Thomas Dolby facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thomas Dolby
Dolby performing in 2024
Background information
Birth name	Thomas Morgan Robertson
Born	(1958-10-14) 14 October 1958 (age 66) London, England
Genres	New wave synth-pop funk film music ambient post-punk
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter musician record producer composer entrepreneur teacher musical director
Instruments	Keyboards vocals
Years active	1979–present
Labels	Capitol/EMI Giant/Warner Bros. Records Invisible Hands Music Echo BMG Records UK

Thomas Morgan Robertson (born October 14, 1958), known as Thomas Dolby, is an English musician. He is also a record producer, composer, and teacher.

Dolby became famous in the 1980s. He released popular songs like "She Blinded Me with Science" (1982) and "Hyperactive!" (1984). He also worked as a producer for other artists.

In the 1990s, Dolby started a software company called Beatnik. This company created technology for playing internet audio and later ringtones. Their technology was used on Nokia phones. He was also the music director for TED Conferences. Since 2014, Dolby has taught at the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University. He leads their Music for New Media program.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Thomas Dolby was born Thomas Morgan Robertson in London, England. His father was a professor who studied Greek Art and Archaeology.

When he was in school in London, Dolby was friends with Shane MacGowan. Shane later became famous in the band The Pogues. Dolby also attended Abingdon School in Oxfordshire, England. One of his first jobs was working at a fruit and vegetable shop.

Dolby started his musical journey early. He sang in a choir when he was about 10 or 11. This helped him learn to sightread music. He first learned to play the guitar, focusing on folk music. Later, he switched to piano and became interested in jazz music. In the mid-1970s, he got his first electronic instrument. It was a synthesizer that he built himself.

How Thomas Dolby Got His Name

Dolby performing in 2018

Thomas Dolby got his stage name from a nickname. In the early 1970s, friends called him "Dolby." This was because he was always working with keyboards and tape recorders. The name comes from the Dolby noise-reduction system, which helps make audio recordings sound clearer.

He chose "Thomas Dolby" as his stage name to avoid being confused with another British singer, Tom Robinson. When Dolby became famous with "She Blinded Me with Science" in 1982, Dolby Laboratories had some concerns about his name. However, after a legal discussion, it was decided that he could keep using the name. They agreed he would not release electronic equipment under that name.

Thomas Dolby is not related to Ray Dolby, who founded Dolby Laboratories. He is also not related to Ray's son, Tom Dolby, who is a filmmaker.

Thomas Dolby's Music Career

In the late 1970s, Dolby formed a band called Camera Club. After that, he joined Lene Lovich's band as a keyboard player. He even wrote her hit song "New Toy." Before starting his solo career in 1981, he also wrote songs for other artists. He worked as a record producer too.

Solo Music Style

Thomas Dolby is known for his connection to the new wave movement of the early 1980s. This type of pop music uses many electronic instruments. However, Dolby's music covers many different musical styles. His work is often different from the high-energy pop songs he is most famous for.

'The Golden Age of Wireless'

Dolby's first solo album was The Golden Age of Wireless (1982). The first versions of this album did not include his biggest hit, "She Blinded Me with Science." This catchy song was later released on an EP called Blinded by Science. After that, The Golden Age of Wireless was re-released with "She Blinded Me with Science." The song became very successful, reaching number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The album was released five times in total. Each time, the order of songs changed, and sometimes different songs were included. The Golden Age of Wireless reached number 13 on the Billboard album chart. The album explored themes like radio technology, aircraft, and submarines. It also touched on relationships and memories. While it used many synthesizers, it also featured other instruments like harmonica, violin, and guitar.

Dolby's Cube: Collaborations

Starting in 1983, Dolby worked with various artists on a project called Dolby's Cube. This project did not have a fixed group of members. It was a way for Dolby to release more dance-focused music. Dolby's Cube released a few songs and worked on the soundtrack for the movie Howard the Duck in 1986. Some artists who worked on Dolby's Cube included Lene Lovich and George Clinton.

'The Flat Earth'

In 1984, Dolby released his second album, The Flat Earth. This album reached number 14 on the UK Albums Chart and number 35 on the Billboard album chart in the US. The Flat Earth showed Dolby's wide range of talents. It included influences from jazz, funk, and world music, along with electronic sounds. Many guest musicians played on the album.

The song "Hyperactive!" was the first and most successful single from this album. It reached number 17 on the UK Singles Chart. This made it Dolby's highest-charting song in his home country.

'Aliens Ate My Buick'

Dolby's next album was Aliens Ate My Buick (1988). He described it as "very bold" and "unsubtle." This album had strong funk and dance influences. The first song released from it was "Airhead." This song made fun of a rich California woman. The album also included "Hot Sauce," a song by George Clinton.

'Astronauts & Heretics'

For his album Astronauts & Heretics (1992), Dolby explored even more musical styles. He started writing songs at the piano. Then, he worked with many guest musicians. Famous guitarists like Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia played on "The Beauty of a Dream." Eddie Van Halen also played on two songs.

The most popular song from this album was "Close but No Cigar." It reached number 22 on the UK charts. Two other songs, "I Love You Goodbye" and "Silk Pyjamas," used Zydeco music influences. This style comes from Louisiana.

