A compilation album is an album (music or spoken-word) featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources (such as studio albums, live albums, singles, demos and outtakes.) The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter. When the tracks are all essentially by the same recording artist, a ''compilation album'' is often referred to as a retrospective album. Compilation albums may employ traditional product bundling strategies.

Common types

Common types of compilation include:

Single-artist "greatest hits", "best of", or "singles collection" LPs, gathering together an artist's best-known songs. If the artist or group continues to record, compilers commonly include one or more previously unreleased tracks as an incentive for fans to buy the album, even if they already have the other material on the compilation.

Other single-artist compilations, such as rarities or B-side collections, albums compiled from radio sessions, songs performed by an artist exclusively for a film soundtrack or collections that combine multiple releases, such as LPs and EPs together on one or more compact discs. Such compilations generally target existing fans of the artist and have little mainstream appeal, though postmortem compilations of unreleased materials from recently deceased artists have significant popularity.

Box sets, elaborate multi-disc collections often covering the entire breadth of an artist's career or the full sweep of an entire record label or genre. Many anthologies are released in this format.

Various artist themed compilations, e.g. love songs, Christmas songs, songs featuring a particular instrument (such as saxophone or piano), and countless other variations.

Various artist genre compilations, e.g. jazz, synthpop, rock, etc. These may be from the same time period (Year, decade or era, for example), or may incorporate a common theme. An example is a soundtrack.

Various artist hit compilations. This has been a very successful part of the album market since the early 1970s. Recent hit singles are gathered together in one place. In the 1970s, these were often single vinyl LPs with 10 to 12 tracks or more. In the 1980s, a double album with 6 or 8 tracks on each side became the norm. Now that CDs are the dominant format, these compilations are usually released on one, two, or three CDs.

Promotional compilations or Samplers. These are creative, successful forms of promotion for artists and/or record labels to promote their music. Generally, these types of releases are free or cost very little for the consumer or end listener. Elektra Records released the first sampler albums: in the 1950s.

Private label promotional compilations. Promotional compilation CDs can be private labeled for products, retail outlets, or commercial organizations or non-profit organizations. Artists and labels like to co-brand themselves with well-known brands for marketing purposes, and transversely well-known brands like to co-brand themselves with artists.

Business-to-business promotional compilations. Other types of promotional compilations are used within the music industry in a business-to-business capacity to promote artists to media concerns (radio stations, music supervisors for TV, film or video games for synchronization)

Composer/producer albums. Many hip hop and reggaeton producers will release a compilation album, which feature various artists. Every track on the album will be composed by the same producer.

Famous compilation series

United States and United Kingdom

1960s–1970s

''Motown Chartbusters'' (Motown, 1967–1982), series of 12 label samplers plus variants

''The Rock Machine Turns You On'' (1968) and subsequent budget-price samplers produced by CBS in the UK

''You Can All Join In'' (1969), first of a series of Island Records samplers

''Nuggets'' (Elektra, 1972) collection of 1960s garage rock

1980s

Now That's What I Call Music! (Polygram/Virgin/EMI, 1983–present) – recent hit singles

The Hits Album (CBS/WEA, 1984–1989 and Telstar/Global TV, 1993–present) – recent hits

''A Very Special Christmas'' (A&M;, 1987–2003) Christmas album benefiting the Special Olympics

1990s

Mushroom Jazz (Om Records, (1992–present) – genre broken beat/nu jazz/hip-hop

The Best... Album in the World...Ever! (Virgin Records, 1993–present) – genre & themed (e.g. The Best Christmas...)

Sessions (Ministry of Sound, 1993–present. Includes ''Summer Sessions'', ''Chillout Session'', ''Defected Sessions'' etc. – genre (Dance/electronic)

Café del Mar (Manifesto, 1994–present) – genre (dance/ambient)

Jock Jams (Tommy Boy, 1995–~2001) – genre and themed (dance/techno/sports)

The Annual (Ministry of Sound). 1995–present. The World's best selling dance series. – genre (Dance/electronic)

Bonkers (Resist Music, 1996–present) – genre (happy hardcore/UK)

Global Underground (Boxed, 1996–present) – genre (Dance/electronic)

Dance Nation, 1996–present, Ministry of Sound – genre (Dance/electronic)

Pure Moods (Virgin Records, 1997–2004) – genre (New age)

EMI Songbook Series (EMI, 1999, spotlight of favorite music of featured artist)

20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection ((Universal Music Group, 1999–present))

Have a Nice Day (CD series) - 70s music (Rhino Records, 1990–1996, 25 volumes)

Trance Nation (Ministry of Sound), 1999–present – genre (Dance/electronic)

2000s

Clubbers Guide to..., 2000–present, Ministry of Sound – genre (Dance/electronic)

The Essential (Sony BMG, 2000–present)

Gold (Universal Music Group, 2005–present)

Saint-Germain-des-Prés Café, (2001–present) – genre nu jazz/deep house

Simply the Best..., (Warner Music) – genre & themed (e.g. ''Simply The Best Movie Album'')

Endzeit Bunkertracks, (Alfa Matrix, 2005–present) – genre Electro-Industrial/Noise/Dark Electro

''Dark Was The Night'' (4AD, 2009–present) - Contains songs from many independent artists. A part of the AIDS Benefit Series.

Essential R&B; (Sony BMG, 2004–present)

Housexy (Ministry of Sound), 2005–present – genre (Dance/electronic)

Fabriclive (Fabric, 2000–present)

Punk Goes... (Fearless Records, 2000–present) - genre pop/punk/metal

Addicted To Bass (Ministry of Sound), 2009–present – genre (Dance/electronic)

Australia

100% Hits – Top-40 tracks

Ministry Of Sound Annuals – dance music (yearly)

House Party! - dance music

So Fresh – Top-20 tracks, quarterly, with an additional 20 tracks each summer, comprising the best-selling tracks of the year

Triple J Hottest 100 – a selection from the overall yearly poll

Now – Top-20 tracks, quarterly (similar to So Fresh)

Japan

Super Eurobeat (Avex, 1990–present) – genre : eurobeat

Dancemania (Toshiba EMI, 1996–present) – genre : dance

Image (Sony Music Entertainment Japan, 2000–present) - genre : easy listening

See also

List of garage rock and psychedelic rock compilation albums

List of punk compilation albums

Mix album

Mixtape

Product bundling

Shovelware

Category:Album types

ar:ألبوم التجميع ca:Àlbum recopilatori cs:Kompilační album cy:Albwm dethol da:Opsamlingsalbum de:Kompilation (Medien) et:Kogumikalbum es:Álbum recopilatorio fa:آلبوم گردآوری‌شده fr:Compilation (musique) id:Album kompilasi it:Compilation ka:კომპილაციური ალბომი lt:Kompiliacija (albumas) hu:Válogatásalbum ms:Album himpunan nl:Verzamelalbum ja:コンピレーション・アルバム no:Samlealbum pl:Kompilacja (muzyka) pt:Coletânea musical ro:Compilație (muzică) ru:Сборник (музыка) simple:Compilation album sk:Kompilácia (album) fi:Kokoelmalevy sv:Samlingsalbum th:อัลบั้มรวมเพลง zh:合輯

name	116 Clique
background	group_or_band
origin	Dallas USA
genre	Christian hip hop
years active	2005-present
label	Reach Records
website	Reach Records.com
current members	Lecrae Tedashii Trip Lee Sho Baraka KB PRo Andy Mineo
former members	Thi'sl Json
notable instruments	}}

The 116 Clique (pronounced one-one-six click) is a Hip Hop and Christian Rap group from Dallas, Texas signed to Reach Records. It consists mainly of Reach Records' artists and several on other labels. The 116 Clique is named after the Bible verse Romans 1:16. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile." For them it means acknowledging the power of the Gospel and to proclaim it in every area of their life. "We can lay our lives down to serve and glorify God in everything we do." Their newest album, ''Man Up'', was expected to be released July 23, 2011. However, due to being pushed back, the official release date is now September 27, 2011.

