Happy Birthday, Freddie Mercury! (Belated, September 5, 1946)!

byFrankB-1

6.3K followers

Updated 1 year ago

Hi, WA Friends

I just can't seem to keep up with all the awesome and famous musicians' and singers' birthdays. However, I couldn't let Freddie's birthday pass for yet another year without saying a few words!

Freddie was the iconic frontman of Queen. This guy had it all: the voice, the charisma, and the ability to hold an audience in the palm of his hand!

A Little Background

Born Farrokh Bulsara on September 5, 1946, in Zanzibar, Freddie Mercury had a multicultural upbringing. His parents were Parsis from India, and he spent most of his childhood in India before moving to England. Freddie was a creative soul from the get-go. He learned to play the piano at a young age and was heavily involved in his school's music activities. He was also a guitar player, which he demonstrates on Queen's hit "Crazy Little Thing Called Love."

The Formation of Queen

In 1970, Mercury joined forces with guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor to form Queen. Later, John Deacon would complete the lineup as the bassist. Queen's first album was released in 1973, but it was their third album, "A Night at the Opera," featuring the epic "Bohemian Rhapsody," that catapulted them to international stardom.

If you've never seen "Wayne's World," where everyone in the car sings the various parts to this song, you really need to put away the laptop and treat yourself to this movie!

Here's the video clip:

https://youtu.be/l2IQE6ZpNZ0?si=McwQQoIIiKWuFhWo

AND ... Make sure you watch it to the end! Is that an AMC Pacer they're riding in?

Come on, I know you want to see the whole movie, no matter how many times you've already watched it! 😎

The 1985 Live Aid Performance

Who could forget this iconic performance? Freddie's stage presence was absolutely electrifying at Live Aid, and his vocal range was out of this world (as usual). I was a medical student back then, but I managed to see most of the festival.

Even though I was on call in the hospital that day, I watched various parts wherever I could, in the doctor's lounge, the ER waiting room, and in patients' rooms during my daytime medical rounds. Lol

The Legacy Lives On

Sadly, Freddie Mercury passed away on November 24, 1991, due to complications from AIDS. Queen could not continue without him, although they tried several iterations with various singers over the years. Freddie was clearly irreplaceable! However, his music and legacy continue to inspire new generations of musicians and fans!

Honors and Awards

Freddie Mercury received numerous awards and honors as a member of Queen:

• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (with Queen) - 2001
• Songwriters Hall of Fame (with Queen) - 2003
• UK Music Hall of Fame (with Queen) - 2004
• Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (with Queen) - 2018

Freddie Mercury's Discography

Here's Freddie's discography, courtesy of ChatGPT. If you can't listen to everything, then go for "Sheer Heart Attack," "A Night at the Opera," and "News of the World."

With Queen

• Queen (1973)
• Queen II (1974)
• Sheer Heart Attack (1974)
• A Night at the Opera (1975)
• A Day at the Races (1976)
• News of the World (1977)
• Jazz (1978)
• The Game (1980)
• Flash Gordon (1980)
• Hot Space (1982)
• The Works (1984)
• A Kind of Magic (1986)
• The Miracle (1989)
• Innuendo (1991)
• Made in Heaven (1995)

Solo Albums

• Mr. Bad Guy (1985)
• Barcelona (1988)

So there's your glimpse into the life and legacy of Freddie Mercury. Whether you're a die-hard Queen fan or just discovering the magic, one thing's for sure: Freddie Mercury was a true rock 'n' roll legend!

Let me know what you think of Freddie and Queen in the comments. What is your favorite album and song?

Keep On Rockin' 🤘
Frank 🎸

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