Phil Fearon facts for kids

Phillip Joseph Fearon (born on July 30, 1956) is a music producer from Jamaica and England. He was the main singer, songwriter, and played many instruments for the band Galaxy in the 1980s.

Phil Fearon's Music Journey

Phil Fearon was born in Jamaica in 1956. He moved to London, England, with his family when he was six years old in 1962.

Early Music Days

Before becoming famous, Phil ran a reggae sound system. This is like a mobile disco that plays music loudly for parties. He then joined a band called Hott Wax. Later, he was a key member of the hit group Kandidate. In 1979, Kandidate had a big song called "I Don't Wanna Lose You," which reached number 11 on the music charts.

Phil set up his own music studio at his home in North London. He first recorded music with a group called Proton.

Creating Galaxy

Phil first thought of Galaxy as a group of "four or five white guys." He wanted to create their music and produce it from behind the scenes. But a record company heard his demo songs and was so impressed by his singing that they encouraged him to be the lead singer for the group.

Phil's first song with Galaxy was "Head Over Heels" in 1982. He had help from singers Julie and Dorothy. This song became popular in clubs.

Galaxy's Big Hits

Galaxy's first big success was the song "Dancing Tight" in 1983. It reached the top 5 on the UK music charts. Over the next 15 months, they had four more songs that made it into the top 40. These included two top 10 hits: "What Do I Do" and "Everybody's Laughing."

Their first album, Phil Fearon and Galaxy, was released in 1984. It also made it into the top 10 albums. After a short quiet time, Phil Fearon had one more top 10 hit in 1986. This was a new version of Tony Etoria's song "I Can Prove It."

Working with Famous Producers

For "I Can Prove It," Phil's record company suggested he work with famous producers Stock Aitken Waterman. Phil re-recorded his singing for the song under their direction. He said he was "a bit like a passenger" on that song, meaning he let the producers take the lead.

Another song, "Ain't Nothin' But a Houseparty," was also produced by Stock Aitken Waterman. Phil just came in to sing on that one. He wasn't sure if their new sound would work for him, but he was willing to try.

What Was Galaxy?

Galaxy wasn't a traditional band with many musicians. It was mostly Phil Fearon creating all the music in his studio. He had two female backing singers, Dorothy Galdes and Julie Gore, to help with the sound.

Galaxy's most famous songs are "Dancing Tight," "What Do I Do?", "Everybody's Laughing," and "I Can Prove It." These were all upbeat pop songs that reached the top 10 in the UK. Their songs had a distinct early 1980s sound, using lots of synthesizers.

Later Years and Return to Music

Galaxy's popularity started to fade in the late 1980s as new music styles like acid house became popular. However, their song "Ain't Nothin' But a Houseparty" was an early example of this new sound.

In 1987, Phil Fearon started and managed a successful record label called Production House Records.

Phil Fearon returned to performing live in May 2010. He was a special guest at the Caister Soul Weekender, a big music event. Since then, Phil has continued to perform at 1980s soul music nights and festivals in the UK and other countries.

Working with Other Artists

Galaxy also helped other artists. For example, they backed T. C. Curtis on his 1985 dance hit "You Should Have Known Better."

Phil Fearon's Family Life

Phil Fearon is married to Dee Fearon. Dee was the lead singer of a 90s dance group called Baby D.

Their daughter, Stephanie, is an actress and singer. She appeared on the CITv show My Parents Are Aliens. Stephanie was also a semi-finalist on the 2010 BBC talent show Over the Rainbow. Phil and Dee have four children and five grandchildren.

Phil Fearon's Music Albums

Here are some of the albums Phil Fearon and Galaxy released:

Phil Fearon's Hit Singles

Here are some of the popular songs (singles) Phil Fearon and Galaxy released: