About

1978 – a beautiful summer morning in sunny Philadelphia, Toby Lightman is born into the world

1980 – Phyllis and Jerome Lightman hear their tot babble in perfect pitch. It is decided, a career in music lays ahead.

1984 – After watching a PBS special on Itzhak Perlman, little Toby and an even littler violin become fast friends. Toby begins her classical training at Youngstars School. A sign of things to come?

1985 – Toby becomes the first concert mistress in the history of Woodcrest Elementary school. Scandalous..

1992 – While in HS, and not feeling too good anymore about her violin choice, Toby decides to take a vocal class to get more credit and skips lunch.

1996 – No one, not her parents or her numerous BFF’s know that she’s singing until she rocks her graduation with a solo in the gospel version of “Bridge over Troubled water”. The auditorium floods with tears. Toby has an epiphany…

1997 – While in her freshman year at University of Wisconsin, Toby makes a guitar out of hemp… I mean, Toby buys and learns how to play her first guitar. Her first song is written “Frame of Mind” (you will never hear this)

1999- Rrrrring.. Swadeekah? Thailand calls and whisks Toby away and out of school for six months to sing in a band with some really cute boys. She realizes, through the envy of her thai fans that don’t speak English, that she should return home and pursue a life on the road in a van.

2000 – Toby graduates with her class, moves to New York City and uses her degree to help get her a job as a bartender. She knows a lot about champagne..

2001 – Put down the martini shaker, Toby gets a production deal, management contract and signs the record deal of a lifetime with Jason Flom at Lava Records.

2002 – Toby writes as many songs as she can while in the studio. (She got signed with only 3 songs to her name..)

2004 – Little Things is released and single “Devils and Angels” hits the top 20, music videos on MTV & VH1, appearances on Letterman, Conan, GMA, CBS Morning Show, tours with the likes of Gavin Degraw, Edwin McCain, but none compare to her “I could quit tomorrow” night opening for Prince. Who knew he’d be watching Conan O’Brien the night she performed. He asks her to open. Toby freaks out. Plays the show of a lifetime. Prince says thank you. Toby freaks out. Prince throws party for Toby and band. Toby plays pool with Prince all night. Toby can’t sleep for a week. Did you just pee your pants cause Toby did..

2006 – Toby returns to the studio with Bill Bottrell (Sheryl Crow, Shelby Lynn) and Patrick Leonard (Madonna, Jewel) to create Bird on a Wire that is released that same year. Songs “Slippin” and “My Sweet Song” get licensed on ABC’s Brothers and Sisters and PS I Love You, respectively. Toby starts wondering how to get more placements…

2006-7 – Toby tours with Rob Thomas, Jewel, Train, and becomes BFF with all.

2008 – Toby ditches Atlantic, but not to fret. She replaces Kelly Clarkson as NASCAR theme singer, performs in off broadway play called “Alive in the World”, produces and releases her first independent record Let Go with Boots Ottestad (Robbie Williams, Macy Gray), Let Go is sold on Home Shopping Network with Toby being the first independent artist to perform, single “Let Go” is used for HSN TV/radio campaign and gets licensed on Brothers and Sisters, Dirty, Sexy, Money. Song “So Natural” is placed on Eli Stone. Toby keeps wondering how to get more placements…

2009 – Toby tours with Marc Cohn, Jewel, Stephan Kellogg and the Sixers and Carbon Leaf… Toby starts writing all the songs she wants and getting placements! “This is Love” is placed in 17 Again. “Home for the Holidays” on ABC Family movie Santa Baby 2.

2010 – “Don’t Believe this is Love” on Italian TV show Fratelli Benvenuti. Toby writes theme song for CBS show Live for the Moment entitled “Live for the Moment”.. Cover of 10,000 Maniacs “These are Days” used for Abbott Freestyle TV campaign.
June 2010 – Toby releases “Know Where I’m From”, an album of acoustic versions of songs she released on Atlantic… Her fans chose the songs that went on the album. Toby is also creating a Limited Edition version that includes three bonus tracks and a book. The book will consist of pictures, song lyrics, stories of what each song is about. BUT the final touch is that each fan that purchases this version can write in their own story of how they are connected to the songs… Toby loves her fans!
Toby is also currently working 3 hip hop albums, 4 pop albums, 47 world music albums, and some original stuff that she’s never been more proud of. Stay tuned…