Bernie Taupin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bernie Taupin
|
|
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg)
Taupin in 2024
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Bernard John Taupin |
| Born | 22 May 1950 Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England |
| Died | Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Years active | 1967–present |
Bernard John Taupin (born May 22, 1950) is an English lyricist and visual artist. He is most famous for writing songs with Elton John. Their partnership is one of the most successful in music history. Taupin has co-written most of John's songs since the 1960s.
In 1967, Taupin saw an advertisement in a music paper. It was from Liberty Records, looking for new songwriters. Elton John also answered the same ad. They were brought together and started working on many albums. Taupin and John were honored in the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992.
In 2020, Taupin and John won an Oscar for their song "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again". This song was from the movie Rocketman. In 2023, Taupin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2024, Taupin and John received the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Also in 2024, Taupin won an Ivor Novello Award for his great contribution to British music.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Taupin was born on May 22, 1950, at Flatters House. This was a farmhouse near Sleaford in Lincolnshire, England. His parents were Robert Taupin and Daphne Cort. His grandparents on his father's side were French. They came to London in the early 1900s to start a wine business.
Taupin's father worked on a large farm estate. His mother lived in Switzerland during the Second World War. After the war, she worked as a governess for the Taupin family. There, she met Robert Taupin, and they married in 1947. The family later moved to Rowston Manor. They lived there for free because Robert was promoted to farm manager. This house was much better than Flatters farmhouse, which had no electricity.
In 1959, Taupin's father decided to try farming on his own. The family moved to Maltkiln Farm in Owmby-by-Spital. This farm was run-down and earned money from raising chickens for eggs. The house had no heating or modern plumbing. Taupin's younger brother, Kit, was born there.
School and First Jobs
Taupin was not a very good student. But he showed a talent for writing from a young age. At 15, he left school. He started working as a trainee at a local newspaper, hoping to become a journalist. However, he soon left that job.
He spent his teenage years with friends. They would hitchhike to youth club dances. He also played snooker and spent time at the pub. Taupin had several part-time jobs. Then, at 17, he answered the advertisement that led him to Elton John.
How His Music Career Started
Taupin's mother studied French literature. His grandfather, John Leonard Patchett Cort, was a classics teacher. He taught Taupin to love nature and literature. These influences helped shape his early song lyrics.
Working with Elton John
In 1967, Bernie Taupin and Elton John both answered an ad. It was placed by Liberty Records looking for new talent. Neither of them passed the audition. But Elton told the person at the desk that he couldn't write lyrics. So, he was given an envelope of poems from another person. These poems were written by Bernie Taupin.
The two started working together and have created over thirty albums. They took a short break from 1977 to 1979. During this time, Taupin worked with other songwriters, like Alice Cooper. John also worked with other lyricists. But they soon started writing together again.
By 1983, they were back to working full-time together. Taupin became John's main lyricist again. Elton John sometimes works with other lyricists for special projects. For example, he worked with Tim Rice for The Lion King and Aida. He also worked with Lee Hall for Billy Elliot. Hall also wrote the movie Rocketman, where Taupin is a main character.
Famous Songs They Wrote
Taupin wrote the lyrics for many famous songs. These include "Rocket Man", "Crocodile Rock", "Tiny Dancer", and "Candle in the Wind". He also wrote "Your Song", which was their first big hit in 1970. Other hits include "I'm Still Standing", "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues", and "Nikita".
In the 1990s, they had more hits like "The One" and "Believe". In 1997, Taupin rewrote "Candle in the Wind" as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales.
How They Work Together
A 1991 film called Two Rooms showed how they write songs. Taupin writes the lyrics by himself. Then, John puts them to music. They used to not interact much during this process. But now, they work together more. Taupin often joins John in the studio when the songs are being written.
In 2006, their first Broadway musical, Lestat: The Musical, opened. Taupin wrote lyrics for John's 2006 album The Captain & The Kid. They even appeared on the album cover together for the first time. This marked their 40th anniversary of working together.
