Post by Nicola_lover on Feb 6, 2009 13:25:54 GMT
Simon Phillip Cowell (Born October 7th, 1959) is an English Artist-and-Repertoire ("A&R") Executive, Television Personality/Producer and Entrepreneur, best known as a Judge on such TV Shows as:
Pop Idol
Simon Cowell is also The Owner Of The Television Production & Music Publishing House Syco.
Simon Cowell is notorious as a Judge for his unsparingly blunt and often controversial criticisms, insults and wisecracks about contestants and their singing abilities, or lack thereof.
Simon Cowell is often parodied in pop culture.
Simon Cowell is known for combining activities in the television and music industries, having promoted singles and records for various artists, including television personalities.
Having most recently featured in the Eighth Season of and the third series of, Simon Cowell has just finished working on the fifth series of .
Contents
• 1 Early Life
• 2 Professional Career
o 2.1 Idol Franchise and Il Divo
o 2.2 The X Factor
o 2.3 American Inventor
o 2.4 Got Talent Franchise
o 2.5 Celebrity Duets
o 2.6 Grease is the Word
o 2.7 Rock Rivals
o 2.8 Other Activities
• 3 Personal Life
• 4 External Links
Early Life
Simon Cowell was born in Brighton, East Sussex, England and brought up in Elstree, Hertfordshire.
His father, Eric Philip Cowell, was an estate agent developer and Music Industry Executive, and his mother, Julie Brett (née Josie Dalglish), is a former ballet dancer and socialite.
Cowell's paternal grandparents, Joseph Cowell and Esther Malinsky, were English Jews, and his maternal grandfather was Scottish.
He has 1 brother and 2 Half-brothers:
Younger brother Nicholas Cowell
Half-brother Tony Cowell
Half-brother Michael Cowell.
Eldest to Youngest:
Michael
Tony
Simon
Nicholas
Simon Cowell attended Dover College as did his brother, but left early before sixth form.
Simon Cowell took a few menial jobs, but did not get along well with co-workers and bosses, until his father who was executive at the recording giant at EMI Music Publishing, managed to get him a job in the mail room.
Professional Career
His father's connections originally got him rehired as the assistant to an A&R man.
From there onwards, Simon Cowell worked his way up and eventually got promoted to a music publishing position but left during the early 1980s to form E&S Music with his boss at EMI, Ellis Rich (later Chairman of the Performing Right Society).
The company had several hit records at one point with five singles in the UK top 40.
The offices were in a converted gentleman's washroom in the NCP car park on Brewer Street in London's Soho district.
Simon left by mutual agreement a few years later.
One year later, Simon Cowell went to work for Iain Burton, manager of Choreographer Arlene Phillips, co-founder of dance group Hot Gossip and of nascent independent record label Fanfare Records.
Simon Cowell worked with Burton for eight years at Fanfare where he achieved his first real success in the music industry, becoming a partner and building Fanfare into a highly successful 'indie' pop label.
Fanfare had numerous top ten hits with various Pop artists and particularly Sinitta, selling more than half a million of her classic hit debut single 'So Macho' and more than half a million albums of 'Rondo Veneziano'.
In 1984, Simon Cowell and Burton met up with Pete Waterman for the first time.
Mike Stock
Matt Aitken
Pete Waterman
Together formed the songwriting and record producing trio known as Stock Aitken Waterman.
Stock Aitken Waterman helped Fanfare during the second half of the 1980s producing several Smash Hit Singles for Sinitta and licensing The Hit Factory SAW Compilation Albums to Fanfare.
In 1989, Fanfare's parent-company, Public Company, got into difficulties, forcing Fanfare into the hands of BMG, and Cowell, in debt, to move back in with his parents.
Later that year, he became an A&R Consultant for BMG.
Subsequently, Cowell signed up a number of acts to S-Records that made a mark in the pop music world, including:
Curiosity Killed the Cat
Sonia Evans
Five
Westlife
Robson & Jerome
Ultimate Kaos.
Simon Cowell also released several novelty recordings featuring the likes of wrestlers of the:
World Wrestling Federation
Teletubbies
Zig and Zag
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
that were huge successes.
