Richard Darbyshire

Richard Simon Darbyshire (8 March 1960 – 10 November 2025) was an English singer, songwriter and record producer. He was lead vocalist and guitarist for the pop band Living in a Box from 1985 to 1990. Darbyshire split with the band before their third studio album was completed.

In 1994, Darbyshire released his debut solo studio album, How Many Angels. He also wrote and produced songs for various artists including Lisa Stansfield, Mike Francis, Mónica Naranjo, Level 42, and Jennifer Rush.

Early life and education Richard Darbyshire was born in Stockport, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom on 8 March 1960. He went to school in Manchester, where he briefly attended Manchester Grammar School. At the age of 13, he followed his parents to Japan, where he attended an American boarding school.

Darbyshire's interest in a musical career began early; he first took up the clarinet but then switched to guitar. While in Japan, Darbyshire was introduced to the soul music of Marvin Gaye, Al Green, and Curtis Mayfield via the US military station. He joined a band with a group of Americans playing Allman Brothers type of material. Although a major influence of the young Darbyshire was Bread, he took his music in a more soul- and R&B-oriented direction.

Back in England, Darbyshire sat his exams at the Manchester Grammar School and played with various bands of the Northern Music scene, such as Gammer and his Familiars. He also went to Oxford University, where he studied English literature.

His debut solo effort, How Many Angels was released in 1994. Singer Lisa Stansfield co-wrote two of the songs, "This I Swear" and "Tell Him No", and sang backing vocals on the album. How Many Angels also featured songs originally written for Living in a Box's third album, and new songs written by Darbyshire and Frank Musker. The album would be re-released in two different forms: Love Will Provide (1999) and This I Swear (20 tracks special edition) (2009), each including B-sides and new tracks.

Darbyshire then continued to write and produce songs with and for other artists, particularly Lisa Stansfield, but also Mike Francis, Frank Musker, Richard Niles, James Last, Monica Naranjo, Level 42, and Jennifer Rush.

In 2004, Darbyshire won first prize at the USA Songwriting Competition in the R&B category.

Darbyshire died on 10 November 2025, at the age of 65. He is survived by his wife, singer and vocal coach Sonia Jones.

Discography Living in a Box albums 1987: Living in a Box 1989: Gatecrashing

Solo albums 1994: How Many Angels 1999: Love Will Provide 2009: This I Swear (20 tracks special edition)

As musician/songwriter for other artists DateAlbumArtistContribution 1980 Accelerate with the Mercurians Accelerate with the Mercurians Vocals, guitar 1981 Rocket Ticket Gammer and his Familiars Composer, guitar 1983 Love Tumbles Down (unreleased album) Zu Zu Sharks Composer, vocals, guitar 1985 Tough Girls (unreleased album) Tessa Niles Composer, guitar, backing vocals 1986 Salamandra Miguel Bosé Backing vocals 1987 Together Again The Temptations Composer 1988 Jellybean Rocks the House Jellybean feat. Richard Darbyshire Guest artist (vocals) 1989 Passion Shirley Lewis Composer 1991 Music of Quality and Distinction, Vol. 2 B.E.F. (British Electric Foundation) Guest artist, vocals 1993 The Art of Romance Mayumi Composer, vocals 1994 Marie Claire D'Ubaldo Marie-Claire D'Ubaldo Composer 1994 Forever Now Level 42 Composer 1994 Francesco Innamorato Mike Francis Composer, guitar, backing vocals 1995 A Different Air Mike Francis Composer, guitar, backing vocals 1995 Man on a Mission Bing Abrahams Composer 1997 Lisa Stansfield Lisa Stansfield Composer, arranger, backing vocals 1997 Credo Jennifer Rush Composer, backing vocals 1999 Swing: Soundtrack Lisa Stansfield Composer 1999 Distance Charlotte Composer 1999 Knockout: Soundtrack Various Artists Composer 2000 Sooner or Later Hamish Stuart Composer 2000 Minage Mónica Naranjo Composer 2001 Face Up Lisa Stansfield Composer, guitar, backing vocals 2001 Tommi Mischell Tommi Mischell Composer 2003 Temporary Madness Jodie Brooke Wilson Composer, backing vocals 2004 The Moment Lisa Stansfield Composer, guitar, vocal arrangement, backing vocals 2004 Elements of James Last Vol. 1 James Last Composer, vocals, guitar, producer, vocal arrangement, backing vocals 2005 Pour être Libre Lââm Arranger, release coordinator 2006 Love in a Dangerous World Kira Small Composer