Peter Brian Gabriel ( born 13 February 1950 ) is an English singer , songwriter , record producer and activist who rose to fame as the original lead singer and frontman of the progressive rock band Genesis . After leaving Genesis in 1975 , Gabriel launched a successful solo career with " Solsbury Hill " as his first single . His 1986 album , '' So '' , is his best-selling release and is certified triple platinum in the UK and five times platinum in the U.S . 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
1987 MTV Video Music Awards
1987 MTV Video Music Awards
Peter Gabriel