THE SCIENCE OF THOMAS DOLBY.Byline: Fred Shuster Music Writer There's more to Thomas Dolby Thomas Dolby (born Thomas Morgan Robertson, on 14 October 1958) is an English musician, producer, and inventor. Life and career Thomas was born in London. His father, Martin Robertson, was an internationally-distinguished professor of classical Greek art and than his cheery '80s synth-dance classic "She Blinded Me With Science." About 17 years ago, after a string of hits and high-profile producing gigs, the musician/programmer quit the biz to launch a successful Silicon Valley high-tech company that now specializes in ringtones. It shouldn't be a surprise that one of his most popular bits of cell-phone noise is taken from "She Blinded Me With Science." Son of a prominent British archeologist, Dolby has long been interested in microchips and wires. "I guess I was ahead of my time in some ways," Dolby, 47, said prior to his one-man show tonight at the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills. "When I first went to Silicon Valley, I was trying to persuade manufacturers to put speakers in their computers. They'd say, 'Cute idea, but it will annoy the guy in the next cubicle.' " Dolby (real name Thomas Robertson Thomas Robertson is the name of:
Machine that electronically generates and modifies sounds, frequently with the use of a digital computer, for use in the composition of electronic music and in live performance. and other music-making technologies as early as the '70s, a time when most musicians were still trying to figure out how to turn their amp volume up to 11. Along with pop hits that memorably worked the video angle for a nascent MTV MTV in full Music Television U.S. cable television network, established in 1980 to present videos of musicians and singers performing new rock music. MTV won a wide following among rock-music fans worldwide and greatly affected the popular-music business. (a white-clad Dolby exploring the fictional "Institute for Deranged de·range tr.v. de·ranged, de·rang·ing, de·rang·es 1. To disturb the order or arrangement of. 2. To upset the normal condition or functioning of. 3. To disturb mentally; make insane. Science" is among the most recognizable video images of the '80s), the four-time Grammy nominee collaborated with the likes of Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Joni Mitchell, Foreigner and Roger Waters. In 1985, he produced one of the greatest lost pop masterpieces of all time, "Steve McQueen" (retitled "Two Wheels Good" in the U.S. due to litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. from the late actor's estate) by the British band Chief Black Hawk's Band of 1832, commonly referred to as the "British Band", was a group of Native Americans which fought the Illinois State and Michigan Territory militias during the 1832 Black Hawk War. Prefab Sprout. "That record actually got a lot of recognition in Europe, but it was lost in the shuffle in the States," Dolby said. "I keep running into people, most recently the president of a major record company, who say it's one of their favorite albums of all time." Tonight's Canyon Club gig, which also features a set from Colin Hay Colin Hay (born Colin James Hay, 29 June 1953, Saltcoats, Scotland) is a Scottish-Australian musician, who made his mark in the 1980s as a member of the Australian band, Men at Work. Hay was born in Scotland, but moved to Australia at the age of fourteen with his family. of '80s hitmakers Men at Work ("Who Can It Be Now?"), has Dolby sharing the stage with vintage oscilloscopes and other odd-looking equipment. "I think there's an appetite for authenticity," says Dolby, who landed a song in the forthcoming thriller "Mission: Impossible III," starring Tom Cruise. "In the years I was away, I kept reading interviews with electronica artists who'd mention me. One of my reasons for going back out now is to reconnect. "The challenge is you don't want to go play some hotel or convention just because there's a wave of nostalgia." Fred Shuster, (818) 713-3676 fred.shuster@dailynews.com THOMAS DOLBY Where: Canyon Club, 28912 Roadside Drive, Agoura Hills. When: 8 tonight. Tickets: $24.50. (818) 879-5016; canyonclub.net; version.thomasdolby.com. |
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