David Byrne facts for kids

Quick facts for kids David Byrne
Byrne in April 2018
Born	(1952-05-14) 14 May 1952 (age 73) Dumbarton, Scotland
Citizenship	United Kingdom United States Ireland
Occupation	Singer songwriter musician record producer music theorist visual artist actor writer filmmaker
Years active	1971–present
Spouse(s)	Adelle Lutz ​ ​ (m. 1987; div. 2004)​
Children	1
Musical career
Origin	Arbutus, Maryland, U.S.
Genres	Rock new wave post-punk art pop worldbeat electronic
Instruments	Vocals guitar keyboards
Labels	Todo Mundo Luaka Bop Nonesuch Thrill Jockey Sire Warner Bros.
Signature

David Byrne (born May 14, 1952) is a very creative Scottish-American artist. He is a musician, writer, visual artist, and filmmaker. Many people know him as a founding member, main songwriter, lead singer, and guitarist of the famous American new wave band Talking Heads.

David Byrne has made many solo albums and worked on different kinds of projects. These include films, photography, operas, and books. He has won many important awards, like an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, a Special Tony Award, and a Golden Globe Award. He is also in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of Talking Heads.

Early Life and Education

David Byrne was born in Dumbarton, Scotland, on May 14, 1952. He was the older of two children. When he was two years old, his family moved to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. They moved because his father, an engineer, could find more jobs there. When David was about eight or nine, his family moved again to Arbutus, Maryland, in the United States. His father worked as an electronics engineer.

Even before high school, David could play the guitar, accordion, and violin. He was very interested in music from a young age. His parents said he always played his record player from age three. His father even changed a tape recorder so David could record different music parts together. This is called multitrack recording.

David Byrne finished high school in Maryland. He later went to art schools like the Rhode Island School of Design. However, he left college early to focus on his music.

Career Highlights

Starting Out: 1971–1974

David Byrne began his music journey in a high school band. Later, he was part of a duo called Bizadi. In 1973, he formed a band called the Artistics with his friend Chris Frantz. This band broke up in 1974.

David moved to New York City in May 1974. Chris Frantz and his girlfriend Tina Weymouth joined him later that year. For almost two years, they looked for a bass player but couldn't find one. So, Tina Weymouth learned to play the bass guitar herself. They started thinking about forming a new band.

Talking Heads: 1975–1991

Byrne playing guitar with Talking Heads in May 1978

By January 1975, David, Chris, and Tina were practicing music together. They formed the band Talking Heads. Their first show was in June of that year.

In May 1976, David quit his regular job. The band signed with Sire Records in November. David was the youngest member of Talking Heads. Later, Jerry Harrison joined the band in 1977.

Talking Heads released eight studio albums. These albums were very popular and successful. They were known for their creative music videos on MTV. The band helped create the new wave music style in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The band took a break in 1988, which was announced in 1991. David started his solo music career. In 2002, Talking Heads was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They played three songs together at the ceremony, including "Psycho Killer".

Solo Music and Collaborations: 1979–Present

Byrne at London's Royal Festival Hall in April 2009

While still with Talking Heads, David Byrne worked on other projects. He teamed up with Brian Eno for the album My Life in the Bush of Ghosts (1981). This album was praised for using sampling and found sounds early on.

His first solo album after Talking Heads was Rei Momo (1989). It featured many Latin American music styles. He continued to release solo albums like Uh-Oh (1992) and David Byrne (1994).

In 2004, he released Grown Backwards, which used orchestral string arrangements. He also toured with the Tosca Strings. David and Brian Eno worked together again for the album Everything That Happens Will Happen Today (2008). They toured the world to support this album.

In 2012, David released Love This Giant with singer-songwriter St. Vincent. They both sang and played guitar, backed by a brass section. They toured North America, Europe, and Australia together.

His first solo album in 14 years, American Utopia, came out in 2018. He toured with this album, creating a show that mixed music, theater, poetry, and dance. It was called one of the most impressive live shows ever.

Work in Theatre, Film, and Television: 1981–Present

David Byrne has also created music for ballets and plays. In 1981, he wrote music for a ballet called The Catherine Wheel. He was also a big part of the concert film Stop Making Sense (1984), helping with the stage design and dance moves.

