Phil Collins, the British drummer/singer/song writer from the British rock.
group Genesis, has added very much to the music world through his heart.
grabbing lyrics and original musical sounds. Collins is one of the great.
music artists of today and his many noted awards proof it. Born.
in 1951 London, Collins grew up with the sounds of the Beatles. His.
mother, June Collins, disapproved of his musical interests, and tried to.
direct his attention toward acting. She was a successful agent for child.
actors, and had gotten Collins' older brother and sister to bring out.
their creative talents in the performing arts. Clive Collins, Phil's.
older brother was a cartoonist for the London tabloid the Sun. The.
sister, Carole, was a professional ice skater and theatrical agent. .
Phil's father, in the insurance business, hoped his son would not follow.
the footsteps of his siblings and take a quiet job in an office somewhere.
His mother wanted him to follow his natural talents, which she thought.
was acting. Phil took many parts on T.V. and film, as well as a part on.
the London stage in the production of Oliver! because of her. .
Phil did not care much for acting but instead developed his own interests.
of the drums. At five he began playing. At ten he owned his own set. At.
twelve he bought his first Beatles' album, "Please Please Me". After that.
he immersed himself in Brit rock, and American soul including Motown.
sounds of the Supremes, the Four Tops, and the Temptations. .
Collins dropped out of school in 1967 to become a full-time rock drummer,.
of course with opposition from his mother. For the next few years he.
played in a series of inconsequential bands until his first victory in.
1970 when he auditioned for and won the spot of drummer for the seminal.
art-rock group, Genesis. Headed by Peter Gabriel it was gaining much.
popularity among British college students. Collins hid behind the.
