Phil Collins

* Phil Collins was also the 2010 recipient of The Johnny Mercer Award, the SHOF’s highest honor

The career of Phil Collins is one, which, by any measure, stands among the most prolific, creative, and impressive in the history of modern music. It is a career that really has been many careers - drummer, singer, composer, producer- from art rock beginnings to huge pop stardom, from big band leader to soundtrack master. It has been an exceptional musical life spanning over three decades, some 100 million solo albums sold (250 million including his work with Genesis), seven Grammy Awards, and an enviable string of hits.

There was a time, of course, when Phil was ubiquitous and inescapable - one of the dominant musical presences across the entire planet. Such validation was wonderful, in many ways. And while chart topping songs like "In The Air Tonight," "Against All Odds," and "Another Day In Paradise" ably represented the more serious side of Phil's work, such smashes as "Sussudio," "You Can't Hurry Love," and "Two Hearts" helped establish a sunny, upbeat, and light-hearted public persona - one that proved hard to dilute.

With his 2004 solo album, Testify - his first in six years - Collins places himself firmly within the realm of grown-up pop once again. And, indisputably, he is sounding better than ever. Defined by Collins's signature voice and unmistakable musical imprint, the album is the sound of a man newly comfortable with himself, and with the world he has shaped around him. "You can try to court approval by making an album self-consciously influenced by this or that fashion - God knows, artists older than me have done it! But, to me, it's just a case of mutton dressing up as lamb. If you aren't fully at ease yourself, your fans won't like it, no one is convinced... So, I ended up doing exactly what I wanted."

His film scoring work continues to play a major role in his musical life. Collins could hardly have made a more auspicious debut than with Tarzan: it resulted not only in that clutch of statuettes, but also a huge hit single with "You'll Be In My Heart." He is following up that triumph with work on two other, yet-to-be-seen animated projects for Disney - Tarzan 2, and Brother Bear. There is also the possibility that he will be helping to bring Tarzan to the stage as a Lion King-style show.

In 2003, Collins served as "house drummer" for the spectacular Queen's Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace - where he backed everyone from Ozzy Osbourne to longtime mate Eric Clapton. Asked about taking on such a task, Phil said, with typical understatement, "Behind the drums is where I live, although I do like to visit other places." Needless to say, these visits have led Phil from one achievement to another.