Elton John in sunglasses

Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE (born March 25, 1947) is a British rock music singer, songwriter, and pianist, who is one of the most successful solo artists in music history. He has recorded a long string of records and participated in a number of musical projects over a career that is approaching its fifth decade. His flamboyant fashion sense, on-stage showmanship, and public struggles with his private life have combined with his talent to make him a legend to his many fans around the world. Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Commanders Badge of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions, in order of seniority: Knight or Dame Grand Cross... March 25 is the 84th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (85th in leap years). ... 1947 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... LeAnn Rimes singing in concert For other senses of this word, see singer (disambiguation). ... A songwriter is someone who writes, in part or in full, the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... A pianist is a person who plays the piano. ...

John was the dominant commercial force in the rock world in the 1970s, as evidenced by seven consecutive #1 records on the U.S. album charts and 15 hit singles, including six #1's and three #2's. His piano-based sound has helped keep that instrument relevant in a guitar-oriented genre. He has maintained a strong public presence in the fight against AIDS, and has had renewed moments of commercial triumph, such as his defiant hit "I'm Still Standing" and his award-winning work on the immensely popular animated film The Lion King. This article provides extensive lists of events and significant personalities of the 1970s. ... The Red Ribbon is the global symbol for solidarity with HIV positive and people living with AIDS. The Red Ribbon was created by singer/songwriter Paul Jabara AIDS is an acronym for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and is defined as a collection of symptoms and infections... The Lion King is the 32nd film in the Disney animated feature canon, and the highest-grossing traditionally animated feature film ever released in the United States. ...

Early life and career

Elton writes Your Song in 20 minutes

Elton John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in Pinner, England, the son of Royal Air Force squadron leader, Stanley Dwight, and his wife, Sheila Dwight. Reginald was raised primarily by his mother, grandmother and aunt, and saw little of his father during his childhood. Stanley and Sheila divorced in 1962, when Reginald was 14. Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Alternative meanings: A pinner is someone whose trade is making pins. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population - Total (mid-2004) - Density Ranked 1st UK 50. ... The Royal Air Force (often abbreviated to RAF) is the air force branch of the UK Armed Forces. ... 1962 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Reginald began playing piano when he was four. Somewhat of a child prodigy, he was able to play on piano any melody he heard on radio or phonograph. At age 11, he won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music. He previously attended Pinner County Grammar School. He stayed at the Academy for six years, leaving before graduation to start a musical career. The Royal Academy of Music is a music school in London, England and one of the leading music institutions in the world. ...

In 1960, Reginald and some of his friends, while still in school, formed a band called the Corvettes, which evolved into Bluesology. By the mid-1960s, Bluesology was backing touring American soul and R&B musicians like the Isley Brothers, Major Lance, Doris Troy, and Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles. In 1966, two years after Reginald left school, the band became musician Long John Baldry's supporting band and began touring cabarets with him throughout England. When Baldry's control over the band greatly increased, Reginald left and started looking for other bands to join. After failing lead vocalist auditions for both King Crimson and Gentle Giant, Reginald answered an advertisement by Liberty Records. There he was given a stack of lyrics by lyricist Bernie Taupin. Reginald then wrote music for the lyrics, and got in touch with Bernie through the mail. Thus began a partnership that continues to this day. When they met six months later, Reginald had changed his name to Elton John, by deed poll, in homage to Bluesology saxophonist Elton Dean and Long John Baldry. In 1967 the first Elton John/Bernie Taupin song was recorded. This song was 'Scarecrow'. 1960 was a leap year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... The cover of the 2003 Isley Brothers album, Body Kiss. ... Doris Troy (January 6, 1937 - February 16, 2004) was an R&B singer, known to her many fans as Mama Soul. ... LaBelle was an American disco group, melding dance music with funk and glam rock, resulting in such memorable songs as Lady Marmalade. The group was led by Patti LaBelle, who later had a successful solo career. ... 1966 was a common year starting on Saturday (link goes to calendar) // Events January January 1 - In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa ousts president David Dacko and takes over the Central African Republic. ... Long John Baldry, (January 12, 1941 – July 21, 2005) was a pioneering British blues musician. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population - Total (mid-2004) - Density Ranked 1st UK 50. ... The cover of King Crimsons debut album In the Court of the Crimson King (1969). ... Gentle Giant was a British band considered to be one of the quintessential progressive rock bands of the 1970s. ... Liberty Records was an United States based record label. ... Bernie Taupin (born May 22, 1950) is a lyricist famous for his collaboration with Elton John. ... A deed poll is a legal and formal contract binding only to a single person. ... Elton Dean was a well-known saxaphone player from Great Britain. ... Long John Baldry, (January 12, 1941 – July 21, 2005) was a pioneering British blues musician. ... 1967 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Elton and Bernie, now working together, joined Dick James's DJM Records as staff songwriters in 1968, and over the next two years, wrote songs for pop singers like Roger Cook and Lulu, while also recording their own songs. In June 1969, Elton released his first album Empty Sky for DJM, without any success. DJM Records was the record label of Dick James. ... 1968 was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... Lulu on the cover of her 2002 album Together Lulu (real name Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie) is a Scottish singer and songwriter most known for the 1960s international hit record To Sir, With Love. She was born on November 3, 1948 in Glasgow, and shot to fame at the age... 1969 was a common year starting on Wednesday For other uses, see Number 1969. ...

1970s success

Elton John in concert, mid-70s.

Elton's self-titled second album was released in the summer of 1970, and started to sell well in the U.S., where it was released on the MCA's Uni subsidiary. "Your Song", a single from the album, helped the album greatly by reaching the Top Ten on the Billboard Hot 100, and it reached the Top Ten on the Billboard 200. Elton performed his first American concert at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, California, around that time, and got mostly positive reviews. Image File history File links Elton John in concert, mid 70s. ... Image File history File links Elton John in concert, mid 70s. ... Elton John is the self-titled second album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1970 (see 1970 in music). ... 1970 was a common year starting on Thursday. ... Note: This article should be Merged with Universal Music Group. ... Your Song is a song written by Elton John (music) and Bernie Taupin (lyrics) in 1967. ... The Billboard Hot 100 is the main U.S. singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. ... The Billboard 200 is a listing of the 200 highest selling music albums in the United States, published weekly in Billboard magazine. ... Elton John -- August 25, 1970 The Troubadour is a nightclub located in West Hollywood, California, at 9081 Santa Monica Boulevard just east of Doheny Drive and the border of Beverly Hills. ... This article is about the largest city in California. ... State nickname: The Golden State Other U.S. States Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) Official languages English Area 410,000 km² (3rd)  - Land 404,298 km²  - Water 20,047 km² (4. ...

Elton John was followed quickly with the concept album Tumbleweed Connection in February 1971. It reached the Top Ten on the Billboard 200 like its predecessor, and got heavy airplay on album-oriented radio stations in the U.S., which most likely played a part in its success. Tumbleweed Connection was followed by the live album 11-17-70, an ambitious and largely underrated album showcasing Elton's considerable talent as a rock pianist, with great interaction between Elton and bassist Dee Murray. Extended versions of his early compositions clearly illustrate the gospel and boogie-woogie influences on Elton's piano playing, as the lead instrument in a successful, yet unusual (for Rock) trio format. The live album was followed by the soundtrack to the obscure film Friends and the album Madman Across the Water, both that same year. Madman Across the Water reached the Top Ten, and produced the hit “Levon” while the soundtrack album produced the hit "Friends". In 1972, Elton released Honky Chateau, which became his first American number one album, spending five weeks at the top of the charts, and spawned the hit singles "Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long, Long Time)" and "Honky Cat". Tumbleweed Connection is the third album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1971 (see 1971 in music). ... February is the second month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1971 is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ... The Billboard 200 is a listing of the 200 highest selling music albums in the United States, published weekly in Billboard magazine. ... Tumbleweed Connection is the third album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1971 (see 1971 in music). ... 11-17-70 is a live album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1971 (see 1971 in music). ... Madman Across the Water is the fifth album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1971 (see 1971 in music). ... Madman Across the Water is the fifth album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1971 (see 1971 in music). ... 1972 was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ... Honky Château is the sixth album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1972 (see 1972 in music). ... Rocket Man (full title Rocket Man (I Think Its Going to Be a Long, Long Time)) is a song composed by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, and popularized by John. ... Honky Cat was a song from the 1972 Elton John album Honky Chateau. ...

In 1973, Elton started his own label, Rocket Records. That year, Elton released the pop album Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player which produced the hits "Crocodile Rock" and "Daniel", and the more thoughtful, album-oriented double LP Goodbye Yellow Brick Road which gained instant critical acclaim. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road topped the charts and is considered by many, including John himself, to be his best album. It contains the number 1 hit "Bennie and the Jets", along with the popular title song, "Candle in the Wind" (which went on to become the best selling song of all time), and the FM radio favourite "Saturday Night's Alright (for Fighting)." It also contained gems such as the track "Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" and "Grey Seal". 1973 was a common year starting on Monday. ... Rocket Records was founded by Elton John, with Bernie Taupin, Gus Dudgeon, and Steve Brown among others, in 1972. ... Dont Shoot Me Im Only the Piano Player is the seventh album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1973 (see 1973 in music). ... A double album is an audio album of sufficient length that two units of the medium in which it is sold (especially records and compact discs) are necessary to contain the entirety of it. ... Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is the eighth album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1973 (see 1973 in music). ...