Simon Cowell set up another label, Syco Records, in 2002 which later became part of Columbia Records and Sony BMG Music Entertainment.
Artists such as:
Leona Lewis
Il Divo
And contestants from and America's Got Talent are released on Syco.
In 2006, Simon Cowell signed to two more Record-Breaking Deals.
In the USA, Simon Cowell agreed to remain as a Judge on , earning £20 million ($40 million) per season for another 5 years.
Simon Cowell also has a deal with FOX which allows his production company to broadcast Got Talent and American Inventor on other networks, but he may not appear on them.
In the UK, Simon Cowell signed a "Golden Handcuffs" deal with ITV, worth approximately £6.5 million a year for 3 years, which gave ITV rights to his Hit Talent Show , a British Singing Talent Show, and Grease Is The Word, a musical talent show to find the stars of a Grease Production In London's West End.
In late 2005, Simon Cowell signed a new contract to remain working for Sony BMG.
According to AOL News as posted on August 21st, 2007, a reporter for the British newspaper The Mirror conducted an interview with Simon Cowell in mid-August where he claimed that he would complete the three seasons remaining on his contract with and then "that was it".
Simon Cowell explained, "There has to come a point when I will step down from being on camera and remain behind the scenes because you can't keep doing this forever...I think by [the end of my contract] that the public will be sick to death of me anyway and it will be time to go."
Idol Franchise and Il Divo
Simon Cowell became a Judge on the first series of Pop Idol in 2001, and on the First Season of in 2002.
Many viewers of know Simon Cowell best for his bitingly critical comments and attitude.
Simon Cowell is so prominently identified with being blunt and harsh in commentary that audiences on can make it difficult for him to speak, sometimes booing him even before he makes his opinions known.
Ryan Seacrest,
Paula Abdul,
Randy Jackson tend to cut him off very quickly as well.
With his notoriously critical reputation, Simon Cowell is likened to TV personalities, such as Judge Judy (aka Justice with an Attitude), and Weakest Link's Anne Robinson (aka Queen of Mean).
Though comparable to Anne Robinson, Simon Cowell has expressed his dislike for her and has commented in an interview, "I hate her and I hate her show because it's just an act".
Simon Cowell's fame grew, fed by his signature phrase, "I don't mean to be rude, but …", inevitably followed by an unsparingly blunt appraisal of the contestant's talents, personality, or even physical appearance.
A lot of these one-liners were the product of coaching that Simon Cowell received from noted publicist Max Clifford.
Simon Cowell also appeared on the one-off World Idol programme in 2003, where it became clear that each country's version of the Idol had attempted to come up with its own "Simon Cowell" type personality.
In 2003, Simon Cowell placed No 33 on Channel 4's list of the all-time 100 Worst Britons.
Simon Cowell's S Records signed the top two final's of the first season of Pop Idol,
Will Young
Gareth Gates
Both of whom went on to have No 1 UK hits.
Efforts begun in 2001 materialised in 2004, when Simon Cowell returned to his group manufacturing roots with his latest brainchild, the internationally successful Operatic Pop Group Il Divo, consisting of three opera singers and one pop singer of four different nationalities.
Inspired by the success of Il Divo, Simon Cowell created a child version, Angelis, beating competition from many similar groups emerging at Christmas 2006.
The X Factor
See also: The X Factor
In 2004, with Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh, Simon Cowell was a Judge on the first series of the British Talent Show , which Simon Cowell created using his production company, Syco.
was an instant success with the viewers and has returned four more times to its fifth series in 2008.
In 2006, Simon Cowell was voted the tenth most terrifying celebrity on television in a Radio Times poll consisting of 3,000 people.
The Winner of Third Series,
Leona Lewis,
is signed to Simon Cowell's label Syco and has gone on to become an International Star, with Number One Singles and Album Sales Around The World.
Simon Cowell returned for a fourth series on August 18, 2007, alongside Sharon Osbourne, Louis Walsh and New Judge, Dannii Minogue.
Louis Walsh had previously been sacked from the judging panel by Simon Cowell for the Fourth Series, and was subsequently replaced by Brian Friedman who was a Judge on Grease Is The Word.
