Roy Thomas Baker, Legendary Producer Behind Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ has died aged 78. 

Roy Thomas Baker, the legendary music producer known for his groundbreaking work with Queen and other bands, including the Cars, Foreigner, and many more iconic bands, has passed away at the age of 78. His family has not shared a cause of death.

Roy Thomas Baker helped shape the sound of some of the biggest rock hits of the 1970s and ’80s, most famously producing Queen’s epic “Bohemian Rhapsody.” That song, from the band’s 1975 album *A Night at the Opera*, has gone on to become the most-streamed song from the 20th century and was named the greatest British single of all time by the Guinness Book of Records.

Queen drummer Roger Taylor remembered Baker fondly, saying, “He brought discipline, a bit of cynicism, and a real love for rich desserts. He was always determined to get things right, and he did.”

Born in Hampstead, London, Baker started his music career at Decca Studios, where he worked alongside legendary producers like Gus Dudgeon (Elton John) and Tony Visconti (David Bowie, T. Rex). Early on, he contributed to projects by major artists including the Rolling Stones, the Who, Dusty Springfield, Yes, and many others.

By 1971, he had moved up to chief engineer and worked on classic hits like “All Right Now” by Free and “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” by T. Rex. Soon after, he joined Trident Studios in London and began working closely with Queen.

His involvement grew over time — by their second album, Queen II, his signature layered sound became a hallmark of their music, especially with Brian May’s intricate guitar work. Their creative partnership peaked with *A Night at the Opera*, an ambitious and sonically rich album that helped launch Queen to international fame. Baker also produced their next album, *A Day at the Races*, before the band took over producing duties themselves.

After his success with Queen, Baker was tapped to produce for the Boston-based band the Cars. He helped craft their 1978 self-titled debut, featuring hits like “Just What I Needed” and “Best Friend’s Girl.” That album launched the Cars into the spotlight, and Baker continued working with them on several successful follow-ups.

Ric Ocasek, the late frontman of the Cars, once said Baker “taught me a lot about handling band dynamics. He had a real gift for harmony and room sound — spontaneous, classy, and upbeat.”

Eventually, Baker moved to the U.S. and produced albums for artists like Journey, Ian Hunter, and Ronnie Wood. He also worked as a producer and A&R rep for Elektra Records, helping guide the careers of artists like Lindsey Buckingham, Dokken, Mötley Crüe, and Joe Lynn Turner. He even played a role in signing big names like Metallica, Simply Red, and 10,000 Maniacs.

Over his long and storied career, Roy Thomas Baker also worked with Foreigner, Alice Cooper, Cheap Trick, Devo, Ozzy Osbourne, Guns N’ Roses, Smashing Pumpkins, and many more.

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

Roy was a constant supporter of the content from this site, and on many, many occasions, I found my content being re-tweeted by Roy. I often sent thanks to him for supporting the content. He is remembered fondly by Queen fans for the huge role he played with Queen.  Feel free to leave your comments below.