Howard Jones Vinyl Records
One of the defining figures of mid-'80s synth pop, Howard Jones merged the technology-intensive sound of new wave with the cheery optimism of hippies and late-'60s pop. A native of Southampton, England, Jones learned how to play piano at the age of seven. By the time he was a teenager, his family had relocated to Canada, which is where he joined his first band, a progressive rock group called Warrior. Jones moved back to England, where he played in a number of different groups. Eventually, Jones began performing as a solo artist with synthesizers and drum machines. After a few years of solo performing, Jones attracted the attention of John Peel, who offered the keyboardist a BBC session. Soon, Jones was opening for new wave synth pop acts across England. By 1983, he had signed with WEA in England and Europe; in America, he signed to Elektra.