Biography
Who is Robert Wyatt?
Early life and education
Robert Wyatt was born in Bristol, United Kingdom, on January 28, 1945. His mother was Honor Wyatt, and his family background included connections to the arts and journalism. He attended the Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys in Canterbury during his youth.
As a teenager, Robert lived in Lydden near Dover and learned to play drums from a visiting American jazz musician named George Neidorf. In 1962, he and Neidorf moved to Mallorca and lived near poet Robert Graves before returning to England.
Bands and musical beginnings
Upon returning to England, Robert joined the Daevid Allen Trio alongside Hugh Hopper. He then formed the Wilde Flowers with Kevin Ayers, Richard Sinclair, and Brian Hopper, initially serving as the drummer before taking on lead vocals after Ayers departed.
In 1966, the band split, and Robert joined Soft Machine as a drummer and co-vocalist with Kevin Ayers and Daevid Allen. He recorded multiple albums with the group and later formed the instrumental band Matching Mole, which recorded two albums.
Solo career and accident
In 1973, Robert suffered an accidental fall from a window during a birthday party in London, which resulted in a broken spine and left him paralyzed from the waist down. This event led him to leave his band work and start a new path as a solo artist.
He released his solo album Rock Bottom in 1974, featuring contributions from musician friends like Mike Oldfield and Fred Frith. He also put out a cover version of I am a Believer, which reached number 29 on the UK chart, and later released albums such as Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard and Old Rottenhat.
Personal life and retirement
Robert is married to English painter and songwriter Alfreda Benge. During his recovery from his accident, he received support from friends including model Jean Shrimpton and actress Julie Christie.
He continued recording and releasing music across several decades while collaborating with various artists. He officially retired from his music career in 2014, choosing to stop while his work remained strong.
Birthday and age
Robert Wyatt was born on January 28, 1945, which makes Robert 81 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Robert shares the date with 32 other famous people.
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