Biography
Who is Robert Smith?
Early life and schooling
Robert Smith James Smith was born on April 21, 1959, in Blackpool, United Kingdom. He was the third of four children born to Rita Mary and James Alexander Smith. His parents were musical, with his father singing and his mother playing the piano. When he was three years old, the family moved to Horley, and later relocated to Crawley when he was six.
During his childhood, he attended several schools, including St Francis' Primary School and Notre Dame Middle School. Between 1972 and 1977, he was a student at St Wilfrid's Comprehensive School. He received piano lessons alongside his younger sister Janet, but he eventually turned to the guitar after his brother Richard showed him some basic chords in 1966. He later practiced classical guitar with a tutor but eventually decided to teach himself by playing along with records.
Early music projects
Before achieving fame with the Cure, Robert was involved in several smaller musical groups. At the age of 13, he performed with schoolmates in a band called the Obelisk, which included Michael Dempsey, Laurence Tolhurst, and Marc Ceccagno. He played piano for this group during their 1972 school performance.
By 1976, he was involved with a group called Malice. The lineup for this band changed frequently, featuring various musicians such as Pearl Thompson and Lol Tolhurst. This group eventually transitioned into a band called Easy Cure in 1977. During these early years, he was not always the lead singer, as the band experimented with different vocalists, including Martin Creasy and Peter O'Toole, who fronted the group while they played on the local pub circuit.
Rise of the Cure
The band eventually became known as the Cure. Robert became the lead vocalist and primary songwriter, shaping the identity of the group through his unique guitar style and voice. He is also known for his distinctive fashion, often wearing red lipstick and having wiry black hair, which influenced the gothic subculture that emerged in the 1980s.
Beyond his work with the Cure, Robert contributed to other projects. He played lead guitar for Siouxsie and the Banshees from 1982 until 1984. He was also a co-founder of a group called the Glove in 1983. In 2019, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Cure. Rolling Stone magazine named him one of the greatest singers of all time in 2023.
Personal life and education
Throughout his youth, Robert had varying experiences with his education. He described Notre Dame Middle School as a place with an experimental approach to learning. He once wore a black velvet dress to class, which teachers attributed to a phase. He later faced a turbulent time at St Wilfrid's, where he was reportedly expelled as an undesirable influence in 1976, though accounts of this event vary.
He is married to Mary Poole. While he maintains a private life, his early years were marked by his development as a self-taught musician after he gave up formal lessons. He spent time on social security before his music career took off, eventually deciding to record a demo tape. He remains the only continuous member of the band he co-founded.
Birthday and age
Robert Smith was born on April 21, 1959, which makes Robert 67 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Robert shares the date with 27 other famous people.
Explore more
