Bohemian Rhapsody producer Roy Thomas Baker dies aged 78

Roy Thomas Baker – the prolific producer who worked on five Queen albums and co-produced Bohemian Rhapsody – has died aged 78.

Baker's publicist told outlets including Ultimate Classic Rock that Baker passed away at his home in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. "The cause of death has not been established," the producer's rep added.

Born and raised in London, Baker worked on each of Queen's first four albums – 1973's Queen, 1974's Queen II, 1974's Sheer Heart Attack and 1975's A Night at the Opera – plus their seventh, 1978's Jazz.

A Night At the Opera is home to the band's epic signature song Bohemian Rhapsody, the UK's third best-selling single of all time.

Bohemian Rhapsody spent nine consecutive weeks at Number 1 in 1975, then returned to the top of the Official Singles Chart in 1991 following the death of the band's frontman Freddie Mercury. On that occasion, it was a double A-side release with These Are the Days of Our Lives.

READ MORE: Christmas Number 1 Flashback: Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody

Queen's 1981 compilation album Greatest Hits – the UK's best-selling album of all time – includes seven songs co-produced by Baker, including Killer Queen and Don't Stop Me Now.

In a tribute to Baker posted on Instagram, the band's guitarist Brian May wrote: "Very sad to hear of the passing of Roy Thomas Baker. Roy played a huge part in the production of so much Queen music in the early days."

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Sir Brian May (@brianmayforreal)

Baker's extensive production credits also included the first four albums by US new wave band The Cars, Dusty Springfield's 1978 album It Begins Again and T'Pau's 1987 debut Bridge of Spies, which reached Number 1 in the UK. He also produced albums by Journey, Ozzy Osbourne, Cheap Trick, Devo and Foreigner.

In 2005, he produced The Darkness's second studio album, One Way Ticket to Hell... and Back. Before he broke through as a producer in the early 1970s, he helped to engineer records by The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, The Who, and many more. 

He is survived by family including his wife, Tere Livrano Baker, and his brother, Alan Baker.

Our thoughts are with Roy's family, friends and fans at this time.

Article images: Getty.