'The Sole Inhabitant'

Dolby performing in 2006

After working with his company Beatnik, Dolby returned to music in 2006. He played his first solo show in 15 years in San Francisco. Then, he started a tour called the Sole Inhabitant Tour. This tour included small shows across California and other parts of America.

A live CD and DVD were made from the "Sole Inhabitant Tour 2006." The CD was recorded at shows in Chicago. The DVD was filmed at the Berklee Performance Center. It also included an interview and a lecture by Dolby.

In 2007, Dolby moved back to England with his family. He then did a nine-date Sole Inhabitant tour in the UK. This tour happened at the same time a special box set of the CD and DVD was released.

Later Music and Reissues

In 2009, a CD and DVD set called The Singular Thomas Dolby was released. It was a collection of his past hit songs. The DVD included all his music videos. Also in 2009, The Golden Age of Wireless and The Flat Earth albums were re-released. They included many bonus songs that had not been released before.

'A Map of the Floating City'

In 2010, Dolby began working on a new album called A Map of the Floating City. This album was divided into three parts. The first two parts, Amerikana and Oceanea, were released digitally. The third part, Urbanoia, was part of an online game.

Many musicians helped with the album. These included Mark Knopfler from Dire Straits, Regina Spektor, and Imogen Heap. Dolby said the new songs were "organic and very personal." He recorded the album in his studio, which was built inside a 1930s lifeboat. This studio was powered by renewable energy. It was located in his garden on the English coast.

'A Map of the Floating City' Game

In June 2011, Dolby announced an online game called A Map of the Floating City. The game shared its name with his new album. The game was set in a future where World War II had turned out differently. Players explored a fictional map, formed groups, and traded items. They could also get new songs from Dolby's album. The game was played from June to August 2011. The winning team received a private concert from Dolby.

Working with Other Artists

Besides his solo career, Dolby also worked as a session musician and record producer. He played on albums for bands like Thompson Twins and Foreigner. He also played keyboards on Def Leppard's 1983 album Pyromania.

In 1985, Dolby was part of David Bowie's band for his performance at Live Aid. He also produced albums for the band Prefab Sprout. These included Steve McQueen (1985) and Jordan: The Comeback (1990). In 1987, Dolby played synthesizer on Belinda Carlisle's song "Heaven Is a Place on Earth." This song reached number one in the United States.

Film and Video Games

Dolby has created music for several films and video games. He also acted in the 1990 comedy film Rockula.

Music for Films

Music for Video Games

'The Invisible Lighthouse'

In 2012, Dolby learned that the Orfordness Lighthouse near his home in Suffolk, England, was being shut down. He decided to make a documentary film about it called The Invisible Lighthouse. The film showed the lighthouse closing and also shared stories from his childhood in the area. Dolby toured with this film in 2013, performing live music and narration during the screenings. The film won an award for Best Picture at the DIY Film Festival.

Beatnik Company and Ringtones

In 1993, Dolby started a company called Headspace. He wanted to create tools for interactive audio, as he felt there weren't enough at the time. His company worked on music for video games. Later, Headspace developed a new file format for internet music called Rich Music Format (RMF). These files were small and could be played in a web browser.

In 1999, Headspace was renamed Beatnik, Inc. The company then focused on making software synthesizers for mobile phones. They licensed this technology to phone makers like Nokia. Beatnik created many digital polyphonic ringtones for mobile phones.

Dolby stepped down as CEO in 2002. He felt the business was no longer exciting to him. He then started Retro Ringtones LLC. This company made software for managing ringtones and sold ringtones to businesses. These ringtones included sounds like animal noises and sci-fi effects. RetroFolio, their software, won awards in 2004. The company closed in 2005.

Other Projects

Grammy Awards Performance

In 1985, Thomas Dolby performed at the Grammy Awards. He was joined by other famous keyboard and synthesizer players like Stevie Wonder and Herbie Hancock.

Virtual Reality Music

In 1992, Dolby experimented with virtual reality (VR). He created a VR experience for the Guggenheim Museum. Users wore a special headset and found themselves inside a computer-generated string quartet playing Mozart. The sound changed as the user moved around.

In 2018, Dolby started a New Media workshop at The Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University. Students in his class learn to create music for VR and AR (Augmented Reality). He has also performed live music in VR concerts.

TED Conference Music Director

From 2001 to 2012, Dolby was the music director for the TED Conference. This is an annual event where people give talks about ideas. He provided live music for the sessions and helped find other musicians to perform. He played with artists like David Byrne. He left the role in 2012 to focus more on his own music.

Teaching Career

In March 2014, Dolby became a professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. In 2017, the Peabody Institute announced that Dolby would lead a new four-year college program. This program, called Music for New Media, welcomed its first students in 2018.

Awards and Recognition

In July 1998, Dolby received a "Lifetime Achievement in Internet Music" award. In 2012, he received The Moog Innovation Award. This award celebrates artists who are creative and innovative in their music. In February 2018, Dolby was given the Roland Lifetime Achievement Award. He has also been nominated for four Grammys.

Discography

• The Golden Age of Wireless (1982)
• The Flat Earth (1984)
• Aliens Ate My Buick (1988)
• Astronauts & Heretics (1992)
• A Map of the Floating City (2011)

Images for kids

• 

  The PPG Wave 2.2 synthesizer, an instrument Thomas Dolby used.

• 

  Thomas Dolby speaking at a TED Conference in 2009.

See also

In Spanish: Thomas Dolby para niños