Elton John Biography (1946–)

Elton John was born in mediocrity and since has risen to an unpredictable and eternal level of pop-rock music fame.

Elton John - History

The Elton John we know was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight March 25, 1947, in London, England. Elton John’s parents were music lovers, exposing Elton John to the contemporary artists of the day such as Elvis Presley and Bill Haley and His Comets. Soon, Elton John emerged as a piano prodigy, picking up the instrument at the tender age of three. At age 11, Elton John received a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music.

When Elton John was 15 his parents helped him get into the weekend pianist slot at a local pub. Soon, Elton John formed a band called “Bluesology,” a group that was backing soul and R&B musicians such as The Isley Brothers and Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles in the mid ‘60s. By the ‘70s, Elton John had released an album with fair reviews and formed another band called the Elton John Band. The Elton John Band soon released Honky Chateau which became Elton John’s first #1 album. After a series of successful albums, Elton John decided to take break before breaking out solo.

After failing a few vocal auditions around town Elton John answered an ad in the New Musical Express posted by Ray Williams – the A&R manager for Liberty Records. Williams sent Elton John lyrics written by Bernie Taupin, who had responded to the same ad. Elton John wrote music for those lyrics and sent them directly to Bernie Taupin; this collaboration would mark a lucrative music partnership that continues even to this day.

Elton John - Struggles & A Comeback

During his brief hiatus in the 1970s Elton John decided to retire from performing, while Elton John’s longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin collaborated with other artists. During this stint, Elton John became a recluse, holing himself up in one of his three mansions, and occasionally attending a football game to root on Watford, his lifelong favorite team. During this time, Elton John’s music production began to decline as he was only producing about one album a year.

Elton John also struggled with his growing addiction to drugs and alcohol.
After a series of upsets like flopped singles, throat surgeries, and unwanted media attention over his lifestyle choices, Elton John released a number of highly rated albums, which boosted his career and solidified Elton John’s reputation as an international superstar. Elton John also opened the Elton John AIDS Foundation, raising funds for the direct care of the virus and for AIDS prevention education as well.

Elton John - The Lion King

In 1994, Elton John teamed with Tim Rice to write five original songs for the animated Disney movie The Lion King, including “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” which ended up winning the Academy Award for “Best Original Song.” Elton John also picked up the Grammy for “Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.” Elton John’s efforts helped the album stay at the top of the Billboard Charts for nine weeks and in November 1999 the RIAA announced that the album was certified as a diamond record, selling over 15 million copies. In 1994, Elton John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Elton John - Current News

For Elton John, the 2000s boasted numerous concert collaboration projects and great strides in Elton John’s personal life. Elton John collaborated with Tim Rice again on the animated Dreamworks film The Road to El Dorado. Although in 2001 Elton John announced his final studio album would be Songs From the West Coast, in 2004 Elton John released a new album called Peachtree. Over the years, Elton John collaborated with many contemporary artists such as Eminem, Timbaland, and fellow ‘piano man’ Billy Joel.

In 2003, Elton John signed an exclusive three-year, 75-show deal with Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Elton John’s Las Vegas show “The Red Piano” once alternated with another international pop icon, Celine Dion, and now leap frogs with Bette Midler and Cher. Elton John tickets for The Red Piano invites Elton John fans inside Caesars Palace Colosseum to marvel at huge stage props and video montages created by Dave LaChapelle. Dave La Chapelle has also worked with artists such as Celine Dion, Marilyn Manson and Jennifer Lopez. 

Elton John - Greatest Hits

As one of the top-selling solo artists of all time, Elton John has sold more than 250 million records worldwide, charted 29 consecutive Top 40 Hits, and earned 35 gold and 25 platinum albums. Elton John is releasing a new compilation of his greatest hits entitled Rocket Man: The Definitive Hits. This Elton John greatest hits CD features a compilation of his biggest studio and live tracks plus five videos. However, some consider Elton John’s entire discography his greatest hits.

• 1970 – “Border Song” from the Elton John album
• 1970 – “Your Song” from the Elton John album
• 1972 – “Tiny Dancer” from the Madman Across the Water album
• 1972 – “Rocket Man” from the Honky Chateau album
• 1972 – “Crocodile Rock” from the Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player album
• 1973 – “Daniel” from the Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player album
• 1973 – “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” from the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album
• 1973 – “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” from the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album
• 1974 – “Candle in the Wind” from the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album
• 1974 – “Bennie and the Jets” from the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album
• 1974 – “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” from the Caribou album
• 1974 – “The Bitch is Back” from the Caribou album
• 1975 – “Philadelphia Freedom”
• 1975 – “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” from the Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy album
• 1976 – “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” featuring Kiki Dee
• 1976 – “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word” from the Blue Moves album
• 1980 – “Little Jeannie” from the 21 at 33 album
• 1981 – “Loving You is Sweeter than Ever” featuring Kiki Dee
• 1982 – “Blue Eyes” from the Jump Up! Album
• 1983 – “I Guess That’s Why They Call it the Blues” from the Too Low for Zero album
• 1983 – “I’m Still Standing” from the Too Low for Zero album
• 1984 – “Sad Songs (Say So Much)” from the Breaking Hearts album
• 1985 – “Nikita” from the Ice on Fire album
• 1989 – “Sacrifice” from the Sleeping with the Past album
• 1993 – “True Love” featuring Kiki Dee from the Duets album
• 1994 – “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King soundtrack
• 1994 – “Circle of Life” from The Lion King soundtrack
• 1997 – “Something About the Way You Look Tonight” from The Big Picture album
• 1999 – “Written in the Stars” from Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida album
• 2001 – “I Want Love” from the Songs from the West Coast album
• 2005 – “Electricity” from the Peachtree Roadalbum