Phil Collins - The Singles (2xLP)British pop rock musician (drummer, singer, pianist), songwriter and actor, born 30 January 1951 in Chiswick, London, England, UK. Inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003. Best known as a member of [a=Genesis], whom he joined in 1970 as a drummer, then becoming the lead vocalist in 1975 after the departure of [a=Peter Gabriel]. He began a solo career in 1981, while remaining a member of Genesis. Father of [a=Simon Collins] (with his first wife;