He wrote, directed, and starred in the film True Stories (1986). This movie was a musical mix of American life. He also composed music for other films, including The Last Emperor (1987), which won an Academy Award for Best Original Score.

In 2003, David Byrne appeared as himself on an episode of The Simpsons. He also worked on Here Lies Love, a disco opera about the life of Imelda Marcos. This project later became a stage musical.

In 2015, he organized Contemporary Color, two concerts where musical acts teamed up with color guard groups. This was made into a documentary film in 2016.

In 2019, his American Utopia show opened on Broadway. He also appeared in a children's musical comedy special called John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch. In 2020, he performed on Saturday Night Live with the cast of American Utopia.

Other Musical Contributions: 1990–Present

Byrne performing at Austin City Limits in September 2008

David Byrne has contributed to many charity albums, especially for AIDS awareness. In 1995, he worked with Latin superstar Selena on a song called "God's Child (Baila Conmigo)". This was one of the last songs Selena recorded.

In 2001, a version of his song "Like Humans Do" was chosen by Microsoft as sample music for Windows XP. In 2002, he co-wrote and sang on "Lazy" by X-Press 2, which was a big hit.

In 2008, David Byrne created a unique art project called "Playing the Building". He connected a 99-year-old ferry terminal in Manhattan to a pipe organ, turning the building into a giant musical instrument that people could play. He wanted people to experience art by making music themselves.

In 2022, he co-wrote and sang on "This Is a Life" for the movie Everything Everywhere All at Once. He performed this song at the 95th Academy Awards.

Other Creative Work

David Byrne co-founded a record label called Luaka Bop in 1990. It started by releasing Latin American music but now includes music from all over the world.

In 2005, he started his own internet radio station, Radio David Byrne. Each month, he shares playlists of music he enjoys, grouped by themes or styles.

David is also a visual artist. His artwork has been shown in art galleries and museums since the 1990s. In 2006, he released Arboretum, a book of his tree drawings.

TED Talks

David Byrne has given talks at the TED conferences. In 2010, he spoke about how architecture can affect music. He also performed a song with Thomas Dolby and a string quartet at a TED conference.

Personal Life

David Byrne has lived in the United States since he was a child. He became a citizen of both the United Kingdom and the United States in 2012. He also gained Irish citizenship in 2020. He lives in New York City.

David Byrne has described himself as being on the autism spectrum. He says this helps him focus deeply on his creative projects. He feels that music helps him communicate when it's hard to do so face-to-face.

David Byrne married costume designer Adelle Lutz in 1987. They have a daughter named Malu Abeni Valentine Byrne, who was born in 1989. They divorced in 2004.

Cycling

David Byrne is well-known for loving to cycle. He uses his bike as his main way to get around, especially in New York City. He has written a book about cycling called Bicycle Diaries.

A bike rack designed by Byrne outside the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University

In 2008, David designed a series of unique bicycle parking racks for New York City. These racks were shaped like images that matched the areas they were in, such as a dollar sign for Wall Street. He wanted to make art that people could use every day.

Discography and Other Works

Studio Albums with Talking Heads

• Talking Heads: 77 (1977)
• More Songs About Buildings and Food (1978)
• Fear of Music (1979)
• Remain in Light (1980)
• Speaking in Tongues (1983)
• Little Creatures (1985)
• True Stories (1986)
• Naked (1988)

Solo Studio Albums and Collaborations

• My Life in the Bush of Ghosts (1981) (with Brian Eno)
• Rei Momo (1989)
• Uh-Oh (1992)
• David Byrne (1994)
• Feelings (1997)
• Look into the Eyeball (2001)
• Grown Backwards (2004)
• Everything That Happens Will Happen Today (2008) (with Brian Eno)
• Love This Giant (2012) (with St. Vincent)
• American Utopia (2018)

Soundtracks and Music for Theater

Film and Television Appearances

Concert Films

Other Film and Television

Awards and Nominations

David Byrne has won many awards for his music, films, and other creative works. You can find a full list of his awards and nominations here: List of awards and nominations received by David Byrne.

Images for kids

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  David Byrne's signature

See also

In Spanish: David Byrne para niños