Richard Darbyshire
| Richard Darbyshire | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Richard Simon Darbyshire |
| Born | 8 March 1960 |
| Origin | , Cheshire, England |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, producer, songwriting coach |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, piano |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Labels | Chrysalis Records, Dome Records, Warner/Chappell Music, EMI, Polygram |
| Associated acts | Zu Zu Sharks, Living in a Box |
Richard Simon Darbyshire (born 8 March 1960) is an English singer, songwriter, producer and songwriting coach. Darbyshire is best known as the frontman for the 1980s Sheffield band, Living in a Box.
Richard Darbyshire was born in , Cheshire, in England. He went to school in Manchester, where he briefly attended Manchester Grammar School. At the age of 13, he followed his parents to Japan, where he attended an American boarding school.
Bathing in the sound of The Beatles, Darbyshire's interest in a musical career began early; he first took up the clarinet but then switched to guitar. While in Japan, Darbyshire was introduced to the soul music of Marvin Gaye, Al Green and Curtis Mayfield via US military station. He joined a band with a group of Americans playing Allman Brothers type of material.
Back in England, Darbyshire sat his exams at the Manchester Grammar School and played with various bands of the Northern Music scene, such as Gammer and his Familiars. He also went to Oxford University, where he studied English literature.
After university, Darbyshire briefly joined a Manchester band called Zu Zu Sharks, composed of Adam and the Ants bassist Gary Tibbs and Alistair Gordon on keyboards. Their single "Love Tumbles Down" was a number 1 hit in Spain, but Darbyshire left the band in 1983, unhappy with their pop sound.
Darbyshire continued writing songs. One of them, "Put Your Foot Down" was recorded by The Temptations for their album Together Again, released in 1987. He also co-wrote songs with singer Tessa Niles in 1985 for her upcoming album (which ultimately went unreleased). He also performed session work for Polygram and EMI.
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