Dave Dobbyn

Dave Dobbyn (born January 3, 1957) is a musician, singer-songwriter and record producer from New Zealand.

Dobbyn's first success came with a band, Th'Dudes, which he formed while still in school. Their hit Be Mine Tonight won single of the year in 1979 in New Zealand, while singles Walking in Light and Bliss became popular anthems.

When DD Smash folded, Dobbyn began a successful solo career, first writing the music for the Footrot Flats film in 1985, which contained two hit singles: Oughta Be in Love and Slice of Heaven. After the release of the film, Slice of Heaven became Dobbyn's best-known song, frequently used in tourism advertisements aired on Australian television which encouraged people to go to New Zealand as a holiday destination. As a result, many Australians jokingly referred to the song as the New Zealand National anthem.

Since 1988 Dobbyn has released 6 solo-albums and a compilation, including the hit song Loyal (1988) which became the tongue-in-cheek anthem for Team New Zealand's failed 2003 America's Cup defence. He has also produced albums for Grant McLennan and has contributed on albums by, amongst others, Jenny Morris, Gyan and Bic Runga. He also went touring with Runga and Tim Finn, and a live album, Together in Concert, was released in 2000.

Dobbyn's most recent album, Available Light, released in 2005, received popular and critical acclaim.

(Wikipedia)