Discography

Debuting with ''The Compilation Album'' in 2005, DJ Primo remixed the original recordings the following year with ''The Compilation Album: Chopped and Screwed''. The remix album was released in 2006 and included four bonus tracks. In 2007 they released ''13 Letters'', the album name representing the 13 letters Paul wrote to first-century Christians.

Albums

Year	Title	Chart positions
		! width="60"	! width="60"
	''The Compilation Album''	* First compilation album	* Released: December 27, 2005	* Label: Reach Records	align="center"
align="center"
	''The Compilation Album: Chopped & Screwed''	* First remix album	* Released: July 6, 2006	* Label: Reach Records	align="center"
align="center"
	''13 Letters''	* Second compilation album	* Released: June 19, 2007	* Label: Reach Records
		* Third compilation album	* Released: August 28, 2007	* Label: Reach Records		align="center"
	''Man Up''	* Fourth compilation album	* Release Date: September 27, 2011	* Label: Reach Records	align="center"
align="center"

"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Singles

"Man Up Anthem"

Tours

In 2008, Trip Lee, Sho Baraka and Tedashii went on the Unashamed Tour. In 2009, Lecrae, Tedashii, Sho Baraka, Trip Lee and FLAME went on the Don't Waste Your Life Tour. Also in 2009, Lecrae, After Edmund, Sho Baraka, Tedashii and Mikeschair went on the Altered Minds tour. In 2010, Lecrae, Tedashii, Trip Lee, Sho Baraka, PRO and DJ Official went on the Unashamed Tour 2010.

Lecrae was on the ''2011 Mission Cruise'' (Cruise With A Cause) on May 30-June 4, 2011.

''Unashamed'' (Summer 2008) Lecrae, Tedashii, Trip Lee, Sho Baraka ''Don't Waste Your Life'' (Summer 2009) FLAME, Lecrae, Tedashii, Trip Lee, Sho Baraka ''Altered Minds'' (Fall 2009) After Edmund, Lecrae, Mikeschair, Tedashii, Sho Baraka ''Unashamed 2010: The Movement'' (Fall 2010) Lecrae, PRO, Tedashii, Trip Lee, Sho Baraka, DJ Official

References

External links

Official myspace page

Reach Records

Category:American hip hop groups Category:Christian hip hop groups Category:Performers of Christian hip hop music

sw:116 Clique sv:116 Clique

name	Phil Collins
landscape	yes
background	solo_singer
birth name	Philip David Charles Collins
birth date	January 30, 1951
birth place	London, England, UK
instrument	Drums, vocals, piano, guitar, keyboards, percussion
genre	Progressive rock, rock, pop,jazz fusion, R&B;
occupation	Singer-songwriter, musician, actor
years active	1968–2011
label	Virgin, Atlantic
associated acts	Genesis, Brand X, Flaming Youth, Philip Bailey, Eric Clapton, The Phil Collins Big Band, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
website	}}

Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO (born 30 January 1951) is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for English progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist.

Collins sang the lead vocals on several chart hits in the United Kingdom and the United States between 1978 and 1994, either as a solo artist or with Genesis. His singles, often dealing with lost love, ranged from the drum-heavy "In the Air Tonight", dance pop of "Sussudio", piano-driven "Against All Odds", to the political statements of "Another Day in Paradise".

Collins's professional music career began as a drummer, first with Flaming Youth and then more famously with Genesis. In Genesis, Collins originally supplied backing vocals for front man Peter Gabriel, singing lead on only two songs: "For Absent Friends" from 1971's ''Nursery Cryme'' album and "More Fool Me" from ''Selling England by the Pound'', which was released in 1973. Following Gabriel's departure in 1975, Collins became the group's lead singer.

His solo career, heavily influenced by his personal life, brought both him and Genesis commercial success. According to Atlantic Records, Collins's total worldwide sales as a solo artist, as of 2000, were 150 million. He has won seven Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and two Golden Globes for his solo work. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010.

Collins is one of only three recording artists (along with Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson) who have sold over 100 million albums worldwide both as solo artists and (separately) as principal members of a band. When his work with Genesis, his work with other artists, as well as his solo career is totalled, Collins had more top 40 hits on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart during the 1980s than any other artist. In 2008, Collins was ranked the 22nd most successful artist on the "The Billboard Hot 100 Top All-Time Artists".

Early life

Collins was born in Chiswick, London, England, the son of June, a theatrical agent, and Greville Collins, an insurance agent. He was given a toy drum kit for Christmas when he was five. Later, his uncle made him a makeshift one that he used regularly. As Collins grew older these were followed by more complete sets bought by his parents. He practiced by playing alongside the television and radio, and never learned to read and write conventional musical notation; instead, he uses a system he devised himself.

Early career

His professional training began at fourteen when he entered Barbara Speake Stage School. He began a career as a child actor and model, and won his first major role as The Artful Dodger in the London production of ''Oliver!''. He was an extra in The Beatles' ''A Hard Day's Night'', one of hundreds of screaming teenagers during the TV concert sequence and seen fleetingly in a close-up. He was also in ''Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'' as one of the children who storms the castle at the end of the movie, but it was cut. He also auditioned for the role of Romeo in ''Romeo and Juliet'' (1968), a role won by fellow Artful Dodger actor, Leonard Whiting. Collins was among the last three finalists for the role of I.Q. on the American children's television show ''The Bugaloos'' (he lost out to English actor/musician John McIndoe).

Despite the beginnings of an acting career, Collins continued to gravitate towards music. While attending Chiswick Community School he formed a band called The Real Thing and later joined The Freehold. With the latter group, he wrote his first song titled "Lying Crying Dying".

Collins's first record deal came as drummer for Flaming Youth who released a single album, ''Ark 2'' (1969). A concept album inspired by the recent media attention surrounding the moon landing, ''Ark 2'' (with Ronnie Caryl, Brian Chatton and Gordon (Flash) Smith), failed to make much commercial success despite positive critical reviews. ''Melody Maker'' featured the album as "Pop Album of the Month", describing it as "adult music beautifully played with nice tight harmonies". The album's main single, "From Now On", failed on the radio. After a year of touring, band tensions and the lack of commercial success dissolved the group. In 1970, the 19-year old Collins played percussion on the George Harrison song "The Art of Dying". Harrison credited him in the liner notes to the remastered CD version of the album released in 2000.

Genesis era

In 1970, Collins answered a ''Melody Maker'' classified ad for "...a drummer sensitive to acoustic music, and acoustic twelve-string guitarist". Genesis placed the ad after having already lost three drummers over two albums. The audition occurred at the home of Peter Gabriel's parents. Prospective candidates performed tracks from the group's second album, ''Trespass'' (1970). Collins arrived early, listened to the other auditions while swimming in Gabriel's parents' pool, and memorised the pieces before his turn.

Collins won the audition. ''Nursery Cryme'' was released a year later. Although his role remained primarily that of drummer and backing vocalist for the next five years, he twice sang lead vocals: once on "For Absent Friends" (from ''Nursery Cryme'') and once on "More Fool Me" (from ''Selling England by the Pound'').

In 1974, while Genesis were recording the concept album ''The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway'', Brian Eno (who is credited with "Enossification" for electronic vocal effects on the track "Grand Parade of Lifeless Packaging") needed a drummer for his album ''Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)''. Collins was sent to fill the gap, and played drums in lieu of payment for Eno's work with the band.

