View source for Bernie Taupin

{{short description|British songwriter (born 1950)}}
{{BLP sources|date=October 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Bernie Taupin
| honorific_suffix  = [[Order of the British Empire|CBE]]
| image             = Bernie Taupin - Gershwin Prize 2024 (20240321SM1181) (cropped).jpg
| caption           = Taupin in 2024
| birth_name        = Bernard John Taupin
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|1950|5|22|df=y}}
| birth_place       = [[Sleaford]], Lincolnshire, England
| death_date        = {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}}
| genre             = {{flatlist|
*[[Rock music|Rock]]
*[[pop music|pop]]
*[[country music|country]]}}
| occupation        = {{flatlist|
*Lyricist
*visual artist
}}
| years_active      = 1967–present
| spouse            = {{marriage|[[Maxine Feibelman]]|1971|1977|end=divorce}}<br>{{marriage|Toni Lynn Russo|1979|1991|end=divorce}}<br>{{marriage|Stephanie Haymes Roven|1993|1998|end=divorce}}<br>{{marriage|Heather Kidd|2004}}
}}

'''Bernard John Taupin''' ({{Respell|taw|PIN}}; born 22 May 1950)<ref name="LarkinGE">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=2447}}</ref> is an English lyricist and visual artist. He is best known for his songwriting partnership with [[Elton John]], recognised as one of the most successful partnerships of its kind in history. Taupin co-wrote the majority of John's songs, dating back to the 1960s.<ref name="SongHall">{{Cite web |title=Elton John and Bernie Taupin |url=https://www.songhall.org/awards/winner/elton_john_and_bernie_taupin |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=Songhall.org |archive-date=24 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024184254/https://www.songhall.org/awards/winner/elton_john_and_bernie_taupin |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1967, Taupin answered an advertisement in the music paper ''[[NME|New Musical Express]]'' placed by [[Liberty Records]], a company that was seeking new songwriters.<ref name=bilb>{{Cite magazine |last=Bessman |first=Jim |date=4 October 1997 |title=30 Years of Music: Elton John with Bernie Taupin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1wkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA56 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |page=EJ-20 |issn=0006-2510 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> John responded to the same advertisement and they were brought together, collaborating on many albums since.<ref name=bilb /><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/index.php/exhibits/bio/C181 |title=Bernie Taupin Biography |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100618183615/http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/index.php/exhibits/bio/C181 |archive-date=18 June 2010 |website=[[Songwriters Hall of Fame]]}}</ref> Taupin and John were inducted into the [[Songwriters Hall of Fame]] in 1992.<ref name="SongHall" />

