Who is Dave Dobbyn? | Dave Dobbyn Biography and Wiki

Dave Dobbyn (David Joseph Dobbyn) is a New Zealand musician and record producer born on 3rd January 1957 in New Zealand. He won Album of the Year at the New Zealand Music Awards for his 1988 album Loyal. He was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the New Zealand Music Awards in 2001.

Dave Dobbyn was influenced by music from a young age, ranging from the Irish songs his father listened to, to the music of the church across the road, to the various radio stations he was able to pick up on the family radiogram. His family had a piano at home but he never received piano lessons.

Dave Dobbyn Age and Birthday

Dave is 63 years old as of 2020, he was born on January 3, 1957, in Auckland, New Zealand. He celebrates his birthday on January 3rd every year.  Dobbyn will be 64 years old on Jan. 3rd 2021.

Dave Dobbyn Height and Weight

Dave appears to be quite tall in stature if his photos, relative to his surroundings, are anything to go by. However, details regarding his actual height and other body measurements are currently not publicly available. We are keeping tabs and will update this information once it is out.

Dave Dobbyn Education

Dave graduated from the local Catholic college Sacred Heart College. After graduating high school he worked nine months as a bank teller, and applied to teachers college twice, to be accepted on the second try.

Dave Dobbyn Family

Dave father is Terry Dobbyn a tour bus driver while his mother is Molly Dobbyn. He is a third child in a family of five children.

Dave Dobbyn Wife

Dobbyn is married to Anneliesje Dobbyn whom he met at a Whangamata Dudes New Years’ show and got married to her in 1983.

Dave Dobbyn Children

Dobbyn and his wife have two children: Grace and Eli. Dave said he was lucky to have children later in life, as he’d had a chance to establish his career first.

“I had done my time touring for 20 odd years, so I could afford not to spend so much time on the road. It sometimes affects the kids, because their dad is Dave Dobbyn, and sometimes people are interested in that. The kids still have their own identity, and we do talk about that to make sure they have their own identity.”

Dobbyn was a heavy drinker before the birth of his daughter but as soon as his daughter was born, he had to quit drinking. “You realize how much your kids take in, and how it’s affecting them seeing someone stumbling around.”

Dave Dobbyn Facts and Body Measurements

Here are some interesting facts and body measurements you should know about Dave Dobbyn.

• Full Name: David Joseph Dobbyn
• Also Known As: Dave Dobbyn
• Age/ How Old?: 63 years (2020)
• Date of Birth: January 3, 1957
• Place of Birth: Auckland, New Zealand
• Education‎: Sacred Heart College
• Birthday: January 3rd
• Nationality: New Zealand
• Father’s Name: Terry Dobbyn
• Mother’s Name: Molly Dobbyn
• Siblings: 4
• Wife: Anneliesje
• Children/ Kids: Grace and Eli
• Height/ How tall?: Average
• Weight: Average
• Profession: Musician
• Known For: Th’ Dudes
• Net worth: $ 96 million

Dave Dobbyn Music Career

While at Sacred Heart College Dave Dobbyn met Ian Morris and Peter Urlich. As he started teacher’s college he was asked by Morris and Urlich to join the band that would become Th’ Dudes.

Dave Dobbyn Bands

Dave Dobbyn Th’ Dudes

In 1975, he joined the rock band, Th’ Dudes, as a guitarist. After performing with the band for a year, Dobbyn quit teachers’ college to focus on the band full-time. He, however, suffered extreme stage fright and played early performances standing at the back with his eyes closed. However, he took on the role of frontman for the song “Be Mine Tonight” (1978). The song won single of the year in 1979 in New Zealand and led to many critics seeing him as the breakout star of the band. Th’ Dudes disbanded in 1980.

Dave Dobbyn DD Smash

In 1980, Dave formed a pop group by the name DD Smash. The band released its debut album ‘Cool Bananas’ in 1982 and debuted in the New Zealand charts at number one.

DD smash released Deep in the Heart of Taxes (1983), an album recorded live at Auckland’s popular eighties venue Mainstreet. They released their final album, The Optimist, in 1984. The band disbanded in 1986.

In December 1984, DD Smash was playing an outdoor concert in Aotea Square in Auckland. During their set, a power failure led sections of the crowd to become restless. Some of the crowd started throwing beer bottles and police arrested them. The situation escalated and the riot squad was called in. Dobbyn made negative remarks about the police which allegedly spurred on the crowd.

The concert was stopped by the police and sections of the crowd rioted, smashing shop windows along Queen Street. Prime Minister David Lange called a commission of inquiry and as a result, Dobbyn was charged with inciting a riot. The criminal prosecution against Dobbyn began in June 1985. His lawyer successfully defended him and he was acquitted on the charge of “behaving in a manner likely to cause violence against person or property and using insulting language”.

