In surrendering his leadership of the band to Pete when the latter became the group’s songwriter, Roger became the mouthpiece for Pete’s lyrics and ideas. Roger’s earliest tastes in music ran to the blues and R&B which formed the setlist during their early years as the Detours, as well as Fifties rock’n’roll, which is reflected in his outstanding interpretations of such noted Who covers as ‘Summertime Blues’ and ‘Shakin’ All Over’. That same energy, coupled with his unwavering resolve, has sustained the group during periods of uncertainty ever since. In those days Roger, whose daytime job was in a sheet metal factory, even made the band’s guitars, and it was his energy and ambition that drove the group during their formative years. Roger first assembled the group that would become The Who in 1959 while at Acton County School, recruiting John Entwistle and subsequently agreeing to John’s proposal that Pete Townshend should join. The filmography of musical performances stand as the best evidence of Daltrey's brilliance as both a musician and a stage performer.If any one member of The Who can be said to be the group’s founding member it is singer Roger Daltrey, who was born in the West London suburb of Shepherd’s Bush on March 1, 1944. His energy and stage presence established The Who at the monumental Monterey Pop, Woodstock and Isle of Wight music festivals, and his instincts for production carved their path through the era of stadium rock. Though Townshend is noted as the songwriter and lead guitarist of The Who, Daltrey remains the genius who drives their performances.
The band continued to perform sporadically with different drummers and John Bundrick on keyboard, but returned to full force in the 1990s with the addition of Zak Starkey on drums. He pursued films more steadily after the death of drummer Moon, and turned to production with the drama McVicar (1980). He also established a stage and (somewhat offbeat) film career after starring in the movie of Tommy (1975). Daltrey released his first solo album in 1973, and followed that with a number of solo chart successes. Townshend wrote the first rock mini-opera for their second album, and after their first tour of America, the band presented the full-length rock opus Tommy, which shattered barriers and established The Who as a major artistic force in the world of music. They were first noted for deafening shows and for smashing their instruments in ferocious displays of auto-destructive art, but they went on to considerable chart success through original songs written by Townshend and the more humor-oriented Entwistle.
The band was remarkable for the synthesis of personalities: Townshend's art-school sensibilities Daltrey's down-to-earth interpretation and Entwistle's and Moon's skill as performers.
In 1965 they added drummer Keith Moon, and the fabulous line-up was complete. The unusual elements included Daltrey on vocals, John Entwistle on bass and Pete Townshend on lead guitar.
After leaving London's Acton County Grammar School in 1963, he formed a skiffle band called The Detours, then displayed an early genius by putting together unusual elements into a world-class performance. Roger Daltrey is noted as a founder of the legendary rock band The Who.
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