Roger Taylor is an English multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and musician. Very early in his career he was recognized for his unique voice. He is best known as a founding member and drummer of the famous rock band Queen. Since the band’s inception, Roger Taylor has contributed at least 1 or 2 tracks to each of the band’s albums. Known for his amazing songwriting skills, he is usually the lead singer in the songs he writes for the band. Roger Taylor is also known for his great skill with instruments. Aside from being a drummer, he is proficient on keyboards, guitars and bass, which he uses on his own songs.

While still active in the band, Queen, Roger Taylor formed his own band, The Cross, which lasted from 1987 to 1993. In the band he played an active role as rhythm guitarist and lead singer. The band did not experience commercial success as expected. Fans could only get them in Germany. His high falsetto vocal range has earned him recognition from those he works with. Artists he has worked with include Roger Waters, Robert Plant, Eric Clapton, Bon Jovi, Al Stewart, Cyndi Almouzni, Phi Collins, Elton John, Jimmy Nail, Yoshiki, Adam Lambert and Genesis. In the 1980s he appeared on a then popular UK show. He was a panelist on the show, which was hosted by Mike Read.

Born name

Roger Meddows Taylor

nickname

Roger

Sun sign

Lion

Place of birth

King’s Lynn, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom

nationality

training

Roger Taylor attended Rosebery Avenue School then moved to Truro, Cornwall and went to Truro Cathedral School . He later enrolled in a London Hospital Medical College in London, England. He then attended London Polytechnic in the London Borough of Newham, London, England.

occupation

Musician, singer-songwriter, record producer

family

• Father – Michael Taylor
• Mutter – Winifred Taylor (geb. Hickman)
• Siblings – Claire Taylor (Younger Sister)
• Other – Genevieve Potgieter (Sister-in-law) (Model, Graphic Artist)

Manager

unknown

Genre

rock, rock

instruments

vocals, drums

labels

• EMI records
• Elektra Records
• Capitol Records
• Parlophone records
• Hollywood Records
• Virgin EMI Records

To build

Average

Height

5 feet 9½ inches or 176.5 cm

weight

76 kg or 167.5 lbs

girlfriend/spouse

Roger Taylor dated –

1. Eileen Wright (1965) – Roger and Eileen met after a performance he had in Falmouth. Eileen and two other girls came all the way from Flushing to dance to the performance. They traveled up to 6 hours by road but it was worth it for them. They picked Roger out of all the men when they believed there was no competition from the other ladies, according to The Reaction. Roger was a nice blond young man with a creepy aura surrounding his smile and looks. They started dating in 1965. Eileen Wright became a regular addition to The Reaction’s traveling crew and became very comfortable in no time. She and Roger were too young to drink in public. Their relationship was limited to coffee bars. After a short date, they broke up.
2. Jill Johnson (1966-1969) – Jill Johnson was one of Roger’s girlfriends who met him in 1966. She was a former student at Truro County High School for Girls. She became part of the people following The Reaction after spending about a year with Roger Taylor. They usually hung in Truro’s coffee bars, which was not new to Roger. During their relationship, they maintained a good relationship with Roger’s neighbor, Vaughan Hankins, and his fiancé, Gill Wilton. They went out together in Vaughan’s father’s car and spent nights at various places such as the Tregaye Country Club, the Pandora Inn in Restronguet on the way to Falmouth or Flo’s Bar in Devoran. The relationship only lasted three years when they split in 1969.
3. Josephine Morris (1968-1976) – Josephine Morris and ChristineMullen was a student in London where Roger Taylor taught. He met her at school and they became acquaintances. In 1968, Josephine Morris started dating Roger Taylor. Josephine, Chrissy was introduced to Roger’s boyfriend Brian when they went to one of Smiles gigs at Imperial College together. Josephine and Roger broke up in 1976.
4. Dominique Beyrand (1976-1988) – Dominique Beyrand and Roger Taylor met in September 1976 when Queen’s free concert in Hyde Park was scheduled. At the time, Dominique was Richard Branson’s personal assistant. They had a long relationship lasting 12 years and had two children together – Felix Luther (born May 22, 1980) and Rory Eleanor (born May 29, 1986). When they decided to break up because Roger was involved in another relationship with a Cadbury ‘s FlakeTV commercial actress Debbie Leng, she couldn’t stay with the kids. Then, in 1988, Roger married Dominique. He decided it would be better if Felix and Rory stayed with their mother and did so to ensure Dominique’s financial security. They were separated 3 weeks after the marriage. Roger bought a house and moved in with Debbie.
5. Debbie Harry (1977) – In the late 1970s, news broke that Roger Taylor was in a relationship with singer Debbie Harry. During this time he was still in a serious relationship with Dominique Beyrand, who bore him two children. In February 1977, pictures of Roger and Debbie at the Bel Air Hotel in Los Angeles, California were shared.
6. Cheryl Rixon (1979) – Roger and actress Cheryl Rixon are said to have been dating in 1979.
7. Deborah Leng (1987-2002) – Deborah Leng and Roger Taylor began dating in October 1987. At that time she was a model and an actress, appearing in video clips such as Indians and Cowboys (1987) and Breakthru (1988) from The Cross and Queen, bands with Roger Taylor. While dating Dominique, he met Debbie Leng. People were confused about how the three went about their lives after marrying Dominique, divorcing her after three weeks and then moving in with Debbie. Deborah Leng and Roger lived together for 15 years and had three children, Rufus Tiger (born 1991), Tiger Lily (born 1994), and Lola Daisy May (born 2000).
8. Fay Lawrence (1999) – As his relationship with Debbie LengRoger Taylor got into a relationship with Fay Lawrence. She was a lap dancer. She said she would never interfere if she knew Roger was in a relationship. Debbie moved out of the house and took her children with her.
9. Catrina Davies (2002) – While Roger Taylor was still dating, Debby Leng dated Catrina Davies for a brief time in 2002. Catrina was a blonde model who was only 21 years old. He later realized he was doing the wrong thing and won Debbie’s heart back. The effort was unsuccessful so he bought a large house next door to Debbie’s Sussex cottage. Both have remained friends and neighbors ever since.
10. Sarina Taylor (2004-Present) – After one and the same marriageAfter giving birth to 5 children, Roger Taylor finally married wife Sarina Potgieter whom he has been with for 6 years. They first met at the 46664 concert in aid of Nelson Mandela. She was 36 at the time and they held a black and red themed wedding at her home in Surrey on 3 October 2010, with all the waiters dressed in black and everything around was black. Attendees said it was a low-key but fun wedding. 

