The Speed of Sound: Breaking the Barriers Between Music and Technology: A Memoir
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.13 (689 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 1250071844 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 288 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2014-06-19 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
The remarkable story of rising to the top of the music charts, a second act as a tech pioneer, and the sustaining power of creativity and art.Thomas Dolby’s hit songs “She Blinded Me with Science” and “Hyperactive!” catapulted him to international fame in the early 80’s. But as record company politics overshadow the joy of performing, Thomas finds a surprising second act.Starting out in a rat-infested London bedsit, a teenage Thomas Dolby stacks boxes by day at the grocery and tinkers with a homemade synthesizer at night while catching the Police at a local dive bar, swinging by the pub to see the unknown Elvis Costello and starting the weekend with a Clash show at a small night club. Life at the zenith of a tech empire proves to be just as full of big personalities, battling egos and roller-coaster success as his days spent at the top of the charts. London on the eve of the 1980s is a hotbed for music and culture, and a new sound is beginning to take shape, merging technology with the musical energy of punk rock. The world is now his oyster, and sold out arenas, world tours, even a friendship with Michael Jackson become the fabric of his life.But as the record industry flounders and disillusionment sets in, Thomas turns his attention to Hollywood. By 2005, two-thirds of the world’s mobile phones embed his Beatnik software. THE SPEED OF SOUND is the story of an extraordinary man living an extraordinary li
But what was he, exactly? A singer-songwriter? Performance artist? Programmer? Engineer, poet, actor, inventor? And if we couldn't be sure, how possibly could he? This is the engaging, emotional, funny and surprising tale of Thomas Dolby -- a brilliant multi-hyphenate on his journey of discovery and self-discovery."-- JJ Abrams, Director, Writer, Producer?"Whatever technology does to musicians will also be done to the rest of us -- but to Thomas Dolby first. His innovative accomplishments, rendered in fascinating detail here, are legendary.This stellar book will appeal to readers interested in modern technology's startling effects on music and popular culture." - Kirkus, Starred Review“In his engaging memoir, British New
"A Revelatory Memoir by the Man Who Blinded Us with Science" according to Andrew Field. I just finished reading Dolby's memoir. For someone who's been a fan of his music for over A Revelatory Memoir by the Man Who Blinded Us with Science I just finished reading Dolby's memoir. For someone who's been a fan of his music for over 30 years, it was a revelation. The book is full of fascinating anecdotes about his early career as a musician, and his later career as a tech entrepreneur. Throughout the memoir he comes across as an artist who refuses to compromise his integrity, a sort of romantic Don Quixote figure crossing lances with the dragons of the music business and e-commerce. Fans of music wi. 0 years, it was a revelation. The book is full of fascinating anecdotes about his early career as a musician, and his later career as a tech entrepreneur. Throughout the memoir he comes across as an artist who refuses to compromise his integrity, a sort of romantic Don Quixote figure crossing lances with the dragons of the music business and e-commerce. Fans of music wi. Pages and pages of prose form an almost autobiographical picture of the Artist & Businessman at work and play Huevos Rancheros Interesting read, I couldn't put it down, wound up reading it in 2 sessions over 2 days. Mr Dolby provides a very good look at the recent history of the music business and his career in particular which segues nicely into the world of the modern age of wireless which is the dotcom/internet zombie fest of virtual products and data points and vaporware and of course IPO's.This book cost me money, I wound up buying Thomas Dolbies orignal catalog (released on Rhin. Masterfully crafted and does not disappoint! Finished this fascinating memoir the day I received it. I've been anticipating the book's release for a while, and it did not disappoint. SPOILERS (but what review doesn't have a few): I already knew Elizabeth was Europa, but I still gasped when she said "We'll be the Pirate Twins again", I cried when TMDR described the worst moment of his life checking his Blackberry outside the school, I laughed about the water skiing accident, I cheered when Kathleen told o
He lives in England with his family. He has been named Johns Hopkins University's first Homewood Professor of the Arts, where he will help create a new center that will serve as an incubator for technology in the arts. Thomas Dolby has spent his career at the intersection of music and technology. He was an early star on MTV, and then moved to Silicon Valle