Anthony George Banks was born on the 27th March 1950, in East Hoathly, Sussex, England, and is a musician, best known as the keyboardist and one of the founding members of the band Genesis. His career started in 1967.
Have you ever wondered how rich Tony Banks is, as of early 2017? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Banks’s net worth is as high as $50 million, an amount earned through his successful career in music.
Tony Banks Net Worth $50 Million
Tony Banks was one of five siblings of parents Nora and John Banks. His music talent was noticed early, when he mastered various musical instruments, starting with classical training in piano, followed by self-taught guitar. However, keyboard instruments proved best suited to his style, as his career with Genesis would show. Banks attended Charterhouse School, after which he planned to pursue a career in math, physics and chemistry. Still, his love of music and newfound friendship with fellow student, Peter Gabriel, pushed him to form a rock band called The Garden Wall, with him on keyboard, Gabriel as the lead singer, and Chris Stewart as the drummer. They soon merged with their competition at school, another rock band named The Anon, and comprised of guitarists Mike Rutherford and Anthony Phillips.
The newly formed project, which was named Genesis, released their first studio album in 1969, with Decca Records. The album was called “From Genesis to Revelation”, and spawned a single “The Silent Sun” (1968), written by Banks, and Peter Gabriel. However, neither the album nor the song was successful, and the band parted ways and went on a short hiatus. Not giving up on his dreams of a music career, Banks pushed for the group to tour, while preparing new material. The band signed with Charisma Records after being noticed by Tony Stratton-Smith during one of their live shows. They released their second studio album for the label, entitled “Trespass” (1970), and Banks was featured prominently on this album, both as songwriter, and because the keyboard took center stage in many songs, particularly in the best received number from the album, “The Knife”, which opened with Banks’s solo. The album wasn’t well-received, being deemed too uneven by the critics.
Nonetheless, the band continued to gain prominence with their live shows, and gather an audience.
The band finally achieved critical and commercial success with their fourth studio album “Foxtrot” (1972), with Banks once again credited as songwriter, besides playing Hammond organ, Mellotron, piano, electric piano, 12-string guitar, and providing back-up vocals. Throughout the existence of Genesis, he remained the most consistent band member, along with Mike Rutherford. He recorded fifteen studio albums with them, as well as several EPs and live albums. Some of the most successful ones, critically and commercially, were “Abacab” (1981), the self-titled “Genesis” (1983), and “We Can’t Dance” (1991), which contributed steadily to his net worth.
On the side, Banks also tried to develop a solo career, though it always remained in the shadow of Genesis. He released five albums, but achieved only modest success. His best received entry was 1983 “The Fugitive”, which Banks also produced, with the album certified gold. Banks also composed film scores for movies such as “The Wicked Lady” (1983) and “Quicksilver” (1986), starring Kevin Bacon. He continues to tour with Genesis, and most recently, he released a classical album “Six Pieces for Orchestra” (2012).
Regarding his personal life, Banks has been married to Margaret McBain since 1972; together they have two children, and the couple resides in London.