race/ethnicity

White

He is of English descent.

hair colour

Blond

eye color

Light Blue

sexual orientation

Just

distinguishing features

• Falsetto vocal range
• Short hair cut off
• Holds facial hair

Known for

• Contributing songs to Queen’s albums from the moment he joined. He has written at least one song on every album they have released and usually sings as lead in the song he composes.
• Appears in The Life of Rock with Brian Pern as himself
• Founded a band called “The Cross”. He was the band’s vocalist and rhythm guitarist.

First album

He released his debut solo album, titled Fun in Space, in 1981. He played a variety of instruments on the album.

First TV show

Roger Taylor made his first television appearance as himself in Standing Out with Ayshea in 1972.

Roger Taylor favorite things

• People – The Marx Brothers
• Movies – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), A Clockwork Orange (1971), King Kong (1933), The Great Race (1965)
• Bands – Led Zeppelin, die Beatles, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, The Who
• Books – On the Road by Jack Kerouac (1951), Dune by Frank Herbert (1965)
• Food – Japanese
• Color – silver
• Accessory – sunglasses

Roger Taylor Facts

1. He has appeared as a drag queen in 2 music videos: Freddie Mercury’s The Great Pretender and Queen I Want to Break Free .
2. He owns a very luxurious and classic collection of vehicles. One of his cars served as the inspiration for the Queen’s song I’m in Love with My Car .
3. While in London, he first studied dentistry in college, but switched to biology because he got bored of dentistry.
4. In 2003 he put his house up for sale for 6 million euros.
5. In 2001, Roger Taylor was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. At this point he was already a member of the band Queen.
6. His child Felix Taylor is an actor.
7. His first band, known as The Bubblingover Boys, formed when he was just 7 years old. He played the ukulele in the band.
8. The Reaction, a rock band that Roger joined at 15, was made up mostly of boys from Truro Cathedral School. They went on tour together. He met different people and even dated some of them.
9. He was his own teacher when it came to learning to tune drums. Keith Moon from The Who was his inspiration.
10. In 1999, Roger Taylor became the first non-Royal British person to appear on the Royal Mail Stamp.
11. Taylor co-produces Vigilante , the 6th album released by rock band Magnum in 1986.
12. When Queen’s band members split to pursue in 1986, Roger Taylor formed a new band to tour with. He placed an ad in the newspaper calling instrumentalists. In the band he was the lead singer and guitarist.
13. Roger Taylor has appeared 3 times on the American singing competition, American Idol .
14. Roger Tayor was executive producer on a film directed by Sasha Krane, Lonely (2013).
15. Visit his official website at www.rogertaylorofficial.com.
16. Follow Roger Taylor on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.