In 1975, following the final tour supporting the album ''The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway'', Gabriel left the group to pursue a solo career. Collins became lead vocalist after a lengthy but ultimately fruitless search for Gabriel's replacement (where he sang back up with the over 400 hopefuls that reportedly auditioned). In the short term, the group recruited former Yes and King Crimson drummer Bill Bruford to play drums during live shows, although Collins continued to play during longer instrumental sections. Bruford's drumming can be heard on the track "The Cinema Show" on the live album ''Seconds Out''. He was soon replaced by ex-Frank Zappa band member Chester Thompson, who became a mainstay of the band's live line-up. Collins, however, continued to play drums on all of the band's studio recordings.

The first album with Collins as lead vocalist, 1976's ''A Trick of the Tail'', reached the American Top 40, and peaked high as #3 on the UK charts. Said ''Rolling Stone'', "Genesis has managed to turn the possible catastrophe of Gabriel's departure into their first broad-based American success." Following the recording of Genesis's next album ''Wind and Wuthering'' guitarist Steve Hackett left the group to pursue his own solo career. The group decided to continue as a trio for recording with Mike Rutherford playing guitar and bass in the studio, although the lineup was regularly augmented by Chester Thompson and American guitarist Daryl Stuermer for concert tours.

Collins simultaneously performed in a jazz fusion group called Brand X. The band recorded their first album, ''Unorthodox Behaviour'', with Collins as drummer, but because Genesis was Collins's priority, there were several Brand X tours and albums without him. Collins credits Brand X as his first use of a drum machine as well as his first use of a home 8-track tape machine.

Collins also performed on Steve Hackett's first solo album, ''Voyage of the Acolyte'', on which he sang lead vocals and played drums.

As the decade closed, Genesis began a shift from their progressive rock roots and toward more accessible, radio-friendly pop-rock music. The album ''...And Then There Were Three...'' featured their first UK Top 10 and U.S. Top 40 single, "Follow You Follow Me".

In the 1980s, while Collins developed as a songwriter and established a parallel career as a solo artist, Genesis recorded a series of highly successful albums including ''Duke'', ''Abacab'', ''Genesis'', and ''Invisible Touch''. The latter album's title track reached #1 on the American ''Billboard'' singles chart, the only Genesis song to do so. The group received an MTV "Video of the Year" nomination in 1987 for the single "Land of Confusion" (which featured puppet caricatures created by the British satirical team ''Spitting Image'') but lost out to Peter Gabriel's solo hit, "Sledgehammer". Reviews were generally positive, with ''Rolling Stone'''s J. D. Considine stating, "every tune is carefully pruned so that each flourish delivers not an instrumental epiphany but a solid hook."

Collins left Genesis in 1996 to focus on his solo career. The last studio album with him as the lead singer was 1991's ''We Can't Dance''. He and Gabriel reunited with other Genesis members in 1999 to re-record "The Carpet Crawlers" for Genesis's ''Turn It on Again: The Hits''. When in the mid-2000s discussions of a possible Genesis reunion arose, Collins stated that he would prefer to return as the drummer, with Gabriel handling the vocals. Eventually Turn It On Again: The Tour was announced for 2007, with the Collins/Rutherford/Banks lineup.

In March 2010, Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio was asked to pay tribute to Genesis, one of his favourite bands, upon being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In addition to Anastasio's speech, Phish appeared and performed two Genesis songs, "Watcher of the Skies" and "No Reply At All". Collins and his Genesis bandmates (minus Peter Gabriel) attended the ceremony but they did not perform.

Solo career

Early solo recordings (1981–1983)

The dominant theme running through Collins's early solo recordings (although never specifically mentioned in his songs) was the acrimonious breakdown of his first marriage and then-recent divorce. Two songs he wrote on the Genesis album ''Duke'', "Please Don't Ask", and the Top 20 hit "Misunderstanding", dealt with failed relationships. One year earlier, he had played drums and sung backing vocals on John Martyn's ''Grace and Danger'', an album whose main theme is also marriage break-up. With the recording of his first solo album, ''Face Value'', Collins attributed his divorce as his main influence, as can be inferred from songs such as "If Leaving Me Is Easy". Collins made his live debut as a solo performer, appearing at the invitation of producer Martin Lewis at the Amnesty International benefit show, ''The Policeman's Other Ball'' at the Theatre Royal in London in September 1981, performing two songs from ''Face Value'' including "In the Air Tonight" and "The Roof is Leaking" accompanying himself on piano. ''Face Value'' became a surprise international success topping the charts in at least seven countries and hitting the top ten of the Billboard 200 eventually going triple-platinum in the U.S. Hits from the album included "In the Air Tonight", "I Missed Again" and "If Leaving Me Is Easy". In 1982, he produced ABBA member Frida's solo album, ''Something's Going On'', which helped to spawn the title track, "I Know There's Something Going On", which became a hit.

Much like ''Face Value'', many of the songs from Collins's 1982 follow-up album, ''Hello, I Must Be Going!'', came from Collins's marital problems with his first wife such as "I Don't Care Anymore" and "Do You Know and Do You Care". Collins’s early albums had a dark presence, usually heavy on the drums. Regarding ''Face Value'', he says, "I had a wife, two children, two dogs, and the next day I didn't have anything. So a lot of these songs were written because I was going through these emotional changes." There were occasional poppier influences–''Face Value'''s "Behind the Lines", for example, was a jazzy remake of a Genesis song he co-wrote. ''Face Value'' was a critical and multi-platinum success, and saw Collins’s profile increase further. ''Hello, I Must Be Going!'' gave him a UK #1 for his cover of The Supremes' "You Can't Hurry Love". The album went triple-platinum in the United States, like its predecessor. The Supremes' cover was his first Top 10 U.S. hit (it also hit the Top 10 of Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart). The album also reached #2 on the UK album chart, spending well over a year there.

Two years before, Collins had played drums on Peter Gabriel's third self-titled record (often referred to as ''Melt''), the first record to feature the "gated reverb" sound, which was used on the song "Intruder". Gabriel reportedly "didn't want any metal on the record" and asked Collins to leave his cymbals at home, to concentrate on the sound of his kit more heavily than usual. Studio engineer Hugh Padgham augmented the drum sound by using a microphone normally intended for studio communication rather than recording and feeding it through a signal processor called a noise gate. This allowed the reverberation added to the drums to be suddenly cut off before it naturally decayed. The result was the arresting "gated reverb" which became Collins signature sound. This was the same 'big drum sound' used on such songs as "In The Air Tonight", "Mama" by Genesis, and Frida's "There's Something Going On".

Superstardom (1984–1992)

Collins changed his musical style with the release of the ballad, "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)", which was the theme song to the movie of the same name in 1984. The more pop-friendly and radio-accessible single became Collins's first solo single to reach number-one on the Billboard Hot 100. Later that year, Collins contributed to production on Earth, Wind & Fire singer Phillip Bailey's debut album, ''''Chinese Wall'''', collaborating with Bailey on the hit duet, "Easy Lover". Collins featured on Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas", he played drums and sang on the song. Collins released his most successful album, ''No Jacket Required'', in early 1985. It contained the hits "Sussudio", "One More Night", "Don't Lose My Number", and "Take Me Home", as well as the less known yet equally robust "Who Said I Would", and "Only You Know and I Know". The album featured Sting, Helen Terry and ex-bandmate Peter Gabriel as backing vocalists. He also recorded the successful song "Separate Lives", a duet with Marilyn Martin, and an American number one, for the movie ''White Nights''. Collins had three American number one songs in 1985, the most by any artist that year. ''No Jacket Required'' went on to win several Grammy awards including Album of the Year.