In 2020, Taupin and John received the [[92nd Academy Awards|Oscar]] for [[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]] for "[[(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again]]" from the film ''[[Rocketman (film)|Rocketman]]''.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Grein |first=Paul |date=10 February 2020 |title=Elton John & Bernie Taupin Win Best Original Song at 2020 Oscars |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/elton-john-bernie-taupin-win-best-original-song-at-2020-oscars-8550152/ |access-date=2023-07-12 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Taupin was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in the Musical Excellence Award category in 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rockhall.com/bernie-taupin|title=2023 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee: Bernie Taupin|website= rockhall.com|date= 3 May 2023}}</ref> In 2024, Taupin and John were awarded the [[Gershwin Prize for Popular Song]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Newman |first=Melinda |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/elton-john-bernie-taupin-2024-gershwin-prize-for-popular-song-recipients-1235591595/|title=Elton John & Bernie Taupin Named 2024 Recipients of the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=30 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ulaby |first=Neda |date=30 January 2024 |title=Sir Elton John and Bernie Taupin Win the 2024 Gershwin Prize for Popular Song |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/01/30/1227163535/sir-elton-john-and-bernie-taupin-win-the-2024-gershwin-prize-for-popular-song |website=[[NPR]]}}</ref> Also in 2024, Taupin won the [[Ivor Novello Awards|Ivor Novello Award]] for Outstanding Contribution to British Music.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Anna |date=2024-05-23 |title=Winners of The Ivors with Amazon Music Announced |url=https://ivorsacademy.com/news/winners-of-the-ivors-with-amazon-music-announced/ |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=The Ivors Academy |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Birth and childhood ==
Taupin was born at Flatters House, a farmhouse located between the village of [[Anwick]] and the town of [[Sleaford]] in [[Lincolnshire]], the son of Robert Taupin and Daphne ({{nee|Cort}}).<ref name="Norman" /><ref name="Elton John 2013, p. 74">{{Cite book |title=Tin Pan Alley - The Rise of Elton John |first=Keith |last=Hayward |publisher=Soundcheck Books |date=1 August 2013 |page=74 |isbn=978-0957144200}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rVXrl8aZP0kC&q=%22BERNIE+TAUPIN%22+%22Cort%22&pg=PA62|title=Elton: The Biography|first=David|last=Buckley|date=16 July 2007|publisher=[[Chicago Review Press]]|isbn=978-1-55652-713-5|access-date=16 July 2020|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Flatters Farmhouse |url=http://www.onthisveryspot.com/spot/Flatters_Farmhouse |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090330021811/http://www.onthisveryspot.com/spot/Flatters_Farmhouse |archive-date=30 March 2009 |access-date=29 September 2014 |website=Onthisveryspot.com}}</ref> His paternal grandparents were French, the Taupin family having come to London at the turn of the 20th century to set up a wine-importing business.<ref name="Norman" /><ref name="Elton John 2013, p. 74"/>

Taupin's father was educated in [[Dijon]] and was employed as a stockman by a large farm estate near the town of [[Market Rasen]], Lincolnshire. Taupin's mother spent most of the [[Second World War]] living in Switzerland. On her return to London, she worked as a [[governess]] for the Taupin family, in which connection she met Robert Taupin, whom she married in 1947.<ref name="Norman" /><ref name="Elton John 2013, p. 74"/> The family later moved to [[Rowston]] Manor, where they lived rent-free because of Robert's promotion to farm manager.<ref name="Elton John 2013, p. 74"/> This was a significant step up from Flatters farmhouse, which had no electricity.<ref name="Norman">Elton John, Philip Norman, Fireside, 1991</ref><ref name="Haloes">{{Cite book |title=A Cradle of Haloes |last=Taupin |first=Bernie |publisher=Aurum Press |year=1988 |isbn=978-1854100054}}</ref>

In 1959, Taupin's father decided to try independent farming, and the family moved to the north Lincolnshire village of [[Owmby-by-Spital]], where they lived at the run-down 10-acre Maltkiln Farm, the income from which derived from battery-farming chickens for eggs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maltkiln Farm (Former Site) |url=http://www.onthisveryspot.com/spot/Maltkiln_Farm |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318063816/http://www.onthisveryspot.com/spot/Maltkiln_Farm |archive-date=18 March 2012 |access-date=29 September 2014 |website=Onthisveryspot.com}}</ref> The house lacked heating and up-to-date plumbing.<ref name="Elton John 2013, p. 74"/> Taupin's 11-year-younger brother, Kit, was born there.<ref name="Norman" /><ref name="Haloes" />

Unlike his older brother, Tony, who attended a [[grammar school]] and later went to university,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hayward |first=Keith |date=1 August 2013 |title=Tin Pan Alley - The Rise of Elton John |publisher=Soundcheck Books |page=76 |isbn=978-0957144200}}</ref> Taupin was not a diligent student, although he showed an early flair for writing. At 15, he left school and started work as a trainee in the print room of the local newspaper, the ''[[Lincolnshire Standard]]'', with aspirations of becoming a journalist.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Embley |first=Jochan |date=22 May 2020 |title=Bernie Taupin at 70: The Man Whose Words Made Elton John a Star |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/bernie-taupin-songs-elton-john-70-a4447726.html |access-date=25 March 2021 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}}</ref> Taupin soon left that job, and spent the rest of his teenage years hanging out with friends, hitchhiking the country roads to attend youth club dances in the surrounding villages, playing [[snooker]] in the Aston Arms pub<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onthisveryspot.com/spot/Aston_Arms_Pub|title=Aston Arms Pub – On This Very Spot|website=Onthisveryspot.com|access-date=29 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205131417/http://www.onthisveryspot.com/spot/Aston_Arms_Pub|archive-date=5 December 2008|url-status=usurped}}</ref> in Market Rasen, and drinking. Taupin had worked at several part-time jobs when, at 17, he answered the advertisement that eventually led to his collaboration with Elton John.<ref name="Norman" /><ref name="Haloes" />

