Roy Thomas Baker

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Lore & Background

After co-founding Neptune (Trident's record company), Baker met the rock band Queen. This began a relationship lasting for five albums: Queen, Queen II, Sheer Heart Attack, A Night at the Opera, and Jazz. The collaboration earned a number of awards including 21 Grammy Awards and several Guinness World Records for the hit song 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. Baker's production on these albums helped define Queen's layered vocal harmonies and theatrical arrangements. After his success with Queen, Baker signed a multi-album production deal with CBS Music (Columbia Records, Sony Music, Epic Records, etc.) and moved to the U.S., setting up RTB Audio Visual Productions in New York City and Los Angeles. With the CBS deal, RTB produced Journey, Starcastle, Reggie Knighton (of the Grass Roots), Ian Hunter, and Ronnie Wood (the Rolling Stones). He also committed to produce four albums for the Cars after being prompted by Elektra Records to see them perform in a Boston school gymnasium; those albums were certified platinum and the Cars were nominated for a Grammy.

In Their Own Story

Baker was offered the post of senior vice president of A&R for Elektra as executive and/or producer with recording artists Lindsey Buckingham, Mötley Crüe, Joe Lynn Turner, Josie Cotton and Dokken, as well as continuing with Queen and the Cars. During his tenure, Elektra signed artists Metallica, Simply Red, Yello, Peter Schilling, the World, and 10,000 Maniacs. Baker also worked with Guns N' Roses, Alice Cooper, Foreigner, Pilot, Ozzy Osbourne, Devo, The Stranglers, Dusty Springfield, T'Pau, Local H, Cheap Trick, and Lewis Furey. In 2005, he produced One Way Ticket to Hell... and Back by the Darkness; the Smashing Pumpkins' 2007 album, Zeitgeist; the Storm's 2008 album When the Storm Meets the Ground; the Smashing Pumpkins' American Gothic; and One Karma's 2011 album Life Got in the Way. Baker produced Yes's 2014 album Heaven & Earth, 35 years after previously working with the band on sessions in Paris which did not lead to an album.

Reader's Guide

Baker produced five of Queen's first seven albums: Queen, Queen II, Sheer Heart Attack, A Night at the Opera, and Jazz. These albums earned 21 Grammy Awards and several Guinness World Records for 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. After Queen, he signed a multi-album deal with CBS Music and moved to the U.S., founding RTB Audio Visual Productions. He produced four albums for the Cars, all certified platinum, after seeing them perform in a Boston school gymnasium. Later, as senior vice president of A&R for Elektra, he worked with artists including Lindsey Buckingham, Mötley Crüe, and Dokken, and helped sign Metallica, Simply Red, and 10,000 Maniacs. His later production credits include the Darkness, Smashing Pumpkins, and Yes. Baker died in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, on 12 April 2025, at the age of 78.

Did You Know?

• Baker began his career at Decca Records at age 14.
• He produced five of Queen's first seven albums: Queen, Queen II, Sheer Heart Attack, A Night at the Opera, and Jazz.
• The hit song 'Bohemian Rhapsody' earned several Guinness World Records.
• Baker committed to produce four albums for the Cars after seeing them perform in a Boston school gymnasium.
• He produced Yes's 2014 album Heaven & Earth, 35 years after previously working with the band on sessions in Paris that did not lead to an album.