Freddie Mercury - Singer-songwriter, Career and Childhood
Freddie Mercury's Personal Details
Freddie Mercury was a famous British rock-and-roll singer, who founded the band ‘Queen’
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | September 5, 1946 |
| Died on | November 24, 1991 |
| Nationality | British |
| Famous | Died Young, Lyricists & Songwriters, Singers, Rock Singers, Singer-songwriter |
| Nick names | Frederick Bulsara, Queen |
| Spouses | Jim Hutton, Mary Austin |
| Siblings | Kashmira Cooke |
| Known as | Frederick Freddie Mercury, Farrokh Bulsara, Freddie Bulsara, Frederick Bulsara, Fred Bulsara |
| Universities |
|
| Cause of death |
|
| Birth Place | Stone Town |
| Height | 177 |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Bomi Bulsara |
| Mother | Jer Bulsara |
| Sun Sign | Virgo |
| Born in | Stone Town |
| Famous as | Singer-songwriter |
| Died at Age | 45 |
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Freddie Mercury's photo
Who is Freddie Mercury?
Freddie Mercury was a famous singer and songwriter known for his performances as the lead artiste of the rock-and-roll band, 'Queen'. He was musically inclined from a very young age, and according to acquaintances, he had the ability to listen to any song and play the tune on the piano. After singing for a few short-lived bands, he formed his own music group called 'Queen', along with musicians Brian May and Roger Taylor. The band became quite popular in the 70s, belting out hits like 'Bohemian Rhapsody' and 'We Are the Champions'. This incredible singer was famous for his live concerts, having performed in over 700 such shows. His performances were marked by his flamboyant personality on stage and his vocal range. 'Mercury: The Afterlife and Times of a Rock God' is a monodrama about this great singer's life. He has also been named by 'BBC' as one of the '100 Greatest Britons', and by the 'Rolling Stone' magazine as one of the 'Top 100 Singers of All Time'. Since he was the first celebrity rock artiste to have succumbed to AIDS, several organizations, including 'The Mercury Phoenix Trust', founded by 'Queen' band members, have organized concerts to raise funds for research in the field
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Childhood & Early Life
Freddie Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara, to Parsi parents, Bomi and Jer Bulsara, on September 5, 1946, in the British territory of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, a part of present day Tanzania. Farrokh, his younger sibling Kashmira, and their parents were practising Zoroastrians.
The young boy was brought up in India, where he was taught the piano at the tender age of seven. He was educated at the 'St. Peter's School' in Panchgani, near Mumbai, beginning 1954. Having always loved music, one of his earliest idols was Indian singer, Lata Mangeshkar.
While in school, Farrokh began referring to himself as Freddie, and in 1958, he formed a music group, 'The Hectics'. The band performed rock and roll songs sung by artistes Little Richard and Cliff Richard.
In 1963, Farrokh went back to his hometown, to live with his parents, but soon, the family had to escape from there, after the commencement of the 'Zanzibar Revolution', meant to depose the Arab Sultan. They settled down in town of Feltham, England, living in a small house.
Freddie began pursuing a course in art from West London's 'Isleworth Polytechnic', which is presently known as 'West Thames College'. He graduated with a diploma in Art and Graphic Designing from the 'Ealing Art College'.
Once he graduated, he earned his living by selling old clothes in London's 'Kensington Market', working at the 'Heathrow Airport'. He also performed for various music bands, like 'Ibex', and 'Sour Milk Sea'.
Career
In April, 1970, the talented singer formed a band named 'Queen', along with English drummer, Roger Taylor, and guitarist, Brian May. After its conception, the band, consisting of other musicians, was managed by 'Trident Studios'. He also renamed himself from Farrokh Bulsara to Freddie Mercury.
During 1970-80, the exceptional singer acted as singer and songwriter for several albums produced by his band, 'Queen'. They played rock-and-roll music, and shot to fame because of Freddie, who, despite having a baritone voice, sang brilliantly in the tenor range.
Some of the popular albums produced by 'Queen' are ‘Sheer Heart Attack’, 'A Day at the Races', 'News of the World', 'The Game', and of course their self-titled records.
On October 26, 1981, Queen released 'Greatest Hits', which is a compilation of songs from various albums of the band. Out of the seventeen singles featured on the album, ten were penned by their lead singer, Mercury.
During 1981–1983, the popular singer collaborated with Michael Jackson on soundtracks like 'State of Shock', 'There Must Be More to Life Than This', and 'Victory'.
Though none of these songs were officially made public, Jackson included the single 'State of Shock' in his album entitled 'Victory', in collaborated with Mick Jagger. Mercury released 'There Must Be More to Life Than This' as a part of his solo album, 'Mr. Bad Guy'
During this period, Freddie also teamed up with 'Queen' drummer Roger Taylor to produce the main track for the album 'Emotions in Motion', an album released by rock musician, Billy Squier.