== Early influences ==
Taupin's mother had studied French literature, and his maternal grandfather John Leonard Patchett "Poppy" Cort, a classics teacher and graduate of the [[University of Cambridge]],<ref name="Norman" /> instilled in him an appreciation for nature and literature and narrative poetry, all of which influenced his early lyrics.<ref name="Norman" /><ref name="Haloes" />

== Collaborative career ==
=== Collaboration with Elton John (1967–present) ===
[[File:Elton John Bernie Taupin 1971.JPG|thumb|Taupin (left) with [[Elton John]], 1971]]
In 1967, Taupin answered an advertisement for talent that was placed in the ''[[New Musical Express]]'' by [[Liberty Records]] [[A&R]] man [[Ray Williams (producer)|Ray Williams]]. Elton John answered the same advert. Neither Taupin nor John passed the audition for Liberty Records. Elton told the man behind the desk that he could not write lyrics, so the man handed Elton a sealed envelope from the pile of people submitting lyrics, which he opened on the [[London Underground]] ride home. The envelope contained poems by Taupin.<ref>{{cite AV media |title=Elton John Takes Stephen Through His Entire Catalogue |people=[[Elton John]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHjxxMJLaQ4&t=2m42s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/VHjxxMJLaQ4| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|time=3:00 |work=[[The Late Show with Stephen Colbert]] }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The duo have collaborated on more than thirty albums since. The team took some time off from each other for a while between 1977 and 1979, while Taupin worked with other songwriters, including [[Alice Cooper]], and John worked with other lyricists, including [[Gary Osborne]] and [[Tom Robinson]]. (The 1978 single-only A side "Ego" was their only collaboration of note during the period, although John/Taupin [[B-side]]s such as "Lovesick" and "I Cry at Night" were issued with the respective singles "Song for Guy" and "Part-time Love" from the album ''A Single Man''.)

John and Taupin resumed writing together on an occasional basis in 1980, with Taupin contributing lyrics to several songs on albums such as ''[[21 at 33]]'', ''[[The Fox (Elton John album)|The Fox]]'', and ''[[Jump Up! (Elton John album)|Jump Up!]]''. However, by 1983's ''[[Too Low for Zero]]'', the two renewed their partnership on a full-time basis and from that point forward Taupin was again John's primary lyricist for his solo releases. John often works with other lyricists on specific theatrical or film projects such as 1994's ''[[The Lion King]]'' and 2000's ''[[Aida (musical)|Aida]]'', both of which featured lyrics by [[Tim Rice]], and 2005's ''[[Billy Elliot the Musical|Billy Elliot]]'', which has script and lyrics by the original film's screenwriter, [[Lee Hall (playwright)|Lee Hall]]. Hall also wrote the screenplay for the Elton John biopic ''[[Rocketman (film)|Rocketman]]'', in which Taupin features as a major character.

