With a career spanning over fifty years, Phil Collins – drummer, singer, songwriter, producer, and rock & roll icon – is one of the most commercially successful artists of all time, selling more than 150 million records worldwide as both a solo artist and a member of Genesis. Collins first rose to prominence behind the drum kit, but his distinctive voice and emotionally direct songwriting made him a global star. While he started in progressive rock, he embraced pop, R&B, and soul – skillfully bridging genres with an instinct for melody and feel.

Collins joined Genesis in 1970, quickly establishing himself as one of the most inventive and technically gifted drummers of his generation. Stepping into the role of lead singer in 1975 after Peter Gabriel’s departure, he helped guide Genesis’ evolution from expansive arrangements toward tightly crafted, radio-ready songs, yielding hits like “Follow You Follow Me,” “Misunderstanding,” and “That’s All.” At the same time, he launched a solo career with the groundbreaking albums Face Value and Hello, I Must Be Going!, which featured stark and innovative sounds. The confessional single “In the Air Tonight” showcased an iconic gated-reverb drum sound that became a defining sonic signature of the 1980s. Collins revealed his affinity for soul on covers like “You Can’t Hurry Love,” while his originals such as “Against All Odds” and “Take Me Home” demonstrated his mastery of songwriting, arrangement, and studio production.

By the mid-1980s, Collins was one of the world’s biggest stars. In 1985, he made history as the only artist to perform at both Live Aid concerts in London and Philadelphia on the same day, by which time his chart-topping album No Jacket Required had spawned several major hits and would go on to earn multiple Grammy Awards. Over the course of his career, Collins has won eight Grammys, six Brit Awards, two Golden Globes, and an Academy Award, in addition to receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and inductions into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis.

A defining voice of his era, Collins has influenced generations of musicians, and his songs continue to resonate on radio, in film, and across streaming platforms. Artists including Adele, Taylor Swift, Brandy, Pharrell Williams, Questlove, Justin Timberlake, and Lorde have cited him as a major inspiration.

Nominee: Phil Collins