In 1984, he attempted to go solo with the song 'Love Kills', from musician Richard Wolf's album, 'Metropolis: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack'.
The following year, 'Queen' performed at the 'Live Aid' concert held on July 13, 1985. The concert was aimed at raising funds for the victims of the famine in Ethiopia, and it turned out to be a huge success. The band's live performance was even telecast on the TV show, 'The World's Greatest Gigs'.
During the same time, the gifted singer also released his first solo album, 'Mr. Bad Guy', collaborating with keyboardists, rather than playing the piano himself.
In 1986, Freddie once again collaborated with rock artiste Billy Squier for the latter's album 'Enough Is Enough'. The rock-and-roll singer sang the song 'Love is the Hero', and arranged music for 'Lady With a Tenor Sax'.
The same year, in 1986, Mercury performed with his band, 'Queen', at Budapest, for 80,000 fans. August 9, marked the last performance of the singer in collaboration with his band, when he sang at England's ‘Knebworth Park’, ending the concert with the country's national anthem, 'God Save the Queen'.
In 1988, Freddie released his second studio album titled, 'Barcelona', where he paired up with Spanish soprano singer, Montserrat Caballé. The album contained soundtracks in Spanish, Japanese and English.
Major Works
One of the best known albums released by this famous singer is 'Mr. Bad Guy', a solo album produced in 1985. The album had eleven songs, all of which were written by the singer himself, and it included a variety of music genres, from pop to disco to dance music.
Awards & Achievements
In 1990, Freddie, as a part of 'Queen', received the 'Brit Awards' for 'Outstanding Contribution to Music'.
In 1992, after his death, he received the 'Brit Award' for 'Outstanding Contribution to British Music'.
Freddie, along with other members of 'Queen' was inducted into various Halls of Fame, posthumously.
Personal Life & Legacy
The famous singer initially fell in love with Mary Austin, with whom he lived together at West Kensington, London, for almost 6 years.
In 1976, he embarked on an affair with male employee of 'Elektra Records', which saw the end of his relationship with Mary.
In the mid-1980s, he started a new relationship, this time with an Austrian actress, Barbara Valentin. This did not last long, and he began dating Jim Hutton, a male hairdresser.
During 1986-87, Mercury found out that he was suffering from AIDS, and his health began failing. It was during this time that Hutton and former girlfriend, Mary, took care of the celebrated singer.
On 24 November 1991, he died from bronchial pneumonia that was caused by AIDS. Three days later, his funeral was held according to Parsi customs. The service was attended by all the other members of his band, and also by singer Elton John, amongst other close family members and friends.
The popular singer was inhumed at the Kensal Green Cemetery, West London, while his ashes were later relocated to an unknown location by Mary Austin.
In his will, the singer left his house to Austin, and other possessions and money were distributed between his long-term partner, Jim Hutton, family, and people working for him.
The song 'Bohemian Rhapsody', written and performed by Mercury, was featured in the 1992 film, 'Wayne's World'.
'Bohemian Rhapsody' and 'We Are the Champions' have been chosen as the greatest songs of all time by the 'Guinness Book of World Records'. Both the songs are also a part of the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'.
'Queen' released 'Made in Heaven' in 1995, an album that included a few never-heard-before songs by the spectacular artiste.
There is a statue in Switzerland, as a tribute to this revered musician.
Trivia
The band formed by this extremely popular singer, broke world records by becoming the first group to play in South America
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Freddie Mercury biography timelines
- // 5th Sep 1946Freddie Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara, to Parsi parents, Bomi and Jer Bulsara, on September 5, 1946, in the British territory of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, a part of present day Tanzania. Farrokh, his younger sibling Kashmira, and their parents were practising Zoroastrians.
- // 1954The young boy was brought up in India, where he was taught the piano at the tender age of seven. He was educated at the 'St. Peter's School' in Panchgani, near Mumbai, beginning 1954. Having always loved music, one of his earliest idols was Indian singer, Lata Mangeshkar.
- // 1958While in school, Farrokh began referring to himself as Freddie, and in 1958, he formed a music group, 'The Hectics'. The band performed rock and roll songs sung by artistes Little Richard and Cliff Richard.
- // 1963In 1963, Farrokh went back to his hometown, to live with his parents, but soon, the family had to escape from there, after the commencement of the 'Zanzibar Revolution', meant to depose the Arab Sultan. They settled down in town of Feltham, England, living in a small house.
- // 1970In April, 1970, the talented singer formed a band named 'Queen', along with English drummer, Roger Taylor, and guitarist, Brian May. After its conception, the band, consisting of other musicians, was managed by 'Trident Studios'. He also renamed himself from Farrokh Bulsara to Freddie Mercury.
- // 1970 To 1980During 1970-80, the exceptional singer acted as singer and songwriter for several albums produced by his band, 'Queen'. They played rock-and-roll music, and shot to fame because of Freddie, who, despite having a baritone voice, sang brilliantly in the tenor range.
- // 1976In 1976, he embarked on an affair with male employee of 'Elektra Records', which saw the end of his relationship with Mary.
- // 1981 To 1983During 1981–1983, the popular singer collaborated with Michael Jackson on soundtracks like 'State of Shock', 'There Must Be More to Life Than This', and 'Victory'.
- // 26th Oct 1981On October 26, 1981, Queen released 'Greatest Hits', which is a compilation of songs from various albums of the band. Out of the seventeen singles featured on the album, ten were penned by their lead singer, Mercury.
- // 1984In 1984, he attempted to go solo with the song 'Love Kills', from musician Richard Wolf's album, 'Metropolis: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack'.
- // 1985One of the best known albums released by this famous singer is 'Mr. Bad Guy', a solo album produced in 1985. The album had eleven songs, all of which were written by the singer himself, and it included a variety of music genres, from pop to disco to dance music.
- // 13th Jul 1985The following year, 'Queen' performed at the 'Live Aid' concert held on July 13, 1985. The concert was aimed at raising funds for the victims of the famine in Ethiopia, and it turned out to be a huge success. The band's live performance was even telecast on the TV show, 'The World's Greatest Gigs'.
- // 1986In 1986, Freddie once again collaborated with rock artiste Billy Squier for the latter's album 'Enough Is Enough'. The rock-and-roll singer sang the song 'Love is the Hero', and arranged music for 'Lady With a Tenor Sax'.
- // 1986The same year, in 1986, Mercury performed with his band, 'Queen', at Budapest, for 80,000 fans. August 9, marked the last performance of the singer in collaboration with his band, when he sang at England's ‘Knebworth Park’, ending the concert with the country's national anthem, 'God Save the Queen'.
- // 1986 To 1987During 1986-87, Mercury found out that he was suffering from AIDS, and his health began failing. It was during this time that Hutton and former girlfriend, Mary, took care of the celebrated singer.
- // 1988In 1988, Freddie released his second studio album titled, 'Barcelona', where he paired up with Spanish soprano singer, Montserrat Caballé. The album contained soundtracks in Spanish, Japanese and English.
- // 1990In 1990, Freddie, as a part of 'Queen', received the 'Brit Awards' for 'Outstanding Contribution to Music'.
- // 24th Nov 1991On 24 November 1991, he died from bronchial pneumonia that was caused by AIDS. Three days later, his funeral was held according to Parsi customs. The service was attended by all the other members of his band, and also by singer Elton John, amongst other close family members and friends.
- // 1992In 1992, after his death, he received the 'Brit Award' for 'Outstanding Contribution to British Music'.
- // 1992The song 'Bohemian Rhapsody', written and performed by Mercury, was featured in the 1992 film, 'Wayne's World'.
- // 1995'Queen' released 'Made in Heaven' in 1995, an album that included a few never-heard-before songs by the spectacular artiste.
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Freddie Mercury's FAQ
What is Freddie Mercury birthday?
Freddie Mercury was born at 1946-09-05
When was Freddie Mercury died?
Freddie Mercury was died at 1991-11-24
Where was Freddie Mercury died?
Freddie Mercury was died in Kensington
Which age was Freddie Mercury died?
Freddie Mercury was died at age 45
Where is Freddie Mercury's birth place?
Freddie Mercury was born in Stone Town
What is Freddie Mercury nationalities?
Freddie Mercury's nationalities is British
What is Freddie Mercury nick names?
Freddie Mercury's nickNames is Frederick Bulsara, Queen
Who is Freddie Mercury spouses?
Freddie Mercury's spouses is Jim Hutton, Mary Austin
Who is Freddie Mercury siblings?
Freddie Mercury's siblings is Kashmira Cooke
What was Freddie Mercury universities?
Freddie Mercury studied at St. Peter's Boys School, West Thames College, Ealing Art College, St. Mary's School, Mumbai
What is Freddie Mercury's cause of dead?
Freddie Mercury dead because of AIDS
How tall is Freddie Mercury?
Freddie Mercury's height is 177
Who is Freddie Mercury's father?
Freddie Mercury's father is Bomi Bulsara
Who is Freddie Mercury's mother?
Freddie Mercury's mother is Jer Bulsara
What is Freddie Mercury's sun sign?
Freddie Mercury is Virgo
How famous is Freddie Mercury?
Freddie Mercury is famouse as Singer-songwriter