Bernie Taupin
Bernie Taupin |
|---|
Bernie Taupin (born May 22, 1950) is an English lyricist famous for his collaboration with Elton John.
Biography
Taupin was born in Anwick, a village outside Sleaford, Lincolnshire, in England. His family moved while he was young, and he grew up in another Lincolnshire village, Owmby-by-Spital, where his father managed a farm. He went to school in nearby Market Rasen, where he used to go out drinking with his friends. He was rather wild in behavior when he was young and was not a diligent worker at school, though he showed an early flair for writing.
Many of his early lyrics look back to his rural upbringing, though from the beginning he showed an interest in the USA and American culture.
In 1967, he answered an advertisement for a lyric writer placed in the New Musical Express by Liberty records A&R man Ray Williams. Thus began the famous and well-loved songwriting team of Elton John and Taupin. The pair have collaborated on more than 30 albums to date, though Elton worked with other lyrics writers between 1977 and 1983. Taupin's lyrics include such memorable tunes as "Candle in the Wind", "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me", and 1970's "Your Song", his and Elton's first hit.
The 1991 film documentary Two Rooms described the Elton/Taupin writing style, which involves Taupin writing the lyrics on his own and John then putting them to music, with no further interaction between the two. Previously they worked by fax; today the lyrics are e-mailed to Elton.
In addition to writing for Elton John, Taupin has also written lyrics for use by other composers, with notable successes including "We Built This City", which was recorded by Starship, and "These Dreams", recorded by Heart. He has recorded three solo albums and two albums with his band Farm Dogs.
Taupin has written a book, The One Who Writes the Words for Elton John, and has recorded two works for the aural medium. These days he lives on a ranch in Southern California and has taken to painting, although he is still actively involved in music.
In 2006, he won a Golden Globe Award for his lyrics to the song "A Love That Will Never Grow Old" from the film Brokeback Mountain.
Discography
Solo albums
- 1971 Taupin
- 1980 He Who Rides The Tiger
- 1987 Tribe (album)
With Farm Dogs
- 1996 Last Stand in Open Country
- 1998 Immigrant Sons