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Plugging into Thomas Dolby  E-mail
Tuesday, 02 January 2007 07:59

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Thomas Dolby performing live
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Dolby was a pioneer of the one-man synth show

Thomas Dolby graced the music scene with hits such as “She Blinded Me With Science" and "Hyperactive".  Performance wise, Dolby was one of the first pioneers of the "one man synth show," in which he performed music with an array of keyboards and synthesizers.  He also played on notable albums by Def Leppard, The Thompson Twins, Foreigner, Lene Lovich, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Houdini. His musical works expanded into soundtracks, animation and video games.  After four studio albums, Dolby went on a lengthy hiatus from the music industry to experiment with MP3 and polyphonic ringtone technologies.  He founded two technology companies:  Beatnik Inc. and Retro Ringtones, LLC. 

Dolby’s affinity with technology is well known, but it was his love for music that kept him going.  Dolby’s journey included busking for money at the Parisian Metro stations, to the “Tribute to Synths” performance at the 1985 Grammy Awards along side the likes of Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder and Howard Jones. 

Dolby contributed to the WITNESS Benefit Dinner Auction in December 2006.  WITNESS is non-profit activist organization founded by singer/musician, Peter Gabriel.  The organization uses video and online technologies for reporting human rights violations and to promote justice around the world.  The auction was a CMI Fairlight synthesizer keyboard with each individual keys signed by musicians who had worked with the Fairlight. Signatures included Jan Hammer, Kate Bush, Jean-Michel Jarre, The Art of Noise, Keith Emerson, to name a few.  The CMI Fairlight Synthesizer is synonymous with many of the popular hits from the 1980’s.  The historic keyboard went to an anonymous bidder in Japan for $100,000. 

After being away from music for so long, Dolby got the music bug once again in 2006.  He embarked on the Sole Inhabitant Tour. The tour was so successful, it spawned a live CD and DVD to boot. 

Dolby also courted unexpected publicity when aspiring rapper, K-Fed (a.k.a Kevin Federline, Ex-Mr. Britney Spears and Fed-Ex, respectively), came out with a song called, “America's Most Hated”, in which he sampled Dolby's signature hit, “She Blinded Me With Science,” without legal consent and royalty acknowledgment.  A war of words ensued on K-Fed's MySpace page, where the song was debuted. Needless to say, Dolby can thank Mr. Federline for the extra attention!

Dolby recently hooked up with techno maestro, BT, to a joint concert tour.  Dolby sat down with us to talk about what he has been doing for the past few years and duking it out with K-Fed.

Additional Links:

The Official Thomas Dolby Web Site:
www.thomasdolby.com

WITNESS Charity Auction December 2006:
www.sonicstate.com/news/shownews.cfm?newsid=3864

Tribute to Synths Performance at the 1985 Grammy Awards:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZEGHnAxEpo&eurl



 

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