Taupin wrote the lyrics for "[[Rocket Man (song)|Rocket Man]]", "[[Levon (song)|Levon]]", "[[Crocodile Rock]]", "[[Honky Cat]]", "[[Tiny Dancer]]", "[[Candle in the Wind]]", "[[Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting]]", "[[Bennie and the Jets]]", "[[Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (song)|Goodbye Yellow Brick Road]]", "[[Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters]]", "[[Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me]]", "[[The Bitch is Back]]", "[[Daniel (Elton John song)|Daniel]]", and 1970's "[[Your Song]]", their first hit. Hits in the 1980s include "[[I'm Still Standing]]", "[[I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues]]", "[[Sad Songs (Say So Much)|Sad Songs]]", and "[[Nikita (song)|Nikita]]". In the 1990s, Taupin and John had more hits, including "[[The One (Elton John song)|The One]]", "[[Simple Life (Elton John song)|Simple Life]]", "[[The Last Song (Elton John song)|The Last Song]]", "[[Club at the End of the Street]]" and "[[Believe (Elton John song)|Believe]]". In September 1997, Taupin rewrote the lyrics of "Candle in the Wind" for "[[Candle in the Wind 1997]]", a tribute to the late [[Diana, Princess of Wales]].

{{Quote box |quoted=true  |salign=center|quote=I thought it was very important to project it from a nation's standpoint. I wanted to make it sound like a country singing it. From the first couple of lines I wrote [which began "Goodbye England's Rose"], the rest sort of fell into place.|source=Bernie Taupin on writing the lyrics<br /> for "[[Candle in the Wind 1997]]"<ref name=WRI>{{cite book|title=The songwriters idea book|date=15 October 1992|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aWm2iDGGsAIC&q=taupin+candle+in+the+wind+1997&pg=PA103|publisher=Writer's Digest Books p.103|isbn=978-0-89879-519-6|quote=I thought it was very important to project it from a nation's standpoint. I wanted to make it sound like a country singing it. From the first couple of lines I wrote [which began "Goodbye England's Rose"], the rest sort of fell into place.}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>|align=right|width=33%}}

The 1991 film documentary ''Two Rooms'' described the John/Taupin writing style, which involves Taupin writing the lyrics on his own and John then putting them to music, with no further interaction between the two. The process is still fundamentally the same, with John composing to Taupin's words, but the two interact on songs far more today, with Taupin joining John in the studio as the songs are written and occasionally during recording sessions.

Taupin and John had their first Broadway musical open in March 2006 with ''[[Lestat: The Musical]]''. Taupin wrote lyrics for 10 songs (and an 11th completed non-album track "Across the River Thames") for John's 2006 album ''[[The Captain & The Kid]]'' (sequel to ''[[Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy]]'') and appeared on the cover with him for the first time marking their 40th anniversary of working together. ("Across the River Thames" was issued as an Internet-only download as a bonus with certain editions of ''The Captain & the Kid''.)

On 25 March 2007, Taupin made a surprise appearance at John's 60th birthday celebration at [[Madison Square Garden]], briefly discussing their 40-year songwriting partnership. Of Taupin's importance to their careers, as recorded on the ''[[Elton 60 – Live at Madison Square Garden]]'' DVD, John told the audience that without Taupin there probably would not be an 'Elton John' as the public has come to know him. Taupin and John also composed several songs for ''[[The Union (Elton John and Leon Russell album)|The Union]]'', a collaboration album between Elton and his longtime hero [[Leon Russell]] released in October 2010. They also collaborated on five original songs for the 2011 [[Miramax]] movie ''[[Gnomeo and Juliet]]'', including the [[69th Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe]]-nominated "Hello Hello". Taupin and John's most-recent album collaboration is ''[[Wonderful Crazy Night]]'', released in 2016.

In 2018, Taupin and John collaborated on two original songs for the animated film ''[[Sherlock Gnomes]]''. In 2019, the movie ''[[Rocketman (film)|Rocketman]]'' was released, containing an original song written by Taupin and John for the film, "[[(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again]]", which plays over the closing credits. The film depicts the personal friendship of Taupin (played by [[Jamie Bell]]) and John (played by [[Taron Egerton]]) during the 1970s and 1980s. They won the [[Academy Award for Best Original Song]] for "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again".

