Peter Gabriel

Peter Gabriel
Gabriel in performance
Gabriel performing in October 2023
Background information
Birth namePeter Brian Gabriel
Born (1950-02-13) 13 February 1950 (age 74)
Chobham, Surrey Heath, Surrey, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • activist
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • keyboards
  • flute
Years active1965–present
Labels
Formerly of
Websitepetergabriel.com Edit this at Wikidata
Signature

Peter Brian Gabriel (born 13 February 1950) is an English singer, songwriter and human rights activist. He was the original lead singer of the progressive rock band Genesis.[1] After leaving the band in 1975, he launched a solo career with "Solsbury Hill" as his first single. His fifth studio album, So (1986), is his best-selling release and is certified triple platinum in the UK and five times platinum in the US. The album's most successful single, "Sledgehammer", won a record nine MTV Awards at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards and, according to a report in 2011, it was MTV's most played music video of all time.[2]

Gabriel has been a champion of world music for much of his career. He co-founded the WOMAD festival in 1982.[3] He has continued to focus on producing and promoting world music through his Real World Records label. He has pioneered digital distribution methods for music, co-founding OD2, one of the first online music download services.[4] Gabriel has also been involved in numerous humanitarian efforts. In 1980, he released the anti-apartheid single "Biko".[3] He has participated in several human-rights benefit concerts, including Amnesty International's Human Rights Now! tour in 1988, and co-founded the Witness human rights organisation in 1992.[3] Gabriel developed The Elders with Richard Branson, which was launched by Nelson Mandela in 2007.[5]

Gabriel has won three Brit Awards—winning Best British Male in 1987,[6] six Grammy Awards,[7] thirteen MTV Video Music Awards, the first Pioneer Award at the BT Digital Music Awards,[8] the Q magazine Lifetime Achievement,[9] the Ivor Novello Award for Lifetime Achievement,[10] and the Polar Music Prize.[11] He was made a BMI Icon at the 57th annual BMI London Awards for his "influence on generations of music makers".[12] In recognition of his many years of human rights activism, he received the Man of Peace award from the Nobel Peace Prize laureates in 2006,[13] and Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2008.[14] AllMusic described Gabriel as "one of rock's most ambitious, innovative musicians, as well as one of its most political".[15] He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010,[16] and as a solo artist in 2014.[17] In March 2015, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of South Australia in recognition of his achievements in music.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference hudak was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Levy, Glen (26 July 2011). "The 30 All-TIME Best Music Videos:Peter Gabriel, 'Sledgehammer' (1986)". Time. Archived from the original on 2 December 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  3. ^ a b c "Peter Gabriel on 30 years of WOMAD – and mixing music with politics". The Guardian. 26 July 2012. Archived from the original on 19 April 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  4. ^ "Peter Gabriel on the digital revolution". Edition.cnn.com. 22 July 2004. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  5. ^ "Nelson Mandela launches Elders to save world". Telegraph Online. London. 19 July 2007. Archived from the original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference BritAwards was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "Past Winners: Peter Gabriel". The GRAMMYs. Archived from the original on 20 July 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  8. ^ "Lily Allen wins web music award". BBC News. 4 October 2006. Archived from the original on 2 November 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  9. ^ "Oldies are golden at the Q awards". The Guardian. 31 October 2006. Archived from the original on 26 September 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  10. ^ "Winehouse triumphs at Ivor awards". BBC News. 24 May 2007. Archived from the original on 5 October 2007. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  11. ^ "Gabriel shares Polar Music Prize". BBC News. 12 May 2009. Archived from the original on 17 May 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  12. ^ "Peter Gabriel Receives Top Honor at BMI London Awards". Bmi.com. 17 October 2007. Archived from the original on 6 March 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2010.
  13. ^ "Peter Gabriel Receives 'Man Of Peace' Award". Gigwise.com. 18 November 2006. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  14. ^ "The 2008 TIME 100: Peter Gabriel". Time.com. 12 May 2008. Archived from the original on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  15. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Peter Gabriel Biography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 6 August 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  16. ^ "Abba receive Hall of Fame honour". BBC News. 16 March 2010. Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  17. ^ "Nirvana inducted to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame". BBC News. 11 April 2014. Archived from the original on 11 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.

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