Dave Dobbyn Solo Career

In 1986 he wrote the soundtrack music for the animated feature film Footrot Flats: ‘The Dog’s Tale’. After the release of the film, “Slice of Heaven” became one of Dobbyn’s best-known songs, frequently used in tourism advertisements aired on Australian television that encouraged people to visit New Zealand. With the success of the song in Australia, Dobbyn settled in Australia.

In 1988 Dobbyn released his debut solo album, Loyal, a personal celebration of love and loyalty. The album was called “un-releasable” by Dobbyn’s record label at the time and was shelved for a year until its eventual release. After nearly a decade in Australia, Dobbyn moved back to Auckland in the early 1990s, and made 1994’s Twist with fellow New Zealander and recently returned singer-songwriter, Neil Finn.

In 1995 Dobbyn became one of the first musical performers in the world to simulcast a performance. However, it was hindered by technical problems.

Dobbyn took on the role of producer in a fourth solo album, The Islander. The album received widespread popular and critical acclaim, reaching number 1 on the New Zealand charts.

In 2012, Dave was part of the all-star lineup for the Flight of the Conchords charity single Feel Inside. The song debuted at number 1 on the New Zealand music chart and remained there for two weeks.

Dave Dobbyn Albums

• 1986: Footrot Flats: The Dog’s Tale
• 2000: Together in Concert: Live
• 1998: The Islander
• 2005: Available Light
• 1988: Loyal
• 1993: Lament for the Numb
• 2010: Hopetown
• 1994: Twist
• 2008: Another land
• 2016: Harmony House
• 1999: Overnight Success
• 1992: The Dave Dobbyn Collection
• 2009: Beside You: 30 Years of Hits
• 2001: Where Are the Girls?: Th’ Definitive Collection
• 2017: A Slice of Heaven: 40 Years of Hits

Dave Dobbyn Songs

• Lipstick Power
• Bull by the Horns
•  Slice of Heaven (Dave Dobbyn with Herbs)
• You Oughta Be in Love
• Sailing Away (All of Us)
• Love You Like I Should
• Loyal
• Space Junk (Dave Dobbyn and the Lunettes)
• Shaky Isles
• Maybe the Rain (Dave Dobbyn and the Stone People)
• Don’t Hold Your Breath(Dave Dobbyn and the Stone People)
•  Language
• Lap of the Gods
• Naked Flame
• Waiting
• Hanging in the Wire
•  Beside You
•  Just Add Water
• My Kinda People
•  Welcome Home
• Pour the Wine
•  You Got Heart
•  Wild Kisses Like Rain
•  Feel Inside (And Stuff Like That) (Flight of the Conchords)
•  This Love (Dave Dobbyn and the Orpheus Choir of Wellington)
• Team, Ball, Player, Thing (#KiwisCureBatten featuring Lorde, Kimbra, Brooke Fraser, et al.)
•   Nau Mai Rā (Welcome Home)

Dave Dobbyn Concert – Tour

• Friday, 25 January 2019 at 22:00
  San Antonio, USA
• Saturday 20 April 2019
  with Fly My Pretties
  Cargo Brewery, Queenstown, New Zealand

Frequently Asked Questions About Dave Dobbyn

How much is Dave Dobbyn worth?

Dobbyn has an approximate net worth of $96 million. This amount has been accrued from his leading roles in the music industry.

Does Dave Dobbyn have kids?

Dave and his wife, Anneliesje have two children: Grace Dobbyn and Eli Dobbyn. Dobbyn says he is lucky to have children later in life since he first had a chance to establish his career first.

How old is Dave Dobbyn?

Dave is a New Zealand national born on 3rd January 1957, in Auckland, New Zealand. He is 63 years old as of 2019.

Where is Dave Dobbyn from?

Dobbyn was born in Auckland, New Zealand on 3rd January 1957. He is the son of Terry Dobbyn and Molly Dobbyn.

What band was Dave Dobbyn in?

Dobbyn joined Th’ Dudes in 1975 but the band split in 1980. He formed DD Smash in 1980.

Was Dave Dobbyn in the dudes?

Dobbyn joined Th’ Dudes in 1975 as a guitarist. He had extreme stage fright and used to play standing at the back with his eyes closed in his early performances. He quit Sacred Heart College to focus on the band on a full-time basis.

Where did Dave Dobbyn grow up?

Dobbyn was born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand by his parents, Terry and Molly Dobbyn as their third child.

How tall is Dave Dobbyn?

Dobbyn has not shared his height with the public. His height will be listed once we have it from a credible source.

Is Dave Dobbyn married?

Yes, he is married to Anneliesje. They got married in 1983 and together they have two children. The couple resides in New Zealand together with their children.

Where does Dobbyn live?

Because of security reasons, Dobbyn has not shared his precise location of residence. We will immediately update this information if we get the location and images of his house.

Is Dave Dobbyn dead or alive?

Dobbyn is alive and in good health. There have been no reports of him being sick or having any health-related issues.

Dave Dobbyn Youtube

The singer has his own YouTube channel for his music, click here to view more of his videos and listen to his music.