Dolby biography

1. The Multitalented Thomas Dolby
2. A Self-Taught Musician, Poet, and Programmer
3. Collaborations with Prominent Artists
4. A Unique Image and Chart Success
5. Continued Musical Success and Ventures

The Multitalented Thomas Dolby

Thomas Morgan Robertson, better known as Thomas Dolby, was born on October 14, 1958, in London. His father, Martin Robertson, was a professor of archaeology and ancient Greek culture at Oxford University. Much of Thomas's youth was spent in Greece.

A Self-Taught Musician, Poet, and Programmer

Thomas Dolby is a self-taught musician, poet, and programmer. He earned his nickname "Dolby" in school due to his love for and playful handling of cassette recorders. Instead of pursuing meteorology in college, he began constructing his own synthesizer model at the age of eighteen. With his self-built system, he worked as a sound engineer for tours with bands such as the "Members," "Fall," and "The Passions." Later, he co-founded the band "Camera Club" with Bruce Woolley before joining Lena Lovich's support band in September 1980. He wrote the track "New Toy" for Lena. His first solo work appeared on the single "Urges," released by "Armageddon" in 1981, and the following year, he topped the charts with the songs "Europa" and "The Pirate Twins."

Collaborations with Prominent Artists

In 1982, Thomas Dolby collaborated with former "Soft Boys" member Matthew Seligman and Kevin Armstrong from the "Thompson Twins" during several concerts. Despite his busy schedule, he found time to help record albums for "Foreigner" and Joan Armatrading. He also collaborated with Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Dusty Springfield, Howard, and Grace Jones. One of his most famous collaborations was with David Bowie, as he played with Bowie at the "Live Aid" rock festival.

A Unique Image and Chart Success

Thomas Dolby's strong portrayal of a "mad scientist" in his music videos further intensified the public's interest in him. Interestingly, his most famous singles, "She Blinded Me With Science" and "Hyperactive," only reached the thirty-first and seventeenth positions on the charts, respectively. However, the latter reached fifth place in the US and fourth in the UK when re-released in 1996.

Continued Musical Success and Ventures

In addition to collaborating with "Prefab Sprout" and Johnny Mitchell, Dolby participated in recording soundtracks for several films, including "Howard: A New Breed Of Hero." He is married to actress Kathleen Beller (known as Kirby in "Dynasty") and has three children. In 1993, he founded the software company "Headspace," which now receives more focus and attention from him than his music. Nonetheless, Thomas Dolby continues to be highly respected in the music industry, thanks to his impressive track record and contributions to the development of techno music.