|
|
|
|
| Birth Name(s) : Roger Daltrey |
Date of Birth: N/A |
| Status:
Single
|
Partner:
|
| Profession:
N/A |
| << Add Roger Daltrey To Your Favorites |
|
Full Roger Daltrey Biography
Roger Harry Daltrey, CBE (born 1 March 1944), is a rock vocalist, songwriter, and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. He has maintained a successful musical career as a solo artist and has also worked in the film industry, acting in a large number of film, theatre and television roles and also producing films.
Roger Harry Daltrey was born in the Hammersmith area of London, but was raised in Acton, the same working class suburban neighbourhood that produced fellow Who members Pete Townshend and John Entwistle. He was one of three children born to parents Irene and Harry Daltrey, and grew up with two sisters, Gillian and Carol. Harry Daltrey worked for a water closet manufacturer, and Irene Daltrey was told she would be unable to have children because of losing a kidney in 1937. Nevertheless, she went into labour during a World War II air raid and gave birth to her son at the nearby Hammersmith Hospital, West London. At the age of three, the young Roger swallowed a rusty nail which had to be surgically removed, leaving a visible scar. At the age of five, the rust from the nail caused an ulcer in his stomach which required him to be hospitalized.
In 1964 the group discovered another band working as The Detours and discussed changing their name. Pete Townshend suggested "The Hair" and Townshend's roommate Richard Barnes suggested "The Who." The next morning, Daltrey made the decision for the band, saying "It's The Who, innit?"
With the band's first hit single and record deal in early 1965, Townshend began writing original material and Daltrey's dominance of the band began to decline. In the midst of the band's success, Daltrey repeatedly found himself fighting to keep the other members of The Who away from the drug and alcohol dependence that he believed would destroy them. He once flushed drummer Keith Moon's pills down the lavatory and, when Moon protested, knocked him down with one punch.
With each of The Who's milestone achievements, Tommy, Who's Next, and Quadrophenia, Daltrey was the face and voice of the band as they defined themselves as the ultimate rebels in a generation of change. When Ken Russell's adaptation of Tommy appeared as a feature film in 1975, Daltrey played the lead role and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for "Best Acting Debut in a Motion Picture". Afterward, Daltrey worked with Russell again, starring as Franz Liszt in Lisztomania. He worked with Rick Wakeman on the soundtrack to this film, writing the lyrics to three songs and also performing these, as well as others.
Daltrey turned to working as an actor, completing such high profile projects as The Beggar's Opera and The Comedy of Errors for the BBC. He also appeared in several film, television and stage productions during this period, including Mike Batt's The Hunting of the Snark (1987), The Little Match Girl (1987), Buddy's Song (1990), which he also produced, and Mack the Knife (1990). In 1991 he received a Grammy Award with The Chieftains for An Irish Evening: Live at the Grand Opera House, Belfast.
In 1967 The Who made their first tour of America, appearing at the Monterey Pop Festival, and Daltrey brought back new experiences in dealing with larger venues and stages. 1968 proved a transition year, and Daltrey’s performance in The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus showed him with a new confidence in dealing with Townshend’s material. In 1969 The Who’s first major rock opera Tommy was released, and Daltrey found a voice for the lead character that carried The Who to world stardom at such music venues as Woodstock and Isle of Wight Festival in 1969 and 1970.
"Suddenly each and everyone stopped caring about the downpouring rain. When The Who took the stage we couldn't do anything but to reach for the sky and howl. Anyone who has ever thought of calling these gods old men and dinosaurs should be deeply ashamed. The reports we've heard from around the world were true, Live rock doesn't get any better."
Roger Daltrey supports many charities both as a solo artist and jointly with other members of The Who. All The Who's Encore Series profits go to young peoples' charities. Daltrey was instrumental in starting the Teenage Cancer Trust concert series in 2000, with The Who actually playing in 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2007. Daltrey played benefits with the RD Crusaders in 2003, 2004, 2006; performed with The Who at Live 8 in 2005, for the Nordoff-Robbins Silver Clef benefit in 2005, and for the Los Angeles area City of Hope benefit in 2001 and 2004.
Daltrey has released eight solo albums. The first was the self-titled Daltrey in 1973's, made during a hiatus in The Who's touring schedule. The top single off the album, "Giving It All Away", reached number five in the UK and the album, which introduced Leo Sayer as a songwriter, made the Top 50 in the United States.
Daltrey has appeared in stage in productions including Mike Batt's The Hunting of the Snark in 1987 as The Barrister, and also in Batt's Philharmania with the Royal Philharmonic in 1998. He also appeared in The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True in 1995 as the Tin Man, a BBC Radio 2 production of Jesus Christ Superstar in 1996 as Judas, and A Christmas Carol in 1998 as Scrooge.
He is mentioned in Frank Zappa´s and Captain Beefheart´s song "Carolina Hardcore" (from their album Bongo Fury). The line goes: "I had a Roger Daltrey cape on...". |
|
|
| Add Roger Daltrey Biography (SuperUSERS) + |
| Add Roger Daltrey Review/Comment
|
HQ Roger Daltrey Pictures (1) | Random Roger Daltrey Picture
|
| << Back to the Roger Daltrey Homepage |
|
