Robert Wyatt

Born: Robert Wyatt, January 28, 1945 in Bristol, England to Honor Wyatt a teacher and BBC journalist, and George Ellidge, an industrial psychologist married at that time to another woman. Robert Wyatt became Robert Ellidge [or Robert Wyatt Ellidge] when his father and mother could finally marry in 1951. In the Summer of 1964 Wyatt co-founded Wilde Flowers. Wyatt then co-founded Soft Machine in the Summer of 1966. Soft Machine gained a strong 'cult' following on the London 'psychedelic underground' music scene, sharing club billings with bands such as Pink Floyd and The Jimi Hendrix Experience. In January 1967, Soft Machine's first single release was recorded ("Love Makes Sweet Music" b/w "Feelin' Reelin' Squeelin'").
In February 1968, Soft Machine embarked on a three-month American tour (opening for the Jimi Hendrix Experience), recording their first album during their touring schedule in New York over four days in April. The band split up in December 1968, re-formed in February 1969 and carried on until the late 1970's through many line-up changes and leaving no original member on board. It re-formed briefly in 1980 and 1984.
Shortly after recording the third Soft Machine album, Wyatt released his first solo album, The End Of An Ear. He suffered an injury in June 1973 which left him paralyzed from the waist down. Wyatt's second solo effort, Rock Bottom (UK 1974) (opens in a new tab), was recorded three months after he was released from hospital in 1974 with the aid of Pink Floyd's Manor Mobile and Nick Mason as producer. Wyatt has continued to record and perform despite being confined to a wheelchair.