Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury as a child (http://www.cracked.com/funny-1666-freddie-mercury/ ())

Freddie Mercury. This legend in the history of rock and roll was born in the town Stone Town in Zanzibar. Born with the name of Farrokh Bulsara, Freddie Mercury spent the bulk of his childhood learning how to play the piano. When Farrokh was eight, he went to study St. Peter's School, a British-style boarding school for boys in Panchgani near Bombay (now Mumbai), India. One of his influences was Bollywood singer Lata Mangeshkar. A friend of Freddie once said that he had a "an uncanny ability to listen to the radio and replay what he heard on piano".

Freddie Mercury posing for the camera (http://www.cracked.com/funny-1666-freddie-mercury/ ())

When Freddie was seventeen, he was forced to move with his family away from Zanzibar because of the 1964 Zanzibar Revolution. He and his family moved into small house in Feltham, Middlesex, England. After graduation, Mercury joined a series of bands and sold second-hand clothes in the Kensington Market in London. He also held a job at Heathrow Airport. In 1969 he joined the band Ibex, later renamed Wreckage. When this band failed to flourish, he joined a second band called Sour Milk Sea. However, by early 1970 this group had broken up as well.

While Freddie's voice spoke in a baritone (deep) range, his singing voice was in a tenor (high) range. Freddie Mercury wrote 10 of the 17 songs on Queen's Greatest Hits album: "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Seven Seas of Rhye", "Killer Queen", "Somebody to Love", "Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy", "We Are the Champions", "Bicycle Race", "Don't Stop Me Now", "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" and "Play the Game". Some of Mercury's styles were rockabilly, progressive rock, heavy metal, gospel and disco. He explained in a 1986 interview, "I hate doing the same thing again and again and again. I like to see what's happening now in music, film and theatre and incorporate all of those things." Freddie was known for his live performances. He would make the crowd amazed about how insane (in a good way) he was. He would be sold out wherever he was performing.

Mercury amazing the crowd (http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/countygrind/2012/09/freddie_mercury_queen_birthday_angry_birds.php ())

Sadly, this legend had to come to an end. After being known as one of the most memorable rock artists, Freddie Mercury died of AIDS at the young age of 45 on November 24th, 1991. He was a hero to many people across the world, inspiring people to start making music and to follow their dreams. I was even inspired to play an instrument and to try to become famous because of him. Even though he started in a small town, he made it, making me believe that anyone can be famous. Freddie once stated that even though he had all that he could dream of, he was still one of the loneliest people in the world. Rest in Peace, Freddie Mercury.