Tom Robinson

Originally making his mark in the punk era, Tom Robinson is probably best known for the hits 2-4-6-8 Motorway and the gay liberation anthem Glad To Be Gay but later built a parallel career as a respected BBC radio presenter. Growing up, he struggled with his sexuality and, suffering from depression, was sent to a school for disturbed teenagers but, after being inspired by a concert by British blues pioneer Alexis Korner, found salvation in music. Moving to London, he formed the acoustic trio Café Society, who were signed by Ray Davies of The Kinks to his Konk label. Produced by Davies, their debut album was unsuccessful, however, and - inspired by punk - Robinson quit to form his own band playing more aggressive, politically inspired material. They broke into the UK Top 10 with 2-4-6-8 Motorway in 1977, but gained more attention the following year with the EP Rising Free, mainly due to the inclusion of Glad To Be Gay, the first gay pride anthem, which was banned by the BBC. The album Power In The Darkness was also a major hit, but when the band broke up in 1979, Robinson began writing with Elton John and formed the political band Sector 27. Moving to Hamburg in Germany, he released his first solo album North By Northwest in 1982 and had a hit with War Baby, written about the divisions between East and West Germany. While continuing to write and work solo, he began to forge an alternative career as a radio presenter in the 1980s, originally after getting his own show on the BBC World Service and became an important supporter of new young talent. Robinson released several well-received solo albums through the 1990s, continued to be noted for getting involved in political issues (campaigning strongly for Rock Against Racism and Amnesty International) and, despite subsequently marrying and fathering children, remained a champion of gay rights through songs like Blood Brother.

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