back together. Phil and Orianne have been together ever since.
Phil Collins Height and Weight
The talented entertainer has an average height of 1.68 m (5 feet 6). His other body measurements are not known. However, it can be assumed that the musician is in good shape since he is still on tour and performing.