Bernie Taupin was born in rural Lincolnshire, England, on May 22 1950.
He has been writing lyrics for Elton for 31 years.
Bernie was raised in a Catholic home by his parents Robert and Daphne Taupin.
He is the middle of three brothers. Bernie's fascination with America, particularly
the West, led him to later writing the album Tumbleweed Connection and moving
to L.A. He left grammer school (high school) at age 16 for a job with the
Lincolnshire Chronicle, and then a job at a chicken farm.
In 1967 both Bernie and Reg (Elton) applied for a job at Liberty Records.
They both were turned down, and an executive, Ray Williams (and future Elton manager)
paired the two up, and since then Bernie has been writing lyrics for Elton, with Elton
fitting them to music. Elton and Bernie had their first hit in 1970 with Your Song, which
is a well-known fact.
In 1971, Bernie married Maxine Feibelman, an American dancer.
They divorced in 1975 due to Bernie's drinking and crazy lifestyle. A song was
written in 1976 called Tonight about their failed marriage. Later on, he married
Toni Russo, a model and sister to actress Rene Russo, a marriage which also
failed. Bernie's album He Who Rides The Tiger (1980), was sung by him.
In 1993, he married Stephanie Haymes, an American. Along with Stephanie's
two daughters (from a previous marriage) they raise cutting horses on a ranch
in Santa Ynez, California. They also own one of the most popular restaurants
in Los Angeles, Cicada, which often hosts celebrities.
Bernie and EJ were voted ASCAP Songwriters of the Year and Bernie was
inducted into the American Academy of Achievement, both in 1994. He has
also won an INA International Achievement of Excellence, six Ivor Novello
Awards (European equivalent to a Grammy) and is in the Songwriters Hall
of Fame. In addition to writing lyrics for Elton John, Bernie is also a member
of a band called the Farm Dogs. Other Farm Dog members include Jim Cregan,
Robin LeMesurier, Tony Brock, Tad Wadhams and co-producer and web
guru David Cole.
In late 1998 Bernie and Stephanie divorced due to irreconcilable differences.
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