This eccentric
Soul singer came to prominence in April 1987 when 'If You Let Me Stay' became a huge UK hit. Although he claimed he was 'brought up by wolves',
D'Arby was a boxing champion in Florida before enlisting in the US Army. He was then stationed in
Frankfurt, Germany, in the 3rd Armoured Battalion, Elvis Presley's old regiment. He joined local
Funk outfit Touch in 1982, but left after being discharged from the army in mid-1983 and relocated to London, England.
His debut Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby (1987) recieved major critical acclaim. It was produced by Martin Ware of Heaven 17, and reached UK No 1 and US No 4, going platinum both places - and spawned the chart-topping 'Wishing Well'. After his two-year silence, interrupted only by 'The Birth Of Maudie, credited to 'The Incredible EG O'Reilly', Neither Fish Nor Flesh (1990) appeared, to critical derision and negligable sales. Later, 'To Know Someone Deeply Is To Know Someone Softly' barely scraped the charts. After he appeared with Ware's BEF on Music Of Quality And Distinction Vol.2 (1991), performing Bob Dylan's 'It's Alright Ma, I'm Only Bleeding', he recovered commercially with Symphony of Damn (1993), scoring with 'She Kissed Me' and the Des'ree duet 'Delicate'. The Album was entirely written and produced by D'Arby who declared:
'You'll never hear a crap song from me! I'm A Genius!"
Vibrator (1995), again written and produced by D'Arb, reached UK No 11. After he was snapped up by Java Records (a joint venture by Capitol and Alanis Morissette's producer-turned-media-mogul Glen Ballard), he appeared as an A&R man in the film Clubland (1998). According to www.sanandapromotion.com, he has also changed his name, and has a new album out.
Amnesiac says: his last album was SO FUCKIN good - only released in germany or something - he's criminally underated.
Source: www.home3.inet.tele.dk/hgaarde/TTDarby