Daltrey, Roger (1944-…), was a founding member of The Who, a British rock group that became one of the most popular and influential bands in rock music history. The other founding members of The Who were guitarist Pete Townshend and bass player John Entwistle. Daltrey was the group’s lead singer, noted for his distinctive voice and his high-energy presence during live performances, twirling his microphone and strutting around the stage. Daltrey also has performed as a solo singer.
Roger Harry Daltrey was born on March 1, 1944, in London. While in school in the early 1960’s, Daltrey formed a rock band called the Detours that included Entwistle and Townshend. The Who was formed in 1964. The group’s hit songs include “My Generation” (1965), “Pinball Wizard” (1969), and “Won’t Get Fooled Again” (1971). The Who disbanded in 1982, but the group has reunited occasionally for concert appearances and tours. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
In addition to his music career, Daltrey has acted on television and in motion pictures. He starred as the Hungarian pianist and composer Franz Liszt in the fantasy biographical film Lisztomania (1975) and as a London gangster in the crime drama McVicar (1980). Daltrey’s other film appearances include a movie version of The Who’s rock opera Tommy (1975) and a compilation of interviews and live performances by The Who called The Kids Are Alright (1979). Daltrey also wrote the autobiography Thanks a Lot, Mr. Kibblewhite (2018).