''No Jacket Required'' received criticism that the album was too safe, despite its upbeat reviews and commercial success. A positive review by David Fricke of ''Rolling Stone'' ended, "After years on the art-rock fringe, Collins has established himself firmly in the middle of the road. Perhaps he should consider testing himself and his new fans' expectations next time around." "Sussudio" also drew criticism for sounding too similar to Prince's "1999", a charge that Collins did not deny. Nevertheless, the album went straight to #1 in the U.S. and UK. In 1985, Collins was invited by Bob Geldof to perform at the Live Aid charity event. Collins had the distinction of being the only performer to appear at both the UK concert at Wembley Stadium and the US concert at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. He accomplished this by performing early in the day at Wembley as both a solo artist and alongside Sting, then transferring to a Concorde flight to the USA enabling him to perform his solo material, and drum for Led Zeppelin and Eric Clapton in Philadelphia. While being a guest on major artists' hit recordings, Collins continued to enjoy solo success even while on tour with Genesis, besides from his number-one duet with Marilyn Martin in 1986, Collins would score two more hits from movies with the singles, "Two Hearts" (1988) and "Groovy Kind of Love" (1988), the latter two from the soundtrack of his feature film, ''Buster''.

In 1989, Collins produced another successful album, ''...But Seriously'', featuring the anti-homelessness anthem "Another Day in Paradise", with David Crosby on backing vocals. (Collins later went on to co-write, sing and play on the song "Hero" on Crosby's 1993 album ''Thousand Roads''.) "Another Day in Paradise" went to Number 1 on the Billboard Charts at the end of 1989 and won Collins a Grammy for Record of the Year (1990). In the process, it became the last #1 US pop hit of the 1980s. The album ''...But Seriously'' became the first #1 US album of the 1990s. Other songs included "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven" (#4 US, #15 UK), "Do You Remember?" (not released in the UK, but a #4 hit in the US), and "I Wish It Would Rain Down" (the latter featuring Clapton on guitar) (#3 US, #7 UK). Songs about apartheid and homelessness demonstrated Collins’s turn to politically-driven material. This theme recurred on his later albums. A live album, ''Serious Hits... Live!'', followed.

Later solo work and Genesis reunion (1993–2008)

Collins's record sales began to drop with the 1993 release of ''Both Sides'', a largely experimental album that, according to Collins, included songs that "were becoming so personal, so private, I didn't want anyone else's input". Featuring a less polished sound and fewer up-tempo songs than his previous albums, ''Both Sides'' was a significant departure. Collins used no backing musicians, performed all the vocal and instrumental parts at his home studio, and used rough vocal takes for the final product. The album was not well received by radio. Its two biggest hits were "Both Sides of the Story" and "Everyday". Collins worked on the album completely independently of his record company, and took them by surprise when he delivered them a completed album that they were unaware he was making.

Collins officially parted ways with Genesis in 1996 to focus on his solo career (Genesis would produce one album without Collins—''...Calling All Stations...''—before going on hiatus). Collins attempted a return to pop music with ''Dance into the Light'', which ''Entertainment Weekly'' reviewed by saying that "(e)ven Phil Collins must know that we all grew weary of Phil Collins". It included minor hits such as the title track and The Beatles-inspired "It's in Your Eyes". Although the album went Gold in the US, it sold considerably less than his previous albums. Despite this, the subsequent tour regularly sold out arenas.

In 1996, Collins formed The Phil Collins Big Band. With Collins as drummer, the band performed jazz renditions of various Collins and Genesis hits. The Phil Collins Big Band did a world tour in 1998 that included a performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival. In 1999, the group released the CD ''A Hot Night in Paris'' including big band versions of "Invisible Touch", "Sussudio", and the more obscure "The Los Endos Suite" from ''A Trick of the Tail''. A compilation album ''...Hits'' was released in 1998 and sold very well, returning Collins to multi-platinum status in America. The album's sole new track, a cover of the Cyndi Lauper hit "True Colors", received considerable play on US Adult Contemporary stations while peaking at #2. Some of Collins's earlier hits (e.g. "I Missed Again", "If Leaving Me Is Easy", etc.) and other successes were not included in this compilation.

Collins's next single, "You'll Be in My Heart", from the Disney animated movie ''Tarzan'', spent 19 weeks at #1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart – the longest time ever up to that point. The song won Collins an Academy Award for Best Song. It was his third nomination in the songwriters category, after being nominated in 1985 and 1989. Collins was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, on 16 June 1999.

In 2002 Collins released ''Testify''. Metacritic's roundup of album reviews found this record to be the worst-reviewed album at the time of its release, though it has since been "surpassed" by three more recent releases. The album's "Can't Stop Loving You" (a Leo Sayer cover) was yet another #1 Adult Contemporary smash hit for Collins. ''Testify'' sold 140,000 copies in the United States by year's end, although a successful worldwide tour followed.

That same year Collins accepted an invitation to drum for the "house band" at a concert celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee. In 2003 announced his last solo tour – the "First Final Farewell Tour", a tongue-in-cheek reference to the multiple farewell tours of other popular artists. In 2006 he worked with Disney on a Broadway production of ''Tarzan'', a musical which received generally mixed reviews. In 2007 Collins reunited with his Genesis bandmates Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford for Turn It On Again: The Tour, a tour of Europe and North America. During the tour Genesis performed at the Live Earth concert at Wembley Stadium. Following the band's performance, presenter Jonathan Ross had to apologise to viewers watching the televised version as Collins had used a swear word while singing "Invisible Touch".

''Going Back'' and retirement (2009–2011)

In October 2009, it was reported that Collins was to record a Motown covers album. He told a German newspaper, "I want the songs to sound exactly like the originals", and that the album would feature up to 30 songs. In January 2010, Chester Thompson said that the album had been completed and would be released some time soon. He also revealed that Collins managed to play the drums on the album despite the adverse effects of his recent spinal operation. It was the first solo album Collins had recorded which consisted entirely of songs written by other people.

''Going Back'' was released on 13 September 2010, entering the UK charts at number 4, rising to number one the following week. In early summer 2010, Collins played six concerts entirely dedicated to the music from ''Going Back''. These included a special programme, ''Phil Collins: One Night Only'', which was broadcast on ITV1 on 18 September 2010.

As of January 2011, Collins has spent 1,730 weeks in German music charts – 766 weeks of them with Genesis albums and singles and 964 weeks with solo releases.

Citing health problems and other concerns, Collins announced on 4 March 2011 that he was taking time off from his career, prompting widespread reports of his retirement. Days later, on 7 March, his UK representative told the press, "He is not, has no intention of, retiring." However, later that day, Collins posted a message to his fans on his own website, confirming his intention to retire in order to focus on his family life.

Drums and other equipment

Phil Collins uses Gretsch drums and Sabian cymbals. Drums (all single headed concert toms except for the snare): 20" Bass Drum, 18" Floor Tom, 16" Floor Tom, 15" Mounted Tom, 12" Tom, 10" Tom, 8" Tom, 14"x4" Snare, 14" Phil Collins Special.

Cymbals: HH Medium Crash 20" – HH Extra Thin Crash 17" – Hi-Hats 15" – HH China 20" – HH Medium-Thin Crash 16" -HH China 22" – HH Raw Bell Dry Ride 21".

Until 1986, Collins played Paiste and Zildjian cymbals. Other drums he's used over the years are Premier, Noble & Cooley, Pearl, Simmons and Ludwig drums. He uses a Ludwig Speed King pedal and Pro Mark sticks.

Other instruments which have become synonymous with Collins's sound (particularly in his post-1978 Genesis and subsequent solo career) include the Roland CR-78 and Roland TR-808 drum machines, Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 synthesizer, and the Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano.

Films, theatre and television

The majority of Collins's film work has been through music. Four of his seven American number one songs came from film soundtracks, and his work on Disney's ''Tarzan'' earned him an Oscar. Collins even sang German, Italian, Spanish and French versions of the Tarzan soundtrack for the respective film versions. Collins's acting career has been brief. As a child, he appeared in three films, although two of the films were for brief moments as an extra. Besides the aforementioned ''A Hard Day's Night'' (1964), Collins's first lead role was in a children's film ''Calamity the Cow'' (1967).

Collins wrote and performed the title song to ''Against All Odds'' in 1984. The song became the first of his seven American number one songs and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Song. Collins was not invited to perform the song at that year's presentation, although he was in the audience as the song's composer. Collins had arranged his U.S. tour to accommodate the possibility of appearing on the telecast in the event his song was nominated for an Oscar. It is believed that the producers of that year's Academy Awards show were not aware of his prominence as a musical performer. A note to Collins's label from telecast co-producer Larry Gelbart explaining the lack of invitation stated, "Thank you for your note regarding ''Phil Cooper'' (emphasis added). I'm afraid the spots have already been filled". Collins instead watched Ann Reinking perform his song. For a long time afterwards, he would introduce his performance of "Against All Odds" at his concerts by saying: "Miss Ann Reinking's not here tonight, so I guess I'll have to sing my own song".

As a vocalist, Collins sang Stephen Bishop's composition "Separate Lives" for the film ''White Nights'' (1985) as a duet with Marilyn Martin. The single of the recording became another number one hit for Collins. The song itself was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song (a category that honours the composer, not the vocalists). Bishop's song had parallels to some of the songs on Collins's first two albums. Writer Stephen Bishop noted that he was inspired by a failed relationship and called "Separate Lives" "a song about anger". When the song was being nominated for an Academy Award, in interviews about the original snub by the Academy for "Against All Odds", Collins would jokingly say "the hell with him – I'm going up too," referring to if Bishop's song were to win the award.

Collins's first film role since becoming a musician came in 1988 with ''Buster'' about the Great Train Robbery, which took place in England in the 1960s. The movie received good reviews and Collins contributed four songs to the film's soundtrack. His rendition of "Groovy Kind of Love", originally a 1966 single by The Mindbenders, with lyrics by Toni Wine and music by Carole Bayer Sager, but with the melody of the Rondo section of Muzio Clementi's "Sonatina in G major", op. 36 no. 5 reached number one. The film also spawned the hit single "Two Hearts", which he wrote in collaboration with legendary Motown songwriter Lamont Dozier; the two artists would go on to win a Golden Globe for Best Original Song and receive an Oscar nomination in the same category, the second such honour for Collins; "Big Noise", written by Phil Collins and Lamont Dozier, which included Collins on vocals (although the song was not released as a single, an instrumental version of this song appeared as the B-side to the single version of "A Groovy Kind Of Love".) The final song, "Loco In Acapulco", was another collaboration between him and Dozier, with the vocals performed by the legendary Motown group The Four Tops. Movie critic Roger Ebert said the role of Buster was "played with surprising effectiveness" by Collins, although the film's soundtrack proved more successful than the movie did.

Collins had cameo appearances in Steven Spielberg's ''Hook'' (1991) and the AIDS docudrama ''And the Band Played On'' (1993). He starred in 1993's ''Frauds'', which competed for the Palme d'Or at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival. He supplied voices to two animated features: Amblin's ''Balto'' (1995) and Disney's ''The Jungle Book 2'' (2003). A long-discussed but never completed project was a movie titled ''The Three Bears''; originally meant to star him alongside Danny DeVito and Bob Hoskins, he often mentioned the film, though an appropriate script never materialised.

Collins performed the soundtrack to the animated film ''Tarzan'' (1999) for The Walt Disney Company. Collins won an Academy Award for "You'll Be in My Heart", which he performed at that year's telecast as well as during a Disney-themed Super Bowl halftime show. The song, which he also recorded in Spanish among other languages, became his only appearance on Billboard's Hot Latin Tracks. Disney hired him, along with Tina Turner, in 2003 for the soundtrack to another animated feature film, ''Brother Bear'', and had some airplay with the song "Look Through My Eyes".

On television, he twice hosted the ''Billboard Music Awards''. He also appeared in an episode of the series ''Miami Vice'', entitled "Phil the Shill", in which he plays a cheating con-man. He also guest starred in several sketches with ''The Two Ronnies''. Most recently, he had a cameo appearance on the television series ''Whoopi''.

In 2001, Collins was sought out by the satirist Chris Morris, and appeared in the Brass Eye 'Paedophile Special' endorsing a spoof charity called 'Nonce Sense'. At one point Collins, dressed in a matching baseball cap and t-shirt emblazoned with the name of this fictitious charity, stares into the camera and declares: "I'm talking Nonce-sense."

In 2005, Collins's work on ''Brother Bear'' was expanded as Disney used the song "Welcome" as the theme for Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams, the main parade celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Disneyland.

In 2006 Disney's ''Tarzan'' was adapted for Broadway. Collins contributed 11 new songs and instrumental pieces, and was deeply involved in the production. Unlike the movie, where Collins sang all the material, the characters sang on stage.

Collins made an appearance as himself in the 2006 PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 2 video game ''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories'', set in 1984. Joseph Martignette, also a left-handed drummer, plays the role of Phil Collins in the game. He appears in three missions in which the main character must save him from a gang that is trying to kill him, the final mission occurring during his concert, where the player must defend the scaffolding against saboteurs while Phil is simultaneously performing "In The Air Tonight." After this, the player is given the opportunity to watch this performance of 'In the Air Tonight.' "In The Air Tonight" was also featured in the soundtrack of ''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories'' and it was also featured in the movie ''Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film For Theaters'', the 2009 movie ''The Hangover'' and the 2007 ''Gorilla'' commercial for Cadbury's Dairy Milk chocolate. The advertisement also helped the song re-enter the New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart at number three in July 2008, the following week reaching number one, beating its original 1981 #6 peak. Phil Collins had several ties to the hit show ''Miami Vice'' with 5 songs used in the course of the series as well as having starred in the episode "Phil The Shill."

Phil Collins was portrayed in the hit cartoon ''South Park'' in the episode "Timmy 2000" holding his Oscar throughout, referring to his 1999 win for "You'll Be In My Heart", which defeated "Blame Canada" from South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut. He was seen again in the episode "Cartman's Silly Hate Crime".

Phil Collins appears briefly in the Finnish animated sitcom ''Pasila'' in the episode "Phil Collins Hangover". The music of this episode is a pastiche of Phil Collins' "Another Day In Paradise".

Personal life

Family

Collins has been married three times. He married Canadian Andrea Bertorelli in 1975. They met as students in a drama class in London. They had a son, Simon Collins, and Collins adopted Bertorelli's daughter Joely Collins, a Canadian actress. They divorced in 1980, after she started an affair with their painter and decorator. Collins later appeared on the BBC's ''Top of the Pops'' singing his 1981 solo hit "In The Air Tonight" with a pot of paint and brush positioned near his piano. Collins has since claimed that the presence of the paint and brush was coincidental.

Collins met his second wife, Jill Tavelman, in 1980. They were married from 1984 to 1996. They had one daughter, Lily Collins, born in 1989. Collins openly admits that some of their divorce-related correspondence was by fax (one, about access to their daughter, was reproduced in ''The Sun''), but denies that this took her by surprise. Collins paid Jill £17M as final settlement.

Collins married his third wife, Orianne Cevey, in 1999 after a five year romance. They have two sons, Nicholas and Matthew. They bought Sir Jackie Stewart's former house located in Begnins, Switzerland, overlooking Lake Geneva. Announcing their separation on 16 March 2006, they were divorced in January 2007. Collins reportedly paid Cevey £25M in settlement. Collins has said he will continue to live in Switzerland to be near the children. He is currently residing in Féchy, while also maintaining homes in New York City and Dersingham, England. In 2008, Collins was quoted in ''People Magazine'': "Marriage is a difficult proposition. But I haven't given up on it, either."

Fortune

Collins was estimated to have a fortune of £115 million in the ''Sunday Times Rich List'' of 2011, making him one of the 20 richest people in the British music industry.

Court case

On 29 March 2000, Phil Collins launched a case against two former musicians from his band to recoup $780,000 (£500,000) in royalties that were overpaid. Louis Satterfield, 62, and Rahmlee Davis, 51, claimed their contract entitled them to 0.5 per cent of the royalties from ''Serious Hits... Live!'', a live album recorded during Collins's Seriously, Live! World Tour tour in 1990. Their claim was they were an integral part of the whole album, but Collins responded the two should only receive royalties from the five tracks in which they were involved. Instead of asking for a return of what Collins considered overpayment, he sought to recoup the funds by withholding future royalties to Satterfield and Davis, which amounted to less than an annual sum of $20,000 (£12,500) each.

On 19 April 2000, the British High Court ruled that the two musicians would receive no more royalty money from Phil Collins. The amount that Collins was seeking was halved, and Satterfield and Davis (who originally brought the suit forward in California) would not have to repay any of it. The judge agreed with Collins's argument that Satterfield and Davis should have been paid for only the five tracks on which they performed, including the hit "Sussudio".

Health problems

Collins reported losing his hearing in his right ear in 2000 due to a viral infection. In September 2009, it was reported that Collins could no longer play drums, due to a recent operation to repair dislocated vertebrae in his neck. A statement from Collins on the Genesis band website said, "There isn't any drama regarding my 'disability' and playing drums. Somehow during the last Genesis tour I dislocated some vertebrae in my upper neck and that affected my hands. After a successful operation on my neck, my hands still can't function normally. Maybe in a year or so it will change, but for now it is impossible for me to play drums or piano. I am not in any 'distressed' state; stuff happens in life."

Activism

Collins was appointed a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order in 1994 in recognition of his work on behalf of the Prince's Trust.

Collins has stated he is a supporter of animal rights and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). In 2005, he donated an autographed drumstick in support of PETA's campaign against Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Collins also has a lifelong interest in the Alamo. He has collected hundreds of artefacts related to the famous 1836 battle in San Antonio, Texas, narrated a light and sound show about the Alamo, and spoken at related events.

Collins has often been mentioned erroneously in the British media as being a supporter of the Conservative Party and an opponent of the Labour Party. Shortly before the 2005 election (when Collins was living in Switzerland), Noel Gallagher is reported as saying: "Vote Labour. If you don't and the Tories get in, Phil is threatening to come back." However, Collins has since stated that although he did once claim many years earlier that he might leave Britain if most of his income was taken in tax, which was Labour Party policy at that time for top earners, he has never been a Conservative Party supporter and he left Britain for Switzerland in 1994 purely because he met a woman who lived there. He said of Gallagher: “I don’t care if he likes my music or not. I do care if he starts telling people I’m a wanker because of my politics. It’s an opinion based on an old misunderstood quote.” Despite his claim that he did not leave Britain for tax purposes, he was one of several super-rich figures living in tax havens who were singled out for criticism in a report by the charity Christian Aid in 2008. Questioned about his politics by Mark Lawson in an interview broadcast in 2009, Collins said: "My father was Conservative but it wasn't quite the same, I don't think, when he was alive. Politics never loomed large in our family anyway. I think the politics of the country were very different then."

Collins founded the Little Dreams Foundation in February 2000, which aims to "realise the dreams of children in the fields of sports and art" by providing future prodigies aged 4 to 16 years with financial, material, and mentoring support with the help of experts in various fields.

Collins supports the South African charity The Topsy Foundation, which provides relief services to some of South Africa's most under-resourced rural communities through a multi-faceted approach to the consequences of HIV and AIDS and extreme poverty. He donates all royalties earned in South Africa to the organization.

Collins is a patron of the charity Children in Hunger, a small UK based charity working to combat child poverty in Brazil.

Discography

Studio albums

{|class="wikitable" |- ! Release date ! Title |- | 1981 | ''Face Value'' |- | 1982 | ''Hello, I Must Be Going!'' |- | 1985 | ''No Jacket Required'' |- | 1989 | ''...But Seriously'' |- | 1993 | ''Both Sides'' |- | 1996 | ''Dance into the Light'' |- | 2002 | ''Testify'' |- | 2010 | ''Going Back'' |}

Number one singles

"In the Air Tonight" re-entered the New Zealand charts in 2008 at #3 and then peaked at #1, after featuring in a Cadbury Gorilla advertisement.

See also

List of awards and nominations received by Phil Collins

Touring and studio musicians of Phil Collins

Brand X

Notes

References

Bronson, Fred ''The Billboard Book of Number One Hits''. Billboard Books, New York. 1998. p. 624. ISBN 0-8230-7641-5

Giammetti, Mario. ''Phil Collins – The Singing Drummer''. Edizioni Segno. Tavagnacco. 2005. ISBN 88-7282-836-8

Rosen, Craig. ''The Billboard Book of Number One Albums''. Billboard Books, New York. 1996. ISBN 0-8230-7586-9 (Two essays about Collins)

Thompson, Dave. ''Turn It On Again: Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, and Genesis''. Back Beat Books. San Francisco. 2004. ISBN 0-87930-810-9

External links

Phil Collins at Atlantic Records

Genesis' official website

Little Dreams Foundation, project of Phil Collins and his estranged wife Orianne, supporting young musicians

Category:1951 births Category:Atlantic Records artists Category:Ballad musicians Category:Best Song Academy Award winning songwriters Category:BRIT Award winners Category:British expatriates in Switzerland Category:English drummers Category:English film actors Category:English-language singers Category:English male models Category:English male singers Category:English pop singers Category:English rock drummers Category:Blue-eyed soul singers Category:English rock singers Category:English singer-songwriters Category:English television actors Category:English voice actors Category:Genesis (band) members Category:Grammy Award winners Category:MusiCares Person of the Year Honorees Category:Ivor Novello Award winners Category:Lieutenants of the Royal Victorian Order Category:Living people Category:Musicians from London Category:People from Chiswick Category:Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Category:Silver Clef Awards winners Category:Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees

ar:فيل كولنز an:Phil Collins az:Fil Kollins bg:Фил Колинс ca:Phil Collins cs:Phil Collins co:Phil Collins da:Phil Collins de:Phil Collins et:Phil Collins es:Phil Collins fa:فیل کالینز fr:Phil Collins ko:필 콜린스 hr:Phil Collins id:Phil Collins it:Phil Collins he:פיל קולינס ka:ფილ კოლინზი lv:Fils Kolinss lt:Phil Collins hu:Phil Collins arz:فيل كولينز nl:Phil Collins ja:フィル・コリンズ no:Phil Collins pl:Phil Collins pt:Phil Collins ro:Phil Collins ru:Коллинз, Фил simple:Phil Collins sk:Phil Collins sr:Фил Колинс fi:Phil Collins sv:Phil Collins tl:Phil Collins th:ฟิล คอลลินส์ tr:Phil Collins uk:Філ Коллінз vi:Phil Collins zh:菲爾·柯林斯

Shaheila binti Abdul Majid or commonly known as Sheila Majid (born January 3, 1965 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) is a popular singer from Malaysia.

