Elton John Biography, Photos and Posters

Elton John

Biography

Born: March 25, 1947
City and Country of Origin: Pinner, Middlesex, England
Music Training: started playing piano at 4; won a scholarship at age 11 to the Royal Academy of Music where he studied for several years;
Awards: 2000 Grammy Best Musical Show Album, Elton John & Tim Rice's Aida; 1997 Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, "Candle In The Wind 1997;" 1994 Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, "Can You Feel The Love Tonight;" Best Instrumental Composition, Basque; 1986 Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal, "That's What Friends Are For;" 1992 inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame along with Bernie Taupin; 1994 inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; 1995 made Commander of the Order of the British Empire; 1998 knighted by Queen Elizabeth
Top Recordings: "Honky Cat," "Rocket Man," "Daniel," "Bennie and the Jets," "Someone Saved My Life Tonight," "Candle in the Wind," "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues," "I'm Still Standing," "Nikita"
Elton John Biography: Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, his parents divorced when he was still a baby and he was raised by his mother. He formed his first band Blueology in 1961 and turned pro in 1965 backing up American soul artists. In 1966 Blueology became Long John Baldry's backup band, but young Reginald was not satisfied. He tried out as lead vocalist for a few other bands and id some session work. It was as a result of one of these endeavors that he hooked up with a young unknown lyricist by the name of Bernie Taupin. It was around this time that he changed his name to Elton John. In 1968 they were hired by DJM to become staff songwriters. Here they turned out music for such vocalists as Lulu and Roger Cook. Elton also started recording his own songs. His first efforts went nowhere, but after he got some good reviews for a song called "Lady Samantha" he recorde his forst album Empty Sky in 1969. The effort got fair reviews, but still didn't sell. He hired Gus Dudgeon to produce his ssecond album simple called Elton John. This effort yielded his first hit single "Your Song." His first American concert took place in Los Angeles at the Troubadour. During the early 70s, when he racked up a succession of 7 number 1 hit albums, he became known for his outrageous costumes and wide brimmed glasses that he wore during his performances.

In 1973 Elton formed his own record label Rocket Records. He released Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player which included the hits "Crocodile Rock" and "Daniel." He followed with the double LP Goodbye Yellow Brick Road which received critical acclaim. The album contained the number 1 hit "Bennie and the Jets" as well as the ever popular "Candle in the Wind" which would go on to become the most popular selling single of all time. In 1974 he collaborated with former Beatle John Lennon to produce "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" and Lennon's "One Day at a Time." He also took part in a joint concert at Madison Square Garden with John Lennon that same year. The concert would prove to be Lennon's last public appearance. That same year he became director of the Watford Football Club, a professional soccer team, and released the albums Caribou and Elton John's Greatest Hits both of which hit number 1 on the charts.

1975's Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, an Elton John and Bernie Taupin collaboration, included "Someone Saved My Life Tonight," an autobiographical sketch of the artist's early days in the music business and his unhappiness and depression over among other things is sexual identity and an attempted suicide. To mark his 5 succcessive years of success Elton did a 2 night 4 show stand at the Troubadour. In 1976 his career suffered a major setback when he admitted in a Rolling Stone ineterview that he was bisexual. After another somewhat disappointing effort with the LP Blue Moves Elton drastically cut his live performance schedule and recorded only 1 album per year.

Elton kicked off the 80s with a huge free concert on The Great Lawn in New York's Central Park in 1980. In 1982 he would mourn the loss of his friend John Lennon with "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" from his "Jump Up" (1982) album. He also returned to the charts with "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues," "I'm Still Standing," "Nikita" and a live recording of "Candle in the Wind," a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, recorded at a concert with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. In 1991 he won a Grammy for Basque. In a tribute to the late Freddie Mercury, John performed "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "The Show Must Go On" with Queen in a concert at Wembly Stadium in London in 1992. In 1997, Taupin altered the lyrics to for a tribute to "Candle in the Wind," for the service mourning the death of Princess Diana which John performed at Westminster Abbey. The recording became the fastest selling single of all time selling over 30 million copies. The 55 million pounds in proceeds went to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund.

John continues to record and perform. His face-to-face concerts with fellow piano man Billy Joel have become a fan favorite.

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