Freddie Mercury was a member of Queen.
Farrokh `` Freddie '' Mercury ( née Bulsara ; 5 September 1946 -- 24 November 1991 ) was a British singer , songwriter and record producer , known as the lead vocalist and co-principal songwriter of the rock band Queen . Mercury was born of Parsi descent in the Sultanate of Zanzibar and grew up there and in India until his mid-teens , before moving with his family to Middlesex , England -- ultimately forming the band Queen in 1970 with Brian May and Roger Taylor . As a member of Queen , he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 , the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003 , the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004 , and the band received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2002 .