=== Collaboration with other artists ===
In addition to writing for Elton John, Taupin has also written lyrics for use by other composers, with notable successes including "[[We Built This City]]", which was recorded by [[Starship (band)|Starship]], and "[[These Dreams]]", recorded by [[Heart (band)|Heart]] (both of which were collaborations with English composer/musician [[Martin Page]]). In 1978, he co-wrote the album ''[[From the Inside (Alice Cooper album)|From the Inside]]'' with [[Alice Cooper]].

Taupin also produced ''[[American Gothic (album)|American Gothic]]'' for singer-songwriter [[David Ackles]]. Released in 1972, it did not enjoy big sales, but the album was highly acclaimed by music critics in the US and UK. The influential British music critic [[Derek Jewell]] of the UK ''[[Sunday Times]]'' described the album as being "the ''[[Sgt. Pepper]]'' of folk." Of Ackles's four albums, it was the only one recorded in England rather than in the United States. Taupin and Ackles had become acquainted when Ackles was selected to be the co-headlining act for Elton John's 1970 American debut at the Troubadour in Los Angeles. Taupin was mentioned specifically as being one of the reasons ''American Gothic'' was selected by the writers and editors for inclusion in the book, ''1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die''. He also collaborated on the book ''Burning Cold'' with photographer [[Gary Bernstein]].<ref name=Village>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EOFLAAAAIBAJ&pg=5317,4390564&dq=gary+bernstein+photography&hl=en |title=Photo: Gary Bernstein |newspaper=[[The Village Voice]] |date=22 May 1978 |page=59 |access-date=14 March 2013}}</ref> In the late 1980s and early 1990s Taupin also collaborated with French American musician, [[Josquin Des Pres (American musician)|Josquin Des Pres]] on at least 13 songs in his collection that have been performed and recorded by artists worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Des Pres|first1=Josquin|last2=Taupin|first2=Bernie|title=His Music|url=http://www.berniejtaupin.com/taupin---his-music.html|website=Bernie Taupin Official}}</ref>

In 2002, [[Willie Nelson]] and [[Kid Rock]] recorded "Last Stand in Open Country" for Nelson's album ''[[The Great Divide (Willie Nelson album)|The Great Divide]]''. The song was the title track of the first album from Taupin's band Farm Dogs (see below). Nelson's album included two other Taupin songs, "This Face" and "[[Mendocino County Line]]". The latter, a duet between Nelson and [[Lee Ann Womack]], was made into a video and released as the album's first single. The song won the 2003 Grammy for best vocal collaboration in country music. In 2004, he co-wrote [[Courtney Love]]'s song "Uncool", from her 2004 debut solo album ''[[America's Sweetheart (album)|America's Sweetheart]]''. In 2005, he co-wrote the title track to ''[[What I Really Want for Christmas]]'' with Brian Wilson for his first seasonal album. In 2006, he won a [[Golden Globe Award]] for his lyrics to the song "[[A Love That Will Never Grow Old]]" from the film ''[[Brokeback Mountain]]''. The music of the song was composed by Argentine producer and songwriter [[Gustavo Santaolalla]].

== Works as a performer ==
In 1971, Taupin recorded a spoken-word album titled ''[[Taupin]]'', in which he recites some of his early poems against a background of impromptu, sitar-heavy music created by some members of Elton's band, including [[Davey Johnstone]] and [[Caleb Quaye]]. Side one, "Child", contains poems about his early childhood in southern Lincolnshire. The first poem, "The Greatest Discovery", which looks at his birth from the perspective of his older brother Tony, was also set to music by Elton John and included on John's second album, ''[[Elton John (album)|Elton John]]''. There are poems about Taupin's first two childhood homes, Flatters and Rowston Manor, and others about his relationship with his brother and grandfather. Side Two includes a variety of poems of varying obscurity, from a marionette telling her own story to a rat catcher who falls victim to his prey.<ref name="Aldridge">{{cite book |last1=Taupin |first1=Bernie |title=Bernie Taupin: The One Who Writes the Words for Elton John |last2=Aldridge |first2=Alan |last3=Dempsey |first3=Mike |last4=John |first4=Elton |publisher=Jonathan Cape Ltd. |year=1973 |isbn=0-224-01236-3}}</ref> Taupin stated in interviews that he was not pleased with the album.<ref>''A Conversation with Elton John and Bernie Taupin'', Paul Gambaccini, Flash Books, 1974</ref>

