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Happy Birthday To Darien’s Moby

DARIEN, Conn. -- Happy birthday to Darien’s Richard Melville Hall!

Richard Melville Hall turns 49 on Thursday.

Richard Melville Hall turns 49 on Thursday.

Hall, who is better known by his stage name Moby, grew up in Darien. He turns 49 on Thursday. The singer-songwriter, musician, DJ and photographer was born Sept. 11, 1965, in Harlem in New York City.

He first joined the Vatican Commandos band as a hardcore punk and released an EP called "Hit Squad for God."

In 1993, he was on Top of the Pops by releasing an EP entitled "Move." His first album, "Everything Is Wrong," was released in 1995.

He is well known for his electronic music, vegan lifestyle, and support of animal rights. Moby has sold over 20 million albums worldwide. 

AllMusic considers him "one of the most important dance music figures of the early '90s, helping bring the music to a mainstream audience both in the UK and in America."

His major release, 2005's mostly upbeat "Hotel," was a stylistic departure, incorporating more alternative rock elements and received mixed reviews. It sold 2 million copies worldwide.

After 2008's dance-influenced "Last Night," he returned to the downtempo electronica of "Play and 18" with 2009's mostly-ambient "Wait for Me," finding higher critical acclaim and moderate sales, as well as 2011's "Destroyed."

He has nominated for Grammy Awards for his album “Last Night” in 2009.

Moby's latest album, "Innocents," was released on Oct. 1, 2013. He performed three shows at the Fonda Theatre that month to promote the album, his only "full live shows" for 2013 and 2014.

Moby has also co-written, produced, and remixed music for Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Daft Punk, Mylène Farmer, Brian Eno, Pet Shop Boys, Britney Spears, New Order, Public Enemy, Guns N' Roses, Metallica, Soundgarden, and others.

Moby is an advocate working with MoveOn.org and The Humane Society. He runs a website called MobyGratis.com, which is designed for independent and nonprofit filmmakers.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing scientific inquiry on music and the brain and to developing clinical treatments to benefit people of all ages.

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