Bathing to the sound of The Beatles, Darbyshire's interest in a musical career began early; he first took up the clarinet but then switched to guitar.
While in Japan, Darbyshire was introduced to the soul music of Marvin Gaye, Al Green, and Curtis Mayfield via the US military station.
Back in England, Darbyshire sat his exams at the Manchester Grammar School and played with various bands of the Northern Music scene, such as Gammer and his Familiars.
Their single "Love Tumbles Down" was a number-one hit in Spain, but Darbyshire left the band in 1983, unhappy with their pop sound.
Singer Lisa Stansfield co-wrote two of the songs, "This I Swear" and "Tell Him No", and sang backing vocals on the album.
Darbyshire then continued to write and produce songs with and for other artists, particularly Lisa Stansfield, but also Mike Francis, Frank Musker, Richard Niles, James Last, Monica Naranjo, Level 42, and Jennifer Rush, amongst others.