In 1980, Taupin recorded his first album as a singer, ''[[He Who Rides the Tiger]]''. The album failed to make a dent in the charts. Taupin later suggested in interviews that he did not have the creative control he would have liked over the album. In 1987, he recorded another album, ''[[Tribe (Bernie Taupin album)|Tribe]]''. The songs were co-written with [[Martin Page]]. "Citizen Jane" and "Friend of the Flag" were released as singles. Videos of both singles featured [[Rene Russo]], the sister of Taupin's then wife Toni.

In 1996, Taupin formed a band called Farm Dogs,<ref>{{cite web |title=Farm Dogs |url=http://www.farmdogs.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961223141737/http://farmdogs.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 December 1996 |website=Farmdogs.com |access-date=16 April 2012 }}</ref> whose two albums were conscious (and successful) throwbacks to the grittier, earthier sound of ''[[Tumbleweed Connection]]''. While Taupin wrote the lyrics, the music was a collaborative effort among the band members. Their first album, 1996's ''Last Stand in Open Country'', received critical praise but little airplay. The title track was later recorded by Willie Nelson and Kid Rock for Nelson's 2002 album ''[[The Great Divide (Willie Nelson album)|The Great Divide]]''. In 1998, Farm Dogs released its second and final album, ''Immigrant Sons''. The album was unsuccessful despite a tour of small clubs across America.

== Non-musical projects ==
In 1973, Taupin collected all his lyrics up through the ''[[Goodbye Yellow Brick Road]]'' album into a book, ''Bernie Taupin: The One Who Writes the Words for Elton John''. In addition to the lyrics from the albums, this book contained the lyrics to all the single B-sides, various rarities, and Taupin's 1970 spoken-word album. The songs are illustrated by various artists, friends, and celebrity guests such as [[John Lennon]] and [[Joni Mitchell]]. The book is in black & white except for the cover.

In 1977, Taupin collaborated with rock photographer David Nutter on ''It's A Little Bit Funny'', adding text and helping chronicle Elton John's year-long [[Louder Than Concorde Tour]]. The now-collectible book was published in hard and soft cover editions by [[Penguin Books]]. It collects the better part of one year's worth of personal adventures and memories of Elton and the band, aboard his private plane, on the beaches of Barbados, at backstage gatherings and in some quieter off-stage moments with friends (including some famous faces that Elton and Bernie met and palled around with in their travels).

In 1978, Taupin also appeared in an episode of ''[[The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries]]'', "The Hardy Boys & Nancy Drew Meet Dracula", singing backup to [[Shaun Cassidy]]. In 1988, Taupin published an autobiography of his childhood, ''A Cradle of Haloes: Sketches of a Childhood''.<ref name="Haloes" /> The book was released only in the UK. It tells the tale of a childhood fuelled by fantasy in rural Lincolnshire in the 1950s and 1960s, ending in 1969 as Taupin gets on the train to seek his fortune in London.

In 1991, Taupin self-published a book of poems called ''The Devil at High Noon''. In 1994, Taupin's lyrics up through the ''Made in England'' album were collected into a hardcover book, ''Elton John & Bernie Taupin: The Complete Lyrics'', published by Hyperion. However, it does not appear that Taupin was intimately involved in this project, as it contains multiple misspellings and outright misrenderings of the lyrics. It is also missing some of the rarities and B-sides found in the earlier collection. As with the 1973 collection, the songs are illustrated by various artists, this time in full colour throughout.

