Joseph Merrick worked as a music producer in the 20th century .
Joseph Carey Merrick -LRB- 5 August 1862 -- 11 April 1890 ; often incorrectly called John Merrick -RRB- was an English man with very severe deformities who was first exhibited at a freak show as the `` Elephant Man `` , and then went to live at the London Hospital after he met Frederick Treves , so becoming well known in London society .