ROGER DALTREY, sole frontman for THE WHO, carved out a reputation with one of the brashest Rock bands of the seventies. Born Roger Harry Daltrey on March 1, 1944 in Shepherd's Bush the singer not only came into the good fortune of providing the mouthpiece for some of classic songs of the decade but would make a sizable impact in the film world, television and even Shakespearian theatre.

Daltrey's opening solo gambit, simply entitled 'Daltrey' and produced by Adam Faith, would be the first of THE WHO spin offs to reap any kind of commercial success. Naturally the album, issued by Polydor in his homeland and MCA in North America, charted in the UK, enhanced by the top five single hit 'Giving It All Away', but most importantly the album cracked the US top fifty too. Featured studio musicians would be ARGENT's guitarist RUSS BALLARD, ex-IF bassist Dave Wintour and ARGENT drummer Rob Henrit and COCHISE steel guitarist B.J. Cole.

Oddly, the singer's first outing would prove heavily reliant on two as yet then unknown songwriters, the mop topped Leo Sayer and writing partner Dave Courtney. This pairing would compose the bulk of the album material and, having made a name for himself courtesy of Daltrey, Sayer then re-used some of the songs for his 'Just A Boy' album giving 'One Man band' and 'Giving It All Away' a second airing in the UK singles charts.

THE WHO would enter into an extended hiatus upon completion of their 'By Numbers' album and Daltrey's next opus, June 1975's 'Ride a Rock Horse', saw a cementing of the creative union with RUSS BALLARD. The album came clad in a now famous sleeve depicting Daltrey as a chest beating centaur. On call in the studio would be Ballard, Wintour, former BAKERLOO and COLOSSEUM guitarist Dave Clempson and drummer Henry Spinetti. Taking a lighter approach than it's predecessor the record, which included a cover version of the Rufus Thomas R&B staple 'Walking The Dog', scored a higher US chart position, peaking at no. 28. Single wise, 'Come And Get Your Love', also performed well at radio. That same year the singer extended his creative reach into the world of film by portraying composer Franz Liszt in Ken Russell's 'Lisztomania' as well as the lead role in 'Tommy'. Unfortunately Russell's artwork for the accompanying 'Lisztomania' album portrayed Daltrey, who sang lead on four songs, just behind a suspiciously phallic object.

1977's 'One Of The Boys' would be regarded as Daltrey's first real pursuit of a stand alone career away from THE WHO. As such the roll call of participants would be extended to include such notables as ROD ARGENT, ERIC CLAPTON, JOHN ENTWISTLE, Hank Marvin of THE SHADOWS, ALVIN LEE, MICK RONSON, WINGS guitarist Jimmy McCulloch and Andy Fairweather-Low. On the songwriting front PAUL McCARTNEY donated the new composition 'Giddy', COLIN BLUNSTONE 'Single Man's Dilemma' and STEVE GIBBONS the title track. Daltrey also closed out with a rendition of MURRAY HEAD's 'Say It Ain't So, Joe'. Although the single 'Avenging Annie' was regarded as one of his better solo efforts the album, despite its pressworthy contingent of helpers, only scraped to no. 46 in the USA album charts.

1980's 'McVicar', a movie in which Daltrey both starred and vocalised the soundtrack, would give him his biggest international solo success. Without doubt the record sounded more akin to his body of work with THE WHO than anything previous and notably the triumvirate of PETE TOWNSHEND, JOHN ENTWISTLE and drummer Kenney Jones were all in attendance. RUSS BALLARD supplied songs and guitar work too and THE WHO's live musician John 'Rabbit' Bundrick the keyboards.

Daltrey took a more contemporary stance for 1984's Pop Rock 'Parting Should Be Painless', employing both ROXY MUSIC's BRYAN FERRY and THE EURYTHMICS duo of Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart as songwriters. Sessioneers assembled would see CHRIS SPEDDING on guitar, Norman Watt Roy on bass, Mickey Gallagher on keyboards with Alan Schwartzberg on the drums. Interestingly, an upbeat cover of the SPENCER DAVIS GROUP classic 'Gimme Some Lovin'' was left off the album, only surfacing as a single B side. The record failed to make the US top 100.

Daltrey injected a good degree of Rock credibility back into his work with 1985's 'Under A Raging Moon', dedicated to the late Keith Moon. The title track was a co-write with JOHN PARR whilst single 'Let Me Down Easy' would be provided by BRYAN ADAMS and his writing partner Jim Vallance. Even PETE TOWNSHEND got in on the action, donating album opener 'After The Fire'. 'Under A Raging Moon' would be crafted by guitarist Robbie McIntosh, bassists John Siegler and Tony Butler with Tim Hinckley of JODY GRIND and BOXER on the keyboards. An all star drum session would be delivered by BIG COUNTRY's Mark Brzezicki, COZY POWELL, QUEEN's ROGER TAYLOR, Zak Starkey and Stewart Copeland of THE POLICE. In support of this record Daltrey conducted his first solo tour of America. A renewed fervour to reform THE WHO was instigated that same year as the three original members re-united for Bob Geldof's 'Live Aid' concerts.

Unfortunately for his fans, Daltrey took a left field turn for 1987's 'Can't Wait To See The Movie'. Produced by former BABE RUTH man Alan Shacklock the record concentrated on balladry. Once more Clem Clempson and RUSS BALLARD sessioned but it would be Daltrey's first to not register on the US Billboard charts. During 1989 Daltrey guested on comrade PETE TOWNSHEND's 'Iron Man' album, featuring on the tracks 'Dig' and 'Fire'.

The much harder edged 'Rocks In The Head' arrived in the Summer of 1992. For this effort Daltrey found a new foil in guitarist Gerard McMahon, who not only played on the album but wrote much of the material. In somewhat of a diversion Daltrey also guested on an album by Irish folk veterans THE CHIEFTANS. The Summer of 1998 found him as special guest artist on the roving 'British Rock Symphony' tour.

At the age of 60, ROGER DALTREY was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to music, the entertainment industry and charity. The honour was bestowed upon him by Queen Elizabeth II at a ceremony held in Buckingham Palace in February 2005. In September Daltrey revealed he had donated vocals to a cover version of seminal Punk classic 'Ever Fallen In Love', originally by THE BUZZCOCKS, as a tribute to the late Radio 1 DJ John Peel. Other contributors included LED ZEPPELIN's ROBERT PLANT, PINK FLOYD's DAVID GILMOUR, NEW ORDER's Peter Hook and JEFF BECK. Proceeds from the single went to Amnesty International.