In 1992, Taupin was asked to produce a benefit for AIDS Project Los Angeles. The event featured no songs written by the writer, instead opening with an acoustic set of performances of material chosen by the performers followed by selections from the musical ''[[West Side Story]]'', chosen for its "timeless message of tolerance that is relevant to every decade."<ref>{{cite news |last=Galbraith |first=Jane |title=Stars Turn Up The Power for AIDS Benefit |newspaper=Newsday |date=18 November 1992}}</ref>

=== Visual art career ===
In addition to his music, much of his time is spent creating his visual art.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.artspace.com/magazine/interviews_features/qa/bernie_taupin_interview-52302 |title=Songwriter Bernie Taupin on His Paintings and the Harmony of Music and Art | last=Bodick |first=Noelle |date=16 May 2014 |website=Artspace |language=en |access-date=26 September 2017}}</ref> Attributing his passion for art to his mother, Daphne, Taupin began displaying and selling his original artwork in 2010. Consisting of large, mixed media, contemporary assemblages, the art has been shown and collected across the United States and Canada.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3063886/lyricist-bernie-taupin-opens-up-about-his-true-visual-passion |title=Lyricist Bernie Taupin Opens Up About His True (Visual) Passion |date=27 September 2016 |website=Fast Company |access-date=26 September 2017 |language=en-US|author-last1=Karlin|author-first1=Susan}}</ref>

Taupin's artwork has been seen at Art Miami, Art Southampton, the LA Art Fair, and in various galleries. His artwork often incorporates the American flag.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bernie-taupin-debut-art-collection-created-american-flags-1215495|title=Bernie Taupin Sets L.A. Gallery Exhibit of American-Flag Art: "My Day Job Is Being an Artist"|last=Pener|first=Degen|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=6 June 2019|access-date=16 July 2020}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
[[File:Bernie Taupin Heather Lynn Hodgins Kidd 2011 Shankbone.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Taupin and wife Heather, attending the premiere of ''The Union'' at the [[Tribeca Film Festival]], April 2011]]
Taupin has been married four times. His first three marriages ended in divorce. His wives were: [[Maxine Feibelman]] (1971–77);<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.marketrasenmail.co.uk/CustomPages/CustomPage.aspx?PageID=66656|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208155542/http://www.marketrasenmail.co.uk/CustomPages/CustomPage.aspx?PageID=66656|url-status=dead|title=Market Rasen Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More<!-- Bot generated title -->|archive-date=8 December 2008|access-date=16 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=California, U.S., Divorce Index, 1966-1984 |url=https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/4905224:1141?tid=&pid=&queryId=7f899bb7-e6fc-4bd4-a332-6f4444836f2d&_phsrc=lmG11&_phstart=successSource }}</ref> Toni Lynn Russo (1979–91), sister of actress [[Rene Russo]]; Stephanie Haymes Roven (1993–98),<ref>{{Cite web|author=Mauro Abbate |url=https://notiziemusica.it/chi-e-bernie-taupin/curiosita/ |title=Chi è Bernie Taupin, l'arma segreta di Elton John |website=notiziemusica.it |date=22 May 2023 |access-date=9 July 2023 |language=it}}</ref> daughter of entertainers [[Dick Haymes]] and [[Fran Jeffries]]; and Heather Kidd (March 2004–present),<ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=Bernie Taupin Recalls the Start of His Partnership with Elton John: 'We Were All Each Other Had'|last=Runtagh|first=Jordan|date=30 May 2019|url=https://people.com/music/bernie-taupin-elton-john-partnership-early-days-interview/|access-date=25 March 2021|website=People|language=en}}</ref> with whom he has two daughters.<ref name=":1" />

Taupin moved to the United States from England in the mid-1970s. In 1990, he became a U.S. citizen<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fessier |first=Bruce |date=8 February 2017 |title=Bernie Taupin letting his art flag fly at Art Palm Springs |url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/life/entertainment/arts/2017/02/08/bernie-taupin-letting-his-art-flag-fly-art-palm-springs/97472010/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=The Desert Sun |language=en-US}}</ref> and lives in [[Santa Barbara County, California]].