Louis Walsh was later brought back a week into the auditions by Simon Cowell when he and Sharon Osbourne realised they missed Louis Walsh and that without him, there was no chemistry between the Judges.
Simon Cowell returned for the fifth series in 2008, with Louis Walsh,Danni Minogue and new judge Cheryl Cole, as Sharon Osbourne decided to quit before the show begun.
American Inventor
On March 16, 2006, Simon Cowell's next competition show, American Inventor, debuted on ABC.
Fledgling entrepreneurs from across the United States compete to see who can come up with the best new product concept.
The 2006 winner, Janusz Liberkowski, received $1 million, and the opportunity to develop his idea into a business.
The show returned in 2007.
Got Talent Franchise
Simon Cowell is the executive producer of America's Got Talent, along with Fremantle producers of the Idol series.
The show was a huge success for NBC, drawing around 12 million viewers a week, and beating So You Think You Can Dance on FOX (color=Blue]produced by rival and Idol creator Simon Fuller).
A British version aired in 2007, and was screened from June 9th, 2007 until June 17th, 2007, with ITV screening nine episodes.
Fellow judges are Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden.
The Australian version aired in 2007 and was screened on February 18th, 2007.
Judged by Tom Burlinson, Dannii Minogue and Red Symons and hosted by Grant Denyer on Channel Seven.
Celebrity Duets
Simon Cowell also executive-produces Celebrity Duets, which can be described as "an Idol show for Hollywood superstars."
The show is hosted by Wayne Brady, and its judges are Marie Osmond, Little Richard and David Foster.
Grease is the Word
Simon Cowell is also the executive producer of Grease Is the Word for ITV.
Grease is the Word is the show to find the next big stars to play Danny and Sandy on the 2007 UK west end revival of Grease.
Grease Is the Word was hosted by Zoe Ball and judged by
Britons David Ian and Sinitta and Americans David Gest and Brian Friedman.
This hasn't turned out to be the success he imagined.
Simon Cowell himself said, "It has been slaughtered by the critics - and rightly so.
It is far too similar to our other formats.”
Rock Rivals
Simon Cowell collaborated with UK production company Shed Media to produce 2008 ITV drama series Rock Rivals, which is based on an type show.
Other Activities
Simon Cowell has been involved in charity work for many years.
He supports children from The Association Of Children’s Hospices and invites them backstage to the screenings of .
When he can, he stops by some of the hospices to visit the children.
Simon Cowell also supports animal rights and has appeared in a video for PETA in which he reminds drivers of the cruelty to animals that can occur when their pets are locked in cars in the summer.
In December 2003, Simon Cowell published his autobiography titled "I Don't Mean to be Rude, But...".
In it, he told the whole story of his childhood, his years working in music and experiences on Pop Idol, Pop Stars Rivals, and , and finally, his tips for being successful as a pop star.
Simon Cowell has appeared as a guest voice in an episode of The Simpsons ("Smart and Smarter"), in which, he gets beaten up by Homer Simpson (while criticising Homer's punches).
His voice was also heard on an episode of Family Guy ("Lois Kills Stewie"), in which he told Stewie that his singing was so awful that he should be dead.
Simon Cowell made an MTV Movie Award-winning cameo appearance as himself in Scary Movie 3, where he sits in judgment during a battle rap (and subsequently gets killed by gunfire for criticising the rappers).
Simon Cowell also appears in Shrek 2 as a judge in Far Far Away Idol, and also provided the voice.
Simon Cowell appeared on an episode of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? (the original British version) and Saturday Night Live in 2004.
Simon Cowell has also guest-starred (filling in for Regis Philbin) in the popular talk show Live with Regis and Kelly Clarkson during Finalist Week in Early 2006.
Simon Cowell was once the fastest "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" on BBC's motoring show Top Gear, driving a Suzuki Liana around the show's test track in a time of 1:47.1.
When Top Gear retired the Liana along with its rankings after the eighth series, Simon Cowell was the eighth fastest overall and the third fastest non-professional driver.
On November 11th, 2007 Simon Cowell yet again appeared on Top Gear, achieving a time of 1:45.9 thus putting him ahead of Gordon Ramsay and back at the top of the table.
Simon Cowell introduced entertainer thingy Clark at the 2006 Primetime Emmy Awards.
