Elton John

Guide Note

Elton John is a Grammy and Oscar-winning singer and pianist.

A piano prodigy, John was able to play music by ear at a very young age. At 11, he won a junior scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London, though he preferred to play Little Richard melodies over Bach.

After a short-lived stint with his friends in the band Bluesology, which backed Long John Baldry, Patti LaBelle and the Isley Brothers on various tours, John answered a songwriter ad in the New Musical Express magazine in 1967. His assignment: to write music to a set of lyrics penned by Bernie Taupin.

Despite an original intention to write music for other artists to cover, John and Taupin eventually started recording music with John singing. After being partnered with producer Gus Dudgeon and orchestrator Paul Buckmaster, John released his self-titled second album in 1970, featuring the hit ballad "Your Song."

Following a historic performance at The Troubadour in Los Angeles, John's career took off with seven consecutive #1 albums, and a string of hit singles, including "Tiny Dancer," "Rocket Man," "Daniel," "Philadelphia Freedom," "Crocodile Rock" and "Bennie and the Jets," the latter of which came from the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album, considered by many critics to be one of his finest.

In the 80s, John's career declined in popularity, despite a continuing run of Top 40 singles. After witnessing the plight of AIDS activist Ryan White, John admitted himself to a Chicago hospital to combat his drug abuse, bulimia and alcoholism. John himself later became an activist, establishing the Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1992.

In the 90s, John's career hit an upswing, starting with the single "Can You Feel The Love Tonight," which won him a "Best Original Song" Oscar in 1995. Two years later, John recorded "Candle In The Wind 1997," which was a re-written hit for Princess Diana following her death. The single went on to becoming the fastest- and biggest-selling single upon its release.

With his music being sampled in songs of all genres, like 2Pac's "Ghetto Gospel," and being featured in films like Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous, John has enjoyed a renaissance as of late, recording critically acclaimed albums like Songs From The West Coast and The Captain and the Kid in the 2000s. He continues to write music with Taupin, and he performs many of their biggest hits at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas for his "Red Piano" show.

John admitted to being bisexual in a 1976 interview with Rolling Stone magazine. Despite a four-year marriage to recording engineer Renate Blauel, John would later come out as being gay instead.

On December 21, 2005, John and longtime partner David Furnish officially entered a civil partnership in London.

Fast Facts

1. Birth Name: Reginald Kenneth Dwight
2. Legal Name: Elton Hercules John
3. Born: March 25, 1947
4. Birthplace: Pinner, London
5. Writes music with lyricist Bernie Taupin
6. The name "Elton John" is an homage to Bluesology saxophonist Elton Dean and Long John Baldry
7. Record Label: Universal
8. Has had a Top 40 hit every year from 1970-1999
9. Won 5 Grammys
10. Won 1995 Oscar for "Best Original Song"
11. Written music for 4 musicals
12. "Candle in the Wind 1997" is the best-selling single of all time