1980s pop hero dies aged 65

An English singer, songwriter, and producer, he fronted Living In a Box from 1985 to 1990, giving the band its signature sound before parting ways during the making of their third album.

His journey began in Stockport, England, before life carried him to Japan as a teenager, where soul music from Marvin Gaye, Al Green, and Curtis Mayfield first found its way into his heart.

After returning to the UK, the good-looking guy with the great voice, played in various bands, studied English literature at Oxford, and eventually found his footing as both an artist and a songwriter. Before Living In a Box exploded onto the charts, he had already written music recorded by acts like The Temptations.

International chart success

When Virgin and Chrysalis Records both came knocking in 1985, Darbyshire chose the band that would soon take its name from the very song he had just sung: Living in a Box.

Two albums, international chart success, and an unforgettable ’80s anthem followed as they managed to combine hi-tech and innovation with emotion.

But by 1990, creative differences brought the band to a halt.

His solo album How Many Angels arrived in 1994, featuring collaborations with Lisa Stansfield and tracks originally meant for the unfinished third Living In a Box album. Over the years, Darbyshire continued to write and produce for major artists — from Level 42 to Jennifer Rush — cementing himself as a quiet but powerful force behind the scenes.