No man is an island or, as Dino would say, everybody needs somebody sometimes. Think of the world's greatest duos. Laurel had Hardy. The Captain had Tennille. Laverne had Shirley. Batman has Robin and Captain Fantastic has Bernie Taupin.

Taupin was born today in England in 1950. Like many who appear in TIMH's hallowed pages, Taupin was not a great student but had one burning passion. He dropped out of school at 15 for a job as a printing apprentice to fuel his love of writing. He would soon leave and knock about the countryside, drinking and carousing. Fate, as fate often does, stepped in and shoved an ad in Taupin's face two years later. He responded to a record label's plea for musicians and writers and an irreversible course was set toward rock and roll immortality.

Through this ad Taupin met a singer/piano player named Reginald Dwight. Neither man was hired by the record company so they began working together. At first they concentrated on writing songs for other artists, Taupin primarily handled the lyrics while Dwight focused on the music. After two years of this they were ready to head out on their own and Dwight released his first album, "Empty Sky", in 1969.

By 1969 Dwight was going by his stage name, Elton John, and it wouldn't be a long, long time before their careers were launched into the stratosphere. Their follow up album, "Elton John", was released the following year and contained a little number called "Your Song". Released as a single, "Your Song" reached the top-10 in both the US and UK, while the album hit #4 on the American album chart. 

The Taupin/John juggernaut was tearing through the early and mid-70s, charting hit after hit and making history as well. In 1971 Taupin released his first solo album, "Taupin" . In 1975 Elton John had the first album in history to debut at #1 with "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy". Taupin and Elton would take a break from each other in the late 70s but have continued their partnership through today.

In addition to writing with Elton, Taupin released three solo albums and two albums with his band Farm Dogs. He has also written for Alice Cooper, Richie Sambora, Rick Derringer, Courtney Love, Heart, Starship, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rod Stewart and many more. Not sure if this guy sleeps, but he's also penned a musical, contributed lyrics to soundtracks, written poetry and performed spoken word, and found the energy to get married four times. 

Taupin was inducted into the Songwriter Hall of Fame in 1992. He was inexplicably snubbed by the Rock Hall when Elton was inducted in 1994, but Elton gave his award to Taupin.

First song Elton and Taupin wrote together: