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Featured Event 1951 Birth

January 30

Phil Collins Born: Pop's Drumming Powerhouse

He was the drummer. Genesis needed a new vocalist after Peter Gabriel left in 1975; Collins stepped to the front and the band got bigger. His solo debut, Face Value, came out in 1981 and sold 8 million copies. "In the Air Tonight" features a drum fill at the 3:44 mark that is one of the most recognizable four seconds in pop history. He had 13 US number-one singles. He had to stop performing in 2007 due to nerve damage to his hands that left him unable to hold drumsticks properly. He started again in 2016, drumming with one stick.

January 30, 1951

75 years ago

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