Trevor Horn

Trevor Charles Horn, born July 15, 1949 in Durham, England, is a British pop music producer and musician.

Professional life

After playing double bass in big bands and producing little-known artists, Horn had a breakthrough hit when he formed a band called the Buggles and released "Video Killed the Radio Star". The song also appeared on the group's first album, The Age of Plastic, which was released in 1980. Later in the same year Horn and fellow Buggles member Geoff Downes were invited to join the rock group Yes. Horn became the lead vocalist, replacing Jon Anderson. He recorded one album with the band, Drama, on which he also plays bass on one track. However, he left after seven months, at the beginning of 1981, to concentrate on his production work. He also completed a second Buggles album, Adventures In Modern Recording, mainly alone after a falling out with Geoff Downes. Horn did work with Yes again, (co-)producing their next two studio albums, including the noted 1983 "comeback" album 90125, and also went on to be a founder member of The Art of Noise. He is known for performing on albums he produces.

Horn achieved great commercial success as a producer in 1984, firstly with the Liverpudlian band Frankie Goes to Hollywood, and secondly with the charity group Band Aid and their enormous hit "Do They Know It's Christmas". In the UK, Frankie Goes to Hollywood was the best-selling band of 1984; the success of singles such as "Relax" and "Two Tribes" helped to bankroll ZTT Records, which Horn had co-founded in 1983. "Do They Know It's Christmas" became one of the best-selling singles of all time.

He is associated with acts like ABC, Grace Jones, Seal and Propaganda, and has also produced Dollar, Tina Turner, Lisa Stansfield, Tom Jones, Paul McCartney, Pet Shop Boys, Mike Oldfield, Marc Almond, Charlotte Church, t.A.T.u, LeAnn Rimes, and Belle & Sebastian.

In 1982, he founded the musical publishing company "Perfect Songs" together with his wife, Jill Sinclair. Songwriters he has signed include Seal, Shane MacGowan, Alistair Griffin and Paul Simm (writer of the hit "Overload" for Sugarbabes). He received a Grammy in 1996 for Seal's second album.

In 1992, Horn collaborated with composer Hans Zimmer to produce the score for the movie "Toys" starring Robin Williams

On November 11, 2004, a Prince's Trust charity concert celebrating Horn's 25 years as a record producer took place at Wembley Arena. Performers at the show included The Buggles, ABC, The Art of Noise, Belle & Sebastian, Lisa Stansfield, Pet Shop Boys, Seal, Simple Minds, Dollar, t.A.T.u., Yes, Grace Jones and Frankie Goes To Hollywood (with Ryan Molloy replacing original vocalist Holly Johnson). A double CD compilation titled Produced By Trevor Horn was released in conjunction with the concert. An edited version of the concert has been broadcast on television in several countries under the title 25 Years Of Pop: Produced By Trevor Horn, and a DVD release of the full concert is planned.

Personal life

Horn married former maths teacher and business partner Jill Sinclair in 1980. They have four children, a son Aaron (born 1984) and three daughters. Their main home is a £2million mansion in Checkendon near Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire; while other property includes in St John's Wood, North London, and the United States.

On 25 June 2006, while at home from Goldsmiths College, University of London, Aaron was practising with his air rifle. Not realising his mother was close by, a .22 pellet accidentally hit Jill in the neck, severing an artery. She was rushed to Reading hospital intensive care unit where her condition was described as "critical but stable". She is currently under deep sedation in an induced coma, possibly suffering from brain damage. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/5119654.stm

External links

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Trevor Horn

Professional life

Personal life

External links