Richard Melville Hall, known professionally as Moby, is an American electronic musician, singer, songwriter, and animal rights activist, celebrated for his significant contributions to the music industry. Born on September 11, 1965, in Harlem, New York City, Moby has managed to sell over 20 million records worldwide, making a lasting impact on both the electronic and dance music scenes. AllMusic recognizes him as one of the most pivotal figures in early 1990s dance music, crediting him with helping to bring the genre into the mainstream in both the United States and the United Kingdom.

Moby's musical journey began at an early age; he took up guitar and piano at nine and spent his teenage years playing in various underground punk rock bands, including Vatican Commandos, Flipper, and Ultra Vivid Scene. By 1989, he relocated to New York City, where he established himself as a prolific DJ, producer, and remixer within the burgeoning electronic dance music scene. His 1991 single "Go" marked his first major breakthrough, particularly in Europe, achieving top ten placements in countries like the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Over the next few years, he scored eight top 10 hits on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, including notable tracks such as "Move (You Make Me Feel So Good)" and "Feeling So Real."

In 1995, Moby released the critically acclaimed album Everything Is Wrong, but it was his fifth studio album, Play, released in 1999, that catapulted him to global stardom. Initially overlooked, Play became a massive commercial success in 2000, selling over 12 million copies worldwide. Its seventh single, "South Side," featuring Gwen Stefani, reached No. 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Following Play, Moby continued to explore various musical styles with albums like 18 (2002), Hotel (2005), and Last Night (2008), each showcasing his versatility across electronic, dance, rock, and downtempo genres.

In the latter part of the 2010s, Moby returned to his punk rock roots with two albums released under the moniker The Void Pacific Choir: These Systems Are Failing (2016) and More Fast Songs About the Apocalypse (2017). He also continued to create more melodic works with albums such as Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt (2018) and All Visible Objects (2020). In 2021, after an orchestral performance with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, he was approached by Deutsche Grammophon to record an orchestral album. This led to the release of Reprise, which revisited and reworked some of his most iconic tracks alongside new vocalists, achieving notable chart success in 16 countries.

Moby's explorations in ambient music have further diversified his discography, with releases like Long Ambients 1: Calm. Sleep. (2016) and Ambient 23 (2023). His latest album, Resound NYC (2023), features more reimagined tracks and collaborations with various vocalists, confirming his ongoing relevance in the music industry.

Beyond his music career, Moby is a committed vegan and a vocal supporter of animal rights and humanitarian causes. In 2020, he founded Little Walnut Productions to foster creative activism across film, television, and theater projects. He is also an accomplished author, having penned four books, including a collection of photography and two memoirs, Porcelain: A Memoir (2016) and Then It Fell Apart (2019), which reflect on his life and career. Moby continues to record and release music, maintaining his status as a dynamic and influential figure in contemporary culture.