We’re shocked and upset to learn of the death last week of Toby Slater, who was a key part of Music Ally’s team in the early 2000s.
He was one of the smartest people we ever met, and also a very talented songwriter and musician, from his initial days in Britpop band Catch to his solo career – including being one of the early musicians to embrace the internet.
Toby was a co-owner of Music Ally in the company’s early years, working across our business, including playing a major role in developing our training. He left the company to focus on the business he loved: organising and promoting events, and building a community of likeminded people around them.
Our thoughts are with Toby’s family and friends after this awful news. Here are some thoughts from our CEO Paul Brindley:
“I can’t believe I’m writing this.
Toby was undoubtedly one of the smartest people I’ve ever met. Always wise beyond his years I remember our first meeting when he came to interview me and I ended up interviewing him as he seemed to know so much more than I did.
He had of course already had his taste of stardom with Catch when he was just 17 years old. As well as being intelligent, he was also a very talented songwriter and musician, particularly on keyboards and had a really lovely voice that always made me think of Jeff Buckley.
Ultimately Steve and I brought him fully on board as a co-owner. He contributed hugely to the development of the training side of our business and I was always so impressed by his manner with clients.
But when we got our first office in Goswell Road it didn’t start well. I will never forget how he ended up lying on the floor feeling sick on our first day in the office, an early sign that he really wasn’t cut out for the office life!
I think he was more naturally suited to organising and promoting events. And now of course I wish I’d gone to one of his legendary parties.
I hadn’t seen him for a long time and I can’t quite believe that I will never be able to see him again.
Toby stood out from other people, he was multitalented, smart, so polite, a very engaging lovely person and I’m just so sad he’s been taken from us too early. Our thoughts are very much with his family and friends.”
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