Farrokh “Freddie” Mercury

 Farrokh “Freddie” Mercury (September 5, 1946 – November 24, 1991) was a British singer, songwriter, and record producer, best known as the iconic lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. Celebrated for his flamboyant stage presence and astonishing four-octave vocal range, Mercury wrote many of Queen’s biggest hits, including Bohemian Rhapsody, Killer Queen, Somebody to Love, Don’t Stop Me Now, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, and We Are the Champions. Alongside his work with Queen, he pursued a solo career and occasionally worked as a producer or guest musician for other artists.

Born of Parsi descent in the Sultanate of Zanzibar, Mercury grew up in Zanzibar and India before moving with his family to Middlesex, England, during his teens. In 1970, he co-founded Queen with guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor. Though his speaking voice was naturally baritone, he sang most songs in the tenor range, with a known vocal span from F2 to F6, capable of belting up to F5. Roger Daltrey of The Who described Mercury as “the best virtuoso rock ’n’ roll singer of all time,” praising his ability to shift styles effortlessly and brilliantly.

Mercury’s live performances were legendary, often played to stadiums around the world, marked by his theatrical style and crowd interaction. Over his career, he performed approximately 700 concerts with Queen worldwide. Mercury died in 1991 at the age of 45 from complications related to AIDS, confirming the day before his death that he had contracted the disease.