Robert George Meek was ahead of his time, that's what made him so strange to many contemporaries. Born in rural Gloucestershire on april 5, 1929, he soon discovered a rare fascination for technology. In the 1950ies Meek left his hometown for a job in London.

Muddling his way through diverse technical repair-shops, he soon found an earning as an engineer in professional studios. In 1956 he was offered a vacancy at the new Landsdowne House studio near Holland Park. It was there that Meek got fed up with the then usual recording methods and fancied doing a business of his own. In his private apartment he would install his - partly self-made - recording equipment and invite unknown musicians for recording sessions. Thus, Meek should be one of the first to deliberately home-record music.

Some promising experience made Meek move to a larger flat in London's north, and with the helping hands of his friends this flat should become Meek's own independent sound recording studio. At that time, it was very unusual for a young sound engineer to compete with the big commercial studios, but Meek proved he could do it his own way.

In 1961, Joe had his first success with a title called "Johnny Remember Me", sung by the actor John Leyton. But Joe had another thing coming, for in 1963 "Telstar" by the "Tornados" was a worldwide success and put him in the limelight. The song featured a characteristic melody line with an otherworldly sound, played by a Clavioline, an electronic keyboard.

The name "Telstar" was borrowed from a small American communications satellite that was shot into space in 1962. "Telstar" was famous in 1962, for it was the first satellite to transmit TV signals, hence a symbol for the Space Age - perfect inspiration for Meek the geek.
 
> If it sounds right, it is right