Taupin was part-owner of the American [[bucking bull]] [[Little Yellow Jacket]], who competed in the [[Professional Bull Riders]] (PBR) circuit and was PBR Bull of the Year from 2002 through 2004.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dahlberg|first=Tim|date=30 October 2005|title=Songwriter Bernie Taupin Has a Lot of Bull Going for Him|url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2005/10/30/songwriter-bernie-taupin-has-a-lot-of-bull-going-for-him/61917891007/|website=[[The Oklahoman]]|access-date=February 19, 2025}}</ref>

Taupin was appointed [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (CBE), in the [[2022 New Year Honours]], for services to music.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=63571|supp=y|page=N27|date=1 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59809682|title=New Year Honours: Whitty, Van-Tam and Blair knighted, Lumley and Redgrave Made Dames|last=Amos|first=Owen|work=[[BBC News]]|date=1 January 2022}}</ref>

== Discography ==
=== Solo albums ===
* 1971 – ''[[Taupin]]''
* 1980 – ''[[He Who Rides the Tiger]]''<ref name=":0" />
* 1987 – ''[[Tribe (Bernie Taupin album)|Tribe]]<ref name=":0" />''

=== With Farm Dogs ===
* 1996 – ''Last Stand in Open Country''
* 1998 – ''Immigrant Sons''

== Bibliography ==
* 1971 – ''The Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin'' (sheet music)<ref>{{cite web |title=The Songs Of Elton John And Bernie Taupin Book, 1971 {{!}} Wolfgang's |url=https://www.wolfgangs.com/the-songs-of-elton-john-and-bernie-taupin/books/book/ZZZ016260.html |access-date=26 September 2017 |website=Wolfgangs.com |language=en |archive-date=27 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927052541/https://www.wolfgangs.com/the-songs-of-elton-john-and-bernie-taupin/books/book/ZZZ016260.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* 1973 – ''Bernie Taupin: The One Who Writes the Words for Elton John''<ref name="Aldridge" />
* 1977 – ''Elton: It's a Little Bit Funny''<ref>{{cite book |last=Taupin |first=Bernie |title=Elton: It's a Little Bit Funny |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |year=1977 |isbn=0-14-004680-1}}</ref>
* 1988 – ''A Cradle of Haloes: Sketches of a Childhood''
* 1991 – ''Two Rooms: Elton John and Bernie Taupin''
* 2023 – ''Scattershot: Life, Music, Elton, and Me''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Taupin |first=Bernie |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F_aoEAAAQBAJ |title=Scattershot: Life, Music, Elton, and Me |date=12 September 2023 |publisher=Hachette Books |isbn=978-0-306-82869-0 |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{portal|Poetry}}
*[[List of songs with lyrics by Bernie Taupin]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Bernie Taupin}}
* {{IMDb name|0005479}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20171103124158/http://www.onthisveryspot.com/search.php?ss=Bernie_Taupin Spots related to Taupin's life and career]}}
* [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures/10306999/Bernie-Taupin-Lyricist-I-think-of-myself-as-a-storyteller.html "Bernie Taupin: 'Lyricist? I think of myself as a storyteller',"] The Telegraph, 16 September 2013

{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Bernie Taupin
|list =
{{Academy Award Best Original Song}}
{{Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Song}}
{{Gershwin Prize}}
{{Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song}}
{{Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Song in an Animated Film}}
{{Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Song in a Documentary}}
{{2023 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}
{{Satellite Award for Best Original Song}}
}}
{{Elton John}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taupin, Bernie}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:Best Original Song Academy Award–winning songwriters]]
[[Category:British soft rock musicians]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Gershwin Prize recipients]]
[[Category:Golden Globe Award–winning musicians]]
[[Category:Elton John]]
[[Category:English emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:English lyricists]]
[[Category:English people of French descent]]
[[Category:English male poets]]
[[Category:English male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Musicians from Lincolnshire]]
[[Category:People from Santa Barbara County, California]]
[[Category:People from Sleaford, Lincolnshire]]
[[Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States]]
[[Category:Singers from London]]