Biography

Sheila Majid is the youngest of a family of 8 children. Her height measured at 4 ft 11 in (1.50 m). She attended schools at Convent Goodshepherd Kindergarten, Methodist Girls Primary School and Methodist Girls Secondary School, all in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She was married to Roslan Aziz, the producer of her previous albums, but has since divorced him. Sheila is now married to Hasridz Murshim Hashim Abdullah, better known as Acis, who was a keyboardist with one of the popular rock band in the 80s, Gersang. They were married June 3, 2003. Sheila has two children from her earlier marriage to Roslan, Wan Nur Khaleda, 16 and Megat Abdul Majid, 12 and two from her current marriage, Khadeja Zaireen Murshim, 2 and Khalifa Laila Murshim, 1 month.

She started to learn the piano at the age of four. When she was 17, she sang at a friend's party and was spotted by a music producer, who invited her to do a demo. Sheila auditioned for Roslan Aziz and was given a contract in 1982. However, it took another three years before she released her first album in 1985 ''Dimensi Baru'', which subsequently went gold. With ''Emosi'', released a year later, Sheila won the Indonesian BASF Award for Best Female R&B; Artist in 1987; never before by a non-Indonesian. Her success in Indonesia was followed by a 1988 nationwide tour.

Sheila performed at the Tokyo Music Festival in 1989. She was invited back to perform in Japan that same year. At the same time, Sheila released her 1988 multi-platinum selling album ''Warna''. She topped New Straits Times reader’s poll four consecutive years between 1987 to 1990.

Sheila embarked upon another project in 1990, fourth album ''Legenda'' which featured her fresh interpretation of several classics by the late P. Ramlee. She was awarded the Ahli Mangku Negara (AMN), a federal honour, by His Majesty the Yang DiPertuan Agong IX. To date, ''Legenda'' remains her best-selling album and was complemented by a nationwide tour, spanning over two years and culminating in a concert at Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur which drew a crowd of more than 10,000.

For her fifth original studio album, ''Ratu'' in 1996 she collaborated with some international musicians, like bassist Nathan East of American jazz group Four Play and Rex Goh of Air Supply fame on guitars, as well as Japanese violinist, Aska Kaneko. Sheila performed at a sold-out concert at London’s West End Royalty Theatre in March 1996. In December of the same year she accepted an invitation by Ronnie Scott's to take to the stage.

After the release of Sheila's sixth studio album, ''Ku Mohon'' in November 1999, she went on to win four awards, most notably Best Pop Album at the Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM) 2000. The title track, one of her five compositions in the album and her first lyric creation was named Song of the Year.

In July 2000, Sheila became the first local artist to perform at the Dewan Filharmonic PETRONAS. The two night sold out concerts were held in conjunction with her fifteenth anniversary in the music industry. In November 2001, Sheila was invited to represent Malaysia in Jakarta DIVA SEA which brought together leading singers from Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

In October 2003, Sheila was invited to headline a live concert by TransTV, Indonesia. This two hour special, entitled ''Konsert Perjalanan Seni Sheila Majid'' was a prelude to the release of her new album, ''Cinta Kita'', her seventh studio effort. This album, helmed by Warner Music Indonesia saw Sheila collaborating with some of Indonesia's musicians like Andi Rianto, Tohpati and Indra Lesmana who collectively contributed towards 80% of the album production. To date, both the album as well as its first single, "Kerinduan" have reached number one in Indonesia.

In July 2006, Sheila staged a mini performance concert at Planet Hollywood Kuala Lumpur. It was a special performance to celebrate her 20th year in the music industry. Sheila branched out from her singing career and, together with her sister Datin Shahidah binti Abdul Majid, opened their own beauty spa in Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur called Jentayu Spa in late 2002. Two years later, Sheila and Acis teamed up and embarked on their own rehearsal studio called Studio Akarkarya in Damansara Uptown, Petaling Jaya. Sheila resides with her mother Saadiah binti Adam in Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur.

Achievements and career highlights

1985: debut album ''Dimensi Baru''

1986: second album ''Emosi'' locally in Malaysia and also in Indonesia.

1987: first non-native to win Indonesia's BASF award for Best Female R&B; Artist.

1988: third studio album ''Warna''

1989:

* wins America's International Star Search Award for Best Female Vocalist.

* performed at the Tokyo Music Festival.

1990 first Malaysian artist to break into Japan with her albums ''Emosi'' and ''Warna'', as well as her single "Sinaran"

* fourth studio album ''Legenda''

1991: ''Legenda'' concert at National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.

1996 first Malaysian artist to stage a solo show in London's West End at the Royalty Theatre

* Performs at the jazz club Ronnie Scott's in London.

2000 first Malaysian to perform at the Dewan Filharmonic PETRONAS in Kuala Lumpur to commomerate her fifteenth anniversary in the music industry.

* sixth studio album ''Ku Mohon'' is named Best Pop Album and its title track won Song Of The Year at Malaysia's Anugerah Industri Muzik

* invited to represent Malaysia in Jakarta, Indonesia for a concert entitled Diva S.E.A.

2004: seventh album ''Cinta Kita'', produced by Warner Music Indonesia topped the Indonesian pop charts

2006: re-release of ''Legenda XV XX'' album under EMI Malaysia.

References

External links

Official site

Discography

Category:1965 births Category:Living people Category:Malaysian Malay people Category:Malaysian female singers Category:Malaysian Muslims Category:Malaysian singers Category:People from Kuala Lumpur Category:Malay-language singers

es:Sheila Majid id:Sheila Majid jv:Sheila Majid ms:Shaheila binti Abdul Majid ja:シーラ・マジッド

Name	Ray LaMontagne
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Raymond Charles Jack LaMontagne
Born	June 18, 1973Nashua, New Hampshire
Instrument	Vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica
Genre	Folk, folk rock, folk blues
Label	RCA
Notable instruments	Martin D-35, Bourgeois Guitar Country Boy w/Sitka Top, D-150, Custom DS-260, Victoria Parlor models.}}

Raymond "Ray" Charles Jack LaMontagne () (born June 18, 1973) is a Grammy-award winning American singer-songwriter. He has released four studio albums, ''Trouble'', ''Till the Sun Turns Black'', ''Gossip in the Grain'' and ''God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise''. In the UK, ''Trouble'' was a top 5 hit, and the title track of the album was a top 25 hit. ''Till the Sun Turns Black'' was a top 40 hit in the U.S. A soft-spoken person who is known for his raspy voice, LaMontagne has won a number of awards for his music and has performed at several charity events.

Early and personal life

Ray LaMontagne was born in Nashua, New Hampshire, in 1973 to a constantly traveling mother and a violent musician father who abandoned the family during Ray's childhood. Because of his father's background in music, LaMontagne refrained from most musical activity, instead spending much of his time reading fantasy novels in the forest. After graduation, LaMontagne moved away from his family, ending up in Lewiston, Maine, where he found a job working in a shoe factory.

