Tobin Sprout - History

History

A self taught musician, Sprout played with and was a major collaborator to the Dayton, OH band Guided By Voices. Employing a four-track recorder and a home studio he contributed to the unique lo-fi sound of Guided by Voices and he was a member of the band from 1987 through 1997. The band frequently recorded in Sprout's home studio, and as a member of the band he contributed as a co-writer, multi-instrumentalist and studio engineer. Guided by Voices songs written by Sprout include "It's Like Soul Man," "Awful Bliss," and "Atom Eyes". Since the 1997 split he has appeared on three Guided by Voices recordings. Contributing piano to the Isolation Drills song "How's My Drinking?" and guitar to the Half Smiles of the Decomposed tracks "Girls of Wild Strawberries" and "Huffman Prairie Flying Field" the latter of which was the final track on the album.

Although a visual artist by trade, he has continued to write his own music, releasing Carnival Boy in 1996, Moonflower Plastic in 1997 and Let's Welcome the Circus People in 1999. He wrote songs for a project called Eyesinweasel which were collected on 2000's Wrinkled Thoughts. His Demos and Outtakes collection was released in the following year. In 2001, Sprout rejoined with Robert Pollard (of Guided by Voices) to form Airport 5, independently releasing numerous singles and 2 full length albums, Tower in the Fountain of Sparks and in 2002, Life Starts Here. He has continued writing and composing independently, from his home in Leland, Michigan, recording and releasing his fourth solo effort Lost Planets & Phantom Voices.

In 2009, Sprout released his first children's book, Elliott, published by Mackinac Island Press. He is rumored to be working on a music video/single under the same title.

In 2010 he has released by his personal label Moonflower Records his fifth solo effort The Bluebirds Of Happiness Tried To Land On My Shoulder.

In July 2010, Robert Pollard announced that the "Classic Lineup" of Guided By Voices would reunite for a U.S. tour, with a lineup featuring Pollard, Sprout, Mitch Mitchell, Kevin Fennell, and Greg Demos. The tour culminated with a performance in New York City on New Year's Eve, 2010.