Peter Gabriel's educational background is rooted in his attendance at Charterhouse School in Surrey, England. As the lead vocalist of the pioneering progressive rock band Genesis, he was an integral part of the group from its inception until his departure in 1975, paving the way for a successful solo career as a singer-songwriter, soundtrack composer, and innovator in visual music presentation, music videos, and digital music recording and distribution methods.
Gabriel's passion for music extended beyond his own creations, as he became a prominent anti-apartheid activist, working tirelessly to introduce international music styles to the West. He achieved this through the establishment of the WOMAD (World of Music, Arts, and Dance) Festival, his own Real World label and recording studios, and the incorporation of world music performers and styles into his own music.
Beyond his music, Gabriel has been actively involved in various humanitarian efforts, including his work with Amnesty International and the founding of his own human rights organization, Witness. He co-founded The Elders, a world human rights advocacy group, with Richard Branson and Nelson Mandela in July 2007. Gabriel's dedication to humanitarian causes has been recognized through the Nobel Peace Laureates' Man of Peace Award in 2006 and Amnesty International's Ambassador of Conscience honour in 2008.
Many artists have cited Gabriel's career as an inspiration, including U2, R.E.M., Kate Bush, Moby, Marillion, Simple Minds, It Bites, Elbow, Darren Hayes (of Savage Garden),and Michael Glabicki (of Rusted Root). His commercial success peaked with the "So" album in 1986, which became a global phenomenon and earned him the British Phonographic Industry Award for British Male Solo Artist the following year.
Gabriel's lasting impact on the music industry has been acknowledged through numerous awards, including the Music Industry Trusts' Award in 2004, the Frankfurt Music Prize, the first Pioneer Award at the BT Digital Music Awards, the Q Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006, the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007, the BMI Icon Award in 2007, the MIDEM Personality of the Year in 2008, and the Polar Music Prize in 2009. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010, and later became the first and only Genesis member to be inducted as a solo artist in 2014, when Chris Martin from Coldplay inducted him.