On March 25, 2007, Taupin made a surprise appearance at John's 60th birthday party. John told the audience that without Taupin, there would be no 'Elton John' as people know him. They also worked on the album The Union with Leon Russell. They wrote five songs for the 2011 movie Gnomeo and Juliet. Their most recent album together is Wonderful Crazy Night from 2016.
In 2018, they wrote two songs for the animated film Sherlock Gnomes. The 2019 movie Rocketman featured their song "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again". This song played at the end of the movie. The film shows the friendship between Taupin (played by Jamie Bell) and John (played by Taron Egerton). They won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again".
Working with Other Artists
Taupin has also written lyrics for other musicians. He co-wrote "We Built This City" for Starship. He also wrote "These Dreams" for Heart. Both of these were with composer Martin Page. In 1978, he co-wrote the album From the Inside with Alice Cooper.
Taupin also produced an album called American Gothic for David Ackles in 1972. It was praised by music critics. In 2002, Willie Nelson and Kid Rock recorded "Last Stand in Open Country". This song was the title track of Taupin's band Farm Dogs' first album. Nelson's album also included two other Taupin songs. One of them, "Mendocino County Line", won a Grammy Award in 2003 for best country vocal collaboration.
In 2004, he co-wrote "Uncool" for Courtney Love's album America's Sweetheart. In 2005, he co-wrote the song "What I Really Want for Christmas" with Brian Wilson. In 2006, he won a Golden Globe Award for his lyrics to "A Love That Will Never Grow Old" from the film Brokeback Mountain.
His Own Music and Projects
In 1971, Taupin released a spoken-word album called Taupin. On it, he recited some of his early poems. One poem, "The Greatest Discovery", was later set to music by Elton John. Taupin later said he was not happy with this album.
In 1980, Taupin recorded his first album as a singer, He Who Rides the Tiger. This album did not become popular. In 1987, he recorded another album, Tribe.
In 1996, Taupin started a band called Farm Dogs. They released two albums. Taupin wrote the lyrics, and the band members created the music together. Their first album, Last Stand in Open Country, was well-received by critics. Their second album, Immigrant Sons, was released in 1998.
Books and Other Works
In 1973, Taupin gathered all his lyrics into a book. It was called Bernie Taupin: The One Who Writes the Words for Elton John. This book included lyrics from albums, single B-sides, and his spoken-word album. The songs were illustrated by various artists.
In 1977, Taupin worked with photographer David Nutter on a book called It's A Little Bit Funny. It told the story of Elton John's year-long tour. In 1988, Taupin published a book about his childhood called A Cradle of Haloes: Sketches of a Childhood. This book was only released in the UK. It describes his childhood in rural Lincolnshire in the 1950s and 1960s.
In 1991, Taupin published a book of poems called The Devil at High Noon. In 1994, another book of his lyrics was published.
Visual Art
Besides music, Taupin also spends a lot of time creating visual art. He credits his mother for his love of art. He started showing and selling his artwork in 2010. His art includes large, mixed-media pieces. His work has been shown in galleries across the United States and Canada. His artwork often includes the American flag.
Personal Life and Honors
Taupin has been married four times. His first three marriages ended in divorce. He married Heather Kidd in 2004, and they have two daughters.
Taupin moved from England to the United States in the mid-1970s. In 1990, he became a U.S. citizen. He lives in Santa Barbara County, California.
Taupin was a part-owner of a famous bucking bull named Little Yellow Jacket. This bull was named PBR Bull of the Year from 2002 to 2004.
In 2022, Taupin was honored as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). This award was given for his services to music.
Discography
Solo Albums
- 1971 – Taupin
- 1980 – He Who Rides the Tiger
- 1987 – Tribe
With Farm Dogs
- 1996 – Last Stand in Open Country
- 1998 – Immigrant Sons
See also
In Spanish: Bernie Taupin para niños
- List of songs with lyrics by Bernie Taupin
