Who is Bernie Taupin?
Bernard John Taupin was born on May 22, 1950, in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England. He grew up in a farmhouse without electricity, raised by a family with French heritage.
Later, he moved with his parents to a different farmhouse that had electricity. Taupin had two brothers, and while he wasn’t as academically inclined as they were, he discovered his knack for creative writing early on.
When he was just 15, he took on a trainee position at a nearby newspaper. But he soon ditched that gig to hit the road with his buddies, hitchhiking across the country. During that time, he partied hard, went to dances, and played a lot of snooker.
In 1967, everything changed for Taupin when he responded to a songwriter ad in the New Musical Express from Liberty Records, which was on the lookout for fresh talent.
Career
The ad was for an audition with Liberty Records, which was on the lookout for fresh talent. Bernie Taupin didn’t make the cut, and neither did a then-unknown artist named Elton John.
After being turned down, John got a chance to read Bernie’s poems. He was so taken with Taupin’s writing that he reached out to him, and they quickly started creating music together. Over the years, Taupin and John teamed up on more than 30 albums.
In 1977, they took a short break, allowing Bernie to collaborate with various artists, including Alice Cooper. By 1980, they were back at it again.
Bernie Taupin is also recognized for penning lyrics for several films, such as “Aida,” the 1994 version of “The Lion King,” and “Billy Elliot.” He even wrote the screenplay for “Rocketman,” the biopic about Elton John. In total, Taupin has written an impressive number of Elton John hits.
Some of the most famous include “Rocket Man,” “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting,” “Bennie and the Jets,” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” Their success continued into the 80s and 90s with hits like “Sad Songs,” “Simple Life,” and “Believe.”
In 1991, the documentary “Two Rooms” showcased how the two artists worked together. Bernie Taupin would write the lyrics and pass them to John, who then created the music.
Initially, there wasn’t much interaction between them during their early collaboration. However, as time went on, Elton and Bernie began to work more closely together.
The film “Rocketman” also explored their relationship, and the duo won an Academy Award for their song “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again.” Beyond music, Bernie and Elton have teamed up on several Broadway musicals as well.
Personal Life
Bernie Taupin has tied the knot four times in his lifetime. His first marriage was to Maxine Feibelman in 1971. Their relationship, which concluded with a divorce in 1976, had a significant impact on several of Elton John’s songs.
In 1979, Bernie found love again with Toni Lynn Russo, who happens to be the sister of famous actress Rene Russo. However, this marriage also ended in divorce in 1991.
In 1993, Bernie Taupin tied the knot for the third time, this time with Stephanie Haymes Roven, who is the daughter of famous entertainers Dick Haymes and Fran Jeffries.
However, this marriage lasted only five years, ending in divorce in 1998. Later, in 2004, he married Heather Kidd. Together, they have two kids and reside in Santa Barbara County, California.
Net Worth
Bernie Taupin is a talented English singer, songwriter, poet, and lyricist with a net worth of $200 million. A significant part of his wealth comes from the song catalog he created alongside Elton John, as Bernie penned the lyrics for most of Elton’s greatest hits.
