His fusion of soul, synthesizers, and drum machines helped define '80s pop

Phil Collins may have begun his career as a prog rocker, but his solo work is marked by a passion for pure pop. The Genesis drummer/vocalist played a key role in defining '80s music, thanks to his novel fusion of vintage soul, New Wave synth work, and dance-pop drum machine beats. The sublimely vaporous “In the Air Tonight” captures his vision at its darkest, while "Sussudio” is a relentlessly punchy expression of high-octane R&B. In the '90s and beyond, Collins expanded his style to include guitar-driven pop-rockers and the occasional lush, Broadway ballad.