One morning at 4 a.m., LaMontagne heard Stephen Stills' song "Treetop Flyer" on the radio as it awoke him for his job. After purchasing the ''Stills Alone'' album, he decided that he wanted to quit his job and start a career as a singer-songwriter. LaMontagne began touring in 1999, although he maintained a side job as a tutor. In the summer of 1999, LaMontagne amassed 10 songs for a demo that he sent to various local music venues. Mike Miclon, the owner of Buckfield, Maine's Oddfellow Theater, heard the demo and invited him to open for folk acts such as John Gorka and Jonathan Edwards. A friend and business executive heard LaMontagne's recordings and introduced him to Jamie Ceretta of Chrysalis Music Publishing. CMP recorded his first album, and sold it to RCA Records in the US and Echo Records in the UK.

In 2008, LaMontagne moved into a farmhouse in rural western Maine with his wife, Sarah, and two children, Tobias and Sebastian.

Musical career

''Trouble''

In a period of two weeks, LaMontagne re-recorded ''Trouble'' at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles, California with producer Ethan Johns. RCA Records released the album on September 14, 2004. The album featured performances by Nickel Creek violinist Sara Watkins on two tracks, along with Alex Davids and Stephen Stills's daughter, Jennifer Stills, on another. In the US, the album reached a low peak of #189 on the ''Billboard'' 200, but sold over 250,000 copies. ''Trouble'' has sold over 500,000 copies worldwide. During a tour to promote the album, LaMontagne played six songs for an episode of ''Austin City Limits'', in Season 31, 2005–2006.

On the third week of finals in the fifth season of ''American Idol'', eventual winner Taylor Hicks performed "Trouble". Chris Sligh, an ''American Idol'' Season 6 Top-12 finalist, also performed the tune to rave reviews from the judges. During the ninth season of the show, contestant Adam Lambert also performed LaMontagne's "Trouble". An EP of LaMontagne's performance at the Bonnaroo Music Festival was released on December 6, 2005. "Trouble" and "Burn" have been used as background music for the TV. "All the Wild Horses" was used in the TV series ''Rescue Me'' and the 2009 film ''The Boys Are Back''."Trouble" was used in the TV series Alias, in season 4, 14º episode called 'Nightingale'. The song "Jolene" was used in the 2010 film "The Town."

''Till the Sun Turns Black''

LaMontagne's second album, ''Till the Sun Turns Black'', was released August 29, 2006, in the US. Also produced by Ethan Johns, the album featured more instrumentation than ''Trouble'', including the use of a horn section and string section on several of the songs. Singer-songwriter Rachael Yamagata provided background vocals on the song "Barfly". The album peaked at #28 on the ''Billboard'' 200 album chart, selling 28,000 copies in its first week of release. The album also sold enough copies to be a top three heatseeker album in New Zealand.

According to his website, the first single from the album was "Three More Days". LaMontagne performed on ''The Tonight Show'' on October 6, 2006, to promote the album. His song "Till the Sun Turns Black" was featured on the television show "ER", and his songs "Lesson Learned" and "Within You" have been used on the CW drama "One Tree Hill". "Be Here Now" was also used in the official trailer for ''Away From Her'', and was featured in ''27 Dresses'' and an episode of ''Bones'' as well as in the first season's finale of ''Covert Affairs''. "Empty" was used in the last episode of ''Law & Order: Criminal Intent'''s 6th season, "Renewal." Ray LaMontagne recorded a live session at Abbey Road Studios for ''Live from Abbey Road'' in October 2006. He shared his episode with Shawn Colvin, Nerina Pallot and The Zutons.

''Gossip in the Grain''

LaMontagne released his third studio album, ''Gossip in the Grain'', on October 14, 2008 on RCA Records, and it achieved his highest-ever debut on the Billboard Charts at #3, with over 60,000 units sold. Working again with producer Ethan Johns, the album also featured LaMontagne's touring band: Jennifer Condos on bass, Eric Heywood on guitar, and Ethan Johns on drums. The opening act on much of his 2008 US Tour, fellow singer/songwriter Leona Naess, guests on three songs: "I Still Care for You", "A Falling Through", and "Gossip in the Grain". LaMontagne also announced a series of New England dates to start off his US tour in support of the album. The song "You Are the Best Thing" was featured in the movie ''I Love You, Man.'' He also performed the song live as musical guest on NBC's ''Saturday Night Live'' on March 7, 2009. San Diego Padres outfielder Will Venable uses this song during his walk-up. On October 12, 2009 the song "Sarah" appeared towards the end of an episode of House called "Instant Karma" (Season 6 Episode 4). "Let it be Me" was featured on the Parenthood TV series and included on the Parenthood soundtrack in 2010.

''God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise''

LaMontagne's fourth studio album, ''God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise'', was released on August 17, 2010. The record is credited to “Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs”. This is the first time that LaMontagne has released music in collaboration with other artists, within the context of a band, and is also his first venture into the role of producer. With this album, LaMontagne received his first three Grammy nominations on December 1, 2010, including Song of the Year for "Beg Steal or Borrow", Best Contemporary Folk Album, and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical. He won the award for Best Contemporary Folk Album.

Composition and performance

LaMontagne is particularly known for his raspy voice, which he says he learned by singing through his gut and not his nose. LaMontagne stated that he is highly influenced by Stephen Stills, Richard Manuel, and Rick Danko. Critics have compared LaMontagne's music to that of The Band, Van Morrison, Nick Drake, and Tim Buckley. LaMontagne refers to himself as a "very private person", and rarely gives interviews. He also usually does not interact much with the audience between songs during his live shows and has been known to perform in the dark to avoid distracting bright lights and to separate himself from the audience because of his shy nature. Much of this has changed as his music career has progressed and he has become more accustomed to doing interviews.

Charitable events

In 2005, he performed at "From the Big Apple to the Big Easy", a fundraiser for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The concert was held at the Radio City Music Hall on September 20, 2005, and also featured Dave Matthews, John Mayer, and Simon & Garfunkel among others. LaMontagne also played at the "Warren Haynes Christmas Jam" that year on December 17, 2005. The concert raised funds for Habitat for Humanity in Asheville, North Carolina. LaMontagne performed at KYSR's Lounge for Life charity concert on October 5, 2006 at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, California. He also auctioned off one of his guitars on eBay for its charity auction. Funds raised from the concert and auction went to breast cancer research. Recently in August 2010, he performed with David Gray and Samuel Ofosu in Nashville, TN, and giving a portion of the proceeds to the victims affected by the devastating flood that hit Nashville, TN in May. The money went to Habitat for Humanity in the aid of rebuilding homes destroyed by the flood.

Awards

Discography

Studio albums

''Trouble'' (September 14, 2004)

''Till the Sun Turns Black'' (August 29, 2006)

''Gossip in the Grain'' (October 14, 2008)

''God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise'' (August 17, 2010)

References

External links

http://acreofland.suddenlaunch3.com/index.cgi Ray Lamontagne Forum

Official U.S. website, requires Adobe Flash plugin

Official UK website, requires Adobe Flash plugin

Ray LaMontagne Storytellers on VH1

Ray LaMontagne Gig Review 2009

Idiomag">Ray LaMontagne on Idiomag

Photos of Ray LaMontagne at the Boston Opera House on October 9th Exploit Boston!

Ray LaMontagne on PBS NewsHour's Art Beat, 8/17/10

Category:1973 births Category:American male singers Category:American folk singers Category:American singer-songwriters Category:People from Nashua, New Hampshire Category:Musicians from Maine Category:People from Franklin County, Maine Category:Songwriters from New Hampshire Category:American pianists Category:American guitarists Category:RCA Records artists Category:American harmonica players Category:Living people

da:Ray LaMontagne de:Ray LaMontagne fr:Ray LaMontagne it:Ray LaMontagne he:ריי למונטיין nl:Ray LaMontagne no:Ray LaMontagne pl:Ray Lamontagne pt:Ray LaMontagne