The mad scientist of 1980s synth pop, Thomas Dolby's boundary-pushing, oddball
electro made him one of the most acclaimed producers of the era. A technological
wiz who was always fiddling with keyboards and tape decks as a schoolboy, Thomas
Robertson was nicknamed Dolby by his friends after the audio company, and took
the name professionally so as to avoid confusion with singer Tom Robinson.
Originally a session musician and technician, he played keyboards for Foreigner
and Def Leppard and wrote songs for Lene Lovich before making his name with the
hit She Blinded Me With Science...