He was seen on Comic Relief Does The Apprentice where he donated £25,000 for a fun fair ticket.
Simon Cowell has also appeared on the MTV shows Cribs and Punk'd.
On Punk'd, Ryan Seacrest and Randy Jackson set him up to believe his $400,000 Rolls Royce was stolen and had caused an accident by using a nearly-identical car.
Simon Cowell was chosen as the first 'victim' of the re-launched This Is Your Life in an episode broadcast on June 2nd, 2007.
He was presented with the Red Book by Sir Trevor McDonald while presenting .
Besides Judging unknowns of the music industry, occasionally Simon Cowell comments on already-established pop icons.
For example, he opined in Esquire magazine that Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful" was one of the best pop records ever made.
Talking about Christina herself Simon Cowell stated "She is an unbelievable talent."
On July 1, 2007 Simon Cowell appeared alongside Randy Jackson and Ryan Seacrest as a speaker at the Concert For Diana, held at Wembley Stadium.
On August 13th, 2006, Simon Cowell featured on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs in which he had to pick eight records he would take with him if he were to be stranded on a desert island.
His choices can be seen below.
1. Mack the Knife
Performer Bobby Darin
Composer Weill/Brecht/Blitzstein
CD Title
BBC Radio Two Songs of the Century
Track 16
Label Global Television
Rec No: RADCD 119
2. This Guy's in Love with You
Performer Herb Alpert
Composer Burt Bacharach/Hal David
CD Title
Herb Alpert/Definitive Hits
Track 12
Label A & M
Rec No: 4908862
3. She
Performer Charles Aznavour
Composer Kretzner/Aznavour
CD Title
The Best of Charles Aznavour
Track 1
Label Premier
Rec No: PRMTVCD4
4. Unchained Melody
Performer The Righteous Brothers
Composer North.Zaret
CD Title
The All Time Greatest Love Songs
Track Cd2 Track 19
Label Sony Mood
Rec No: CD86
5. Danke Schoen
Performer Wayne Newton
Composer Kaempfert Gabler-Schwabach
CD Title
Wild, Cool & Swingin':Wayne Newton
Track 20
Label Capitol
Rec No: 5203322
6. If You're Not the One
Performer Daniel Bedingfield
Composer Daniel Bedingfield
CD Title
If you're Not the One
Track 1
Label Polydor
Rec No: 0658632
7. Summer Wind
Performer Frank Sinatra
Composer Mayer/Mercer
CD Title
Frank Sinatra:
Strangers in the Night
Track 2
Label Reprise
Rec No: 9010172
8. Mr Bojangles
Performer Sammy Davis Jr
Composer Jerry Jeff Walker
CD Title
Viva Las Vegas
Track Cd1 Track 4
Label Universal Music TV
Rec No: 5856452
He was also allowed to take a book and a luxury item.
For his book, he elected Hollywood Wives, by Jackie Collins, and for his luxury, a mirror.
Simon Cowell was a partner in the Royal Ascot Racing Club, a Thoroughbred horse racing syndicate which owned the 2005 Epsom Derby winner, Motivator.
Personal Life
In late 2002, Simon Cowell started dating long time friend Terri Seymour.
In 2006, British newspaper News of the World reported that he had cheated on Terri Seymour with model and socialite Jasmine Lennard, and printed photos of her leaving his home.
Photos of an irate Terri Seymour (who was in the US when the story broke) being met at the airport by Cowell were later published in Heat Magazine.
In November 2008, TV Guide reported that Simon Cowell and Terri Seymour had broken up.
Upon his appearance on Top Gear, it was revealed that Simon Cowell pays more than £21.7m per year in income tax, suggesting that his taxable income is over £54.25m per year with income tax at the time approximately 40%.(NB: UK Income Tax 40% for earnings over £34,600).
He appeared on the game show Sale of the Century in 1990, as reported in The Sun Newspaper.
He is the godfather of pop singer Sinitta's adopted children.
He owns and drives a Bugatti Veyron.
He admits to using Botox (a brand name for botulinum toxin), but denies any rumours that he is homosexual.
External Links
The Simon Cowell Forum
roxanneslover8.proboards66.com/index.cgi