As a kid from the county of Lincolnshire, England, Bernie Taupin’s childhood was idyllic, but lacked contemporary comforts. Born in 1950 to a French military father and an unconventional English mother, the Taupin family endured all four seasons without electricity until Taupin turned five.
He was the middle child of three sons, and as he matured he radiated a fascination with the American Old West.
Taupin: His Story
In 1967, a match made in heaven was orchestrated by Ray Williams who was searching out a lyricist for a young bespectacled piano player and singer named Reg Dwight who, just before releasing his first solo album, changed his name to Elton John.
As a teen teetering on the precipice of a bleak existence as a factory worker, he auspiciously answered an ad placed by Liberty Records in London that quickly changed his life and firmly set him on an artistic road.
Taupin had the lyrics and John had the music.
They became fast friends, started writing together, and quickly discovered a shared love of music, film and literature.
Almost 50 years ago, they forged a creative bond that is still as strong as ever.
John and Taupin’s enduring creative partnership has thus far resulted in:
Over 35 Gold and 25 Platinum Albums
30 Consecutive US Top 40 Hits
More Than 255 Million Records Sold Worldwide
The Record for the Biggest Selling Single Of All Time, ‘Candle In The Wind ’97’, Which Sold Over 33,000,000 Copies.
ALL of Taupin’s lyrics written for Elton John albums from Empty Sky to Wonderful Crazy Night can be found on this site. Also included are Taupin’s solo albums, Farm Dogs records, as well as songs he composed with artists other than John.
Lauded throughout his music career, Taupin has received numerous awards and nominations including the Golden Globe for Best Original Song (nominated 2004, 2012; won 2005)
Eight Ivor Novello Awards
And several others including awards from Billboard, ASCAP, the Film Critics, Britain’s Music Industry Trust, etc.
And in 2013, “Your Song” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Most recently, as a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame (inducted in 1992,) he and Elton received the esteemed Johnny Mercer Award in 2013.
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A bucking bull named Little Yellow Jacket, a Farm Dog and the Brown Dirt Cowboy walk into a bar…
This isn’t a joke…
This was Taupin’s life in the early 1990s. He fulfilled his goal of one day living the life of his alter ego, The Brown Dirt Cowboy, and began to compete in an equestrian sport called cutting. Very challenging and very western, Taupin was on the road with his horses competing in weekend horse shows and loving the cowboy lifestyle.
Taupin also became part owner of PBR’s three-time bucking champion bull, Little Yellow Jacket. He was a regular spectator at many PBR events, and began hosting an annual cutting competition for the cowboys at his Santa Barbara county ranch.
True to form, he never lost sight of music and art taking time for writing, recording and touring with his Americana band, Farm Dogs.
Farm Dogs
Immigrant Sons
Farm Dogs
Last Stand In Open Country
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As important as music is to shaping Taupin’s life, his inescapable passion to create visual art is acclaimed by collectors and prominent galleries.
He has been forging abstract and contemporary mixed-media pieces in his studio since the early 1990s and today considers this a full time career.
His works have been exhibited at numerous domestic and international galleries including KM Fine Art, Mark Borghi Fine Art and Waterhouse + Dodd. In 2015, his work was exhibited at nationally renowned fairs including Art Miami, Art Aspen and Art Southampton.
In 2016, billboard-sized images of his piece “Sleeping Beauty” were selected to set the motif at the entrance for Miami’s Art Wynwood.
Learn more
In 2010, Taupin added 'radio personality' to his long list of accomplishments with the debut of American Roots Radio. Thanks to satellite radio, his unfathomable enthusiasm for all genres of music was broadcast nationwide twice a month from his Central California ranch.
With dogs barking and hens clucking in the background, not to mention his trusty co-host/producer Paca Thomas, Taupin enthusiastically showcased his favorite multi-genre musicians ranging from Willie Dixon and Louis Jordon to Dean Martin, The Louvin Brothers and Lionel Hampton. With exactly 100 shows – and no tracks repeated, his essential list of recommended listening and reading can be found on this site, as well as the playlists from the broadcasts that aired until 2015.
Finally, two recent highlights in his life included posthumously inducting his musical hero Willie Dixon into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in June 2015
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And a private tour of the abstract artist Willem de Kooning’s home in the Hamptons
.(Special thanks to Julie and Mark.)
Thanks for stopping by, and please check in from time to time to see what he’s creating…