Simon Cowell Biography

Cowell is more than just a fun-to-watch critic with a sharp tongue. The television personality is also an artist-and-repertoire (A&R) executive with an impressive line of talents under his name.

The Early Years

Simon Phillip Cowell was born in Brighton, East Sussex, England on October 7, 1959 to Eric Phillip and Julie Brett. He has four brothers (Michael, Tony, John and Nicholas) and two half-sisters (June and Rebecca).

Despite bouncing from school to school, Cowell and education simply were not a mutual fit; eventually, he dropped out of Dover College at age 16. After working several obsequious jobs that didn't work out, Cowell got a helping hand from his father, who was an executive at EMI Records. Cowell's big break in the industry started in the company's mail room, where his star-quality sorting abilities set the stage for bigger and better things – much bigger and better.

The Record Industry

Cowell worked his way up the ladder quickly, and it wasn't long before he was scouting out the hottest talent in the country for EMI and proving his phenomenal ability to spot stars in the making. Enjoying his success, Cowell left EMI to form his own independent label, E&S Music. It went bankrupt within a year, forcing Cowell to return to his roots at EMI. The stopover was brief; it wasn't long before Cowell joined forces with music producer Pete Waterman and EMI clerk Iain Burton to form Fanfare Records.

Fanfare was quite successful during the 1980s, but it too met its demise when it was forced into bankruptcy by its parent company. For 30-year-old Cowell, this meant moving back home with his parents until he could get back on his feet. Soon thereafter, he became an A&R representative at BMG. It was the right move – Cowell essentially became recognized for his keen eye in seeking out potential stars. Many of the artists he signed, including 5ive and Westlife, enjoyed immense fame and popularity. While at BMG, Cowell also launched another independent label, S Records, which he later sold to BMG.

Pop Idol and The X Factor

To say it all started here may not be exactly truthful, but it was at Pop Idol that Cowell's wit and special brand of honesty became the stuff of legend. The program, which premiered in the UK in 2001, featured young singers who auditioned before four judges for their chance at pop superstardom. Cowell's biting criticisms had viewers hooked from day one. Much to the delight of viewers, a second series aired in 2003.

After the completion of Pop Idol's second season, Cowell moved forward with The X Factor, a similar series that focused on finding the country's brightest pop star. By then, Cowell was a household name in the UK – and in the United States.

American Idol

American Idol made its debut in 2002, following hot on the heels of Pop Idol's success. Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, the show embarks on its "search for a superstar" annually. Cowell, along with fellow judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, weed through thousands of contestants before the general public chooses the ultimate winner. The series has launched the careers of many talented, Grammy Award winning artists.

Other Ventures

In 2006, Cowell formed operatic pop quartet Il Divo, who enjoyed great success with a multiplatinum-selling album. He is also the producer of several other talent programs, including American Inventor, Celebrity Duets and America's Got Talent.

The True Simon Cowell Biography

For the complete, no holds barred Simon Cowell biography, look no further than the source itself. He penned his 2003 autobiography, I Don't Mean to be Rude, But…, a short yet snappy read filled with amusing anecdotes and even a few tidbits of advice for aspiring singers.