Entwistle soon joined the group and was followed by Townshend and, eventually, larger-than-life drummer Keith Moon. Not only did he sing and play the guitar with them, but he also made his own instrument, a cherry-red Stratocaster copy, and pretty much managed the band’s affairs – useful practice for later years. A model pupil and a brainy child, he became something of a rebel once rock’n’roll reared its persuasive head.ĭaltrey’s first band was the skiffle outfit The Detours. Roger Harry Daltrey was born in East Acton, London, in 1944 and attended the local grammar school along with future bandmates Pete Townshend and John Entwistle. As if to square the circle, that album was also recorded in East Sussex, in a modest studio, in the space of one week. This critically acclaimed album found both veterans in outstanding form.

In 2014, Daltrey collaborated with the legendary Wilko Johnson on the vintage rhythm’n’blues album Going Back Home for the reactivated Chess Records. Most recently, Daltrey and Townshend received the UCLA Student Alumni Association annual George And Ira Gershwin Award for Lifetime Musical Achievement.

Germany’s prestigious Steiger Award followed, as did a Roll Of Honour Award from Classic Rock magazine in 2011. He was also tickled to accept the James Joyce Award from the Literary And Historical Society Of University College Dublin in 2009. In addition to these accolades, he has been honoured by Time magazine and, along with Who guitarist Pete Townshend, been acknowledged by the Kennedy Centre Honours.

In America, Daltrey, with The Who, received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001 and was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. Richly deserved as that was, he is also equally proud of his honorary degree from Middlesex University. In 2004, he was appointed a Commander Of The Order Of The British Empire for his services to music, the entertainment industry and charity. Given his own political views and working-class background, he is far removed from the flash lifestyle of some of his contemporaries. They’ve kept fans on tenterhooks since reviving Quadrophenia in 1996 but always re-emerge stronger in spirit than ever.Īn ardent supporter of Teenage Cancer Trust and Teen Cancer America, which he was instrumental in inaugurating in 2000, Daltrey is an also a committed contributor to a variety of other charity organisations: The Prince’s Trust, Neil Young’s Bridge School Benefit, PETA, Childline and many more fund-raising causes that concentrate on the welfare of sick and needy youngsters.ĭespite the reputation that rock’n’rollers have for being crazy party animals, Daltrey is an advocate of clean living. Thereafter, he gave us great music on a regular basis before The Who’s renaissance took him back into the fold after partial reunions. (Given Daltrey’s acting credentials, it’s also worth seeking out his contributions to the excellent soundtracks Lisztomania, McVicar, Mack The Knife and the all-star British Rock Symphony, among others.)ĭaltrey was still in The Who when he embarked on his own thing, in 1973, with the eponymous Daltrey, recorded in his studio barn in Burwash, East Sussex. Here we’ll concentrate on Daltrey’s fine solo work, including eight studio projects, several compilations and a classic live album: A Celebration: The Music Of Pete Townshend And The Who, recorded at New York’s Carnegie Hall in 1994.

His career with that classic English rock group is, however, for another time and place. Many would concur that he is, was and always has been one of the greatest in his field. As lead singer with The Who, the über-rock vocalist and performer Roger Daltrey should need no introduction.

Roger daltrey wilko johnson awards