Thomas Dolby bio via ThomasDolby.com

Perhaps best known for blinding us with science, Thomas Dolby has always blurred the lines between composition and invention.

Thomas Morgan Robertson (born 14 October 1958), known by the stage name Thomas Dolby, is an English musician, producer, composer, entrepreneur and teacher.

Dolby came to prominence in the 1980s, releasing hit singles including “She Blinded Me with Science” (1982) and “Hyperactive!” (1984). He has also worked as a producer and as a session musician.

Dolby is associated with the new wave movement of the early 1980s, a form of pop music incorporating electronic instruments, but Dolby’s work covers a wide range of musical styles and moods distinct from the high-energy pop sound of his few, better-known commercial successes.

In the 1990s, Dolby founded Beatnik, a Silicon Valley software company which developed the polyphonic ringtone software and created the Nokia tune. Its technology was used in more than half a billion cell phones. He was also the music director for TED Conferences. On the faculty at the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University since 2014, Dolby leads Peabody’s Music for New Media program, which enrolled its first students in the fall of 2018.

In July 1998, Dolby received a “Lifetime Achievement in Internet Music” award from Yahoo! Internet Life. In 2012 he performed at Moogfest and was the recipient of The Moog Innovation Award, which celebrates “pioneering artists whose genre-defying work exemplifies the bold, innovative spirit of Bob Moog”. In February 2018, Dolby was awarded the Roland Lifetime Achievement Award. Dolby has received four Grammy nominations, two each in 1984 and 1988.

Keith Killgo bio via AllAboutJazz.com

Keith Killgo, drummer, vocalist and one of the founding members of the jazz-fusion group, the Blackbyrds, has been a part of the metamorphosis that has taken place in the world of jazz. From the age of four years old, he studied piano–going on to train with Roberta Flack. Although the piano was his first instrument, his affinity for the drums was exhibited early in his music career. By the time, he was eleven he had played drums with Sonny Stitt, Stan Getz, Miles Davis, Woody Shaw, Bill Hardman, Art Blakey’s band and Eddie Harris.

Killgo entered Bradley University in Illinois where he became a part of the Joe Henderson Quintet, along with Stanley Clark, Hal Galper and Woody Shaw. After playing and touring with Joe Henderson, he attended Howard University, where he met Donald Byrd and was selected to become a member of the Blackbyrds with Orville Saunders and Joe Hall. For the next ten years, the Blackbyrds played with George Duke, Herbie Hancock, Bobby Humphrey, Sonny Rollins and Andrew White. They received an array of awards including three gold albums and a Grammy nomination for “Walking in Rhythm.” Killgo wrote several hit singles for the Blackbyrds including, “Flying High,” and “Time is Moving.”

After the affiliation with Donald Byrd ended in 1977, Killgo and the Blackbyrds collaborated with George Duke on Better Days. Killgo wrote both the title song and “Love Don’t Strike Twice.” He later went on to form Krosswinds, a seven-person band, as well as recoding a solo LP consisting of three original compositions and a new version of Tommy James’ hit single, “Crystal Blue Persuasion.” Killgo has performed and/or recorded with his own band and artists as diverse as Stevie Wonder, Joe Williams, Jimmy Witherspoon, Gary Bartz, Milt Jackson, Carla Thomas, Gerald Albright, Carl Anderson, Roland Hanna, David “Fathead” Newman, Stanley Turrentine, Joey DeFranscesco, Wynton Marsalis, Dianne Reeves, James Moody, Patrice Rushen and others.

One of Keith’s projects is “StarJamz,” a music performance entertainment television special aired on TV One. The show brings together two stars from different generations to talk, perform individually, together and jam live with Keith Killgo’s StarJamz House Band. The first special features NAACP Image Award winner and American Idol 2003 champion Ruben Studdard and multiple Grammy Award-winning soul vocalist Peabo Bryson.

Keith is currently promoting his latest release, ‘Mood for Love’ on his Krosslink label. Featuring Donald Byrd, Larry Coryell, the late Oscar Brown, Jr and Joe Henderson, Keith Killgo returns to his roots on his sophomore solo effort with a combination of live and studio cuts.

Keith compiled This World in 2004 and recently decided to release and promote the CD globally to re-introduce Keith’s funky style of jazz fusion to his fans, old and new.