by Leona Ash

Created on: May 27, 2007

Best known for being the harshest judge on American Idol, Briton Simon Cowell is a school drop-out, at just 16.

Born on 7 October 1959, Simon Philip Cowell used to work as a mail boy at Music label EMI (his dad introduced him to the job), before making his mark as a music producer.

His sarcastic nature began when he was just a wee lad, making snide comments about his mum's hat.

Although he was born in Brighton, Cowell was brought up in Elstree, Hertfordshire. His dad Eric was a property developer and music industry property executive, and his mum Julie is best described as a socialite. Cowell as three half brothers, of which one, John is a millionaire business developer. His own younger brother, Nicholas Cowell is a millionaire property magnate.

In the 80's, Cowell left EMI to form E&S Music, an independent music company, which folded within a year of operations, leading Cowell to return to EMI, where he met Pete Waterman, one third of the formidable Stock Aitken Waterman songwriting team. Waterman helped Cowell to gain success in the latter half of the 80s, when Cowell once again left EMI to form an independent record label- Fanfare Records. Unfortunately, the success did not last long, and in 89, Fanfare folded, and Cowell's business was driven to bankruptcy.

He then went to join BMG as an A&R consultant. Knee deep in debt, Cowell had to cower back home and lived with his parents. But success soon followed, as Cowell began signing acts that proved to be hits, like Sonia Evans, 5ive, Westlife, and Robson & Jerome. He also launched novelty recordings done by wrestlers of the World Wrestling Federation, The Teletubbies and the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

In 2002, Cowell set up yet another label, Syco Records, which eventually became part of Columbia Records and Sony BMG Music Entertainment. International acts like Il Divo was released on Syco.

But what really got Cowell famous is not his foresight in recognizing talents or his never-say die attitude. It's his unsparingly blunt comments and harsh criticisms on the contestants of the hit American reality talent show, American Idol that makes him a household name.

Unapologetic and straight to the point, Cowell provides a balance to fellow judge, Paula Abdul's noncommittal comments. Despite sometimes sounding decidedly cruel, Cowell's comments are usually spot-on. He started his judge stint on American Idol in 2002, and was a judge on Pop Idol (The UK version of American Idol) in 2001.

Cowell is also the executive producer of a range of shows, like America's Got Talent, Celebrity Duets, and Grease is the word, the reality TV show to search for the next big stars to play Danny and Sandy on the 2007 UK west end revival of Grease.

Learn more about this author, Leona Ash.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.