Elton John mugging for the camera with friend John Lennon, mid-70s.

In 1974, Elton engaged in a noted collaboration with John Lennon, resulting in Elton covering The Beatles's "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", Elton being featured on Lennon's "Whatever Gets You Thru the Night", and a surprise joint concert performance of these two No. 1 hits along with the Beatles classic "I Saw Her Standing There". Elton got Lennon to perform these songs at Madison Square Garden in what would be his last public performance. The concert was recorded and released two years later with another live concert recording on the album Here & There. That year, he also became director of a professional soccer team, the Watford Football Club, and released the albums Caribou and Elton John's Greatest Hits, both #1 hits, like their predecessors. Caribou was widely considered a lesser quality album but demonstrated John's rocking ability with "The Bitch Is Back" and his versatility in orchestral songs with "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me". Also in 1974, Elton John was asked to play a character called the "Pinball Wizard" and perform a song of the same name by the British band the Who for their rock opera Tommy. Drawing on power chords, Elton's version was recorded and used for the movie release in 1975 and the single came out in 1976. The song charted #7 in England. Image File history File links Elton John image with John Lennon - promotional This is a copyrighted image that has been released by a company or organization to promote their work in the media. ... Image File history File links Elton John image with John Lennon - promotional This is a copyrighted image that has been released by a company or organization to promote their work in the media. ... John Lennon in the autumn of 1968 John Winston Lennon (a. ... 1974 is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... John Lennon in the autumn of 1968 John Winston Lennon (a. ... The Beatles (L-R, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, John Lennon), in 1964, performing on The Ed Sullivan Show promoting their first U.S. hit song, I Want To Hold Your Hand, and ushering in the British Invasion of American popular music. ... Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG has been the name of four arenas in New York City, United States. ... Watford Football Club is an English Football League team located in Watford, Hertfordshire. ... Caribou is the ninth album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1974 (see 1974 in music). ... Elton Johns Greatest Hits is an album containing some of Elton Johns greatest hits. ... Tommy (1969) is one of The Whos two full-scale rock operas, and the first musical work explicitly billed as a rock opera. ... In music, a power chord is an interval which serves the diatonic function of a major or minor chord. ...

Elton John's cryptic personality was revealed with the autobiographical album, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy.

Elton John sharing a laugh with Cher, mid-70s.

With the release of the 1975 autobiographical album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy Elton John revealed his previously ambiguous personality. In the album, Taupin and John describe their early days as struggling songwriters and musicians in London and its environs. The lyrics and accompanying photo booklet are infused with a specific sense of place and time that would otherwise be rare in John's music. "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" was the hit single from this album and captured an early turning point in John's life. His next album, the rock-oriented Rock of the Westies, entered the Billboard 200 chart at #1, a previously unattained feat. Cover for album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy by Elton John. ... Cover for album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy by Elton John. ... Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy is the ninth album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1975 (see 1975 in music). ... Image File history File links Elton John laughing it up with Cher, mid-70s. ... Cher on the cover of her album Living Proof Cher (born Cherilyn Sarkisian on May 20, 1946) is an American actress and singer of Armenian and Cherokee descent. ... 1975 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy is the ninth album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1975 (see 1975 in music). ... The clock tower of the Palace of Westminster, which contains Big Ben London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England. ... Rock of the Westies is the tenth album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1975 (see 1975 in music). ... The Billboard 200 is a listing of the 200 highest selling music albums in the United States, published weekly in Billboard magazine. ...

Elton, in a way, owes his success at that time to his concert performances. His flamboyant stage wardrobe that included ostrich feathers, $5,000 spectacles that spelled his name in lights, a Statue of Liberty costume and more, and his dressing up like Donald Duck or Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart among others at his concerts made them a success and created interest for his music. Binomial name Struthio camelus Linnaeus, 1758 The Ostrich (Struthio camelus, Greek sparrow camel) is the largest living bird, reaching a height of up to 2. ... Donald Duck Donald Duck is an animated cartoon and comic-book character best known for his cartoons from Walt Disney Studios. ... W. A. Mozart, 1790 portrait by Johann Georg Edlinger Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (January 27, 1756 – December 5, 1791) is among the most popular, significant and influential composers of European classical music. ...

Elton's career slowed down somewhat after 1976. That year he stated in a interview with Rolling Stone that he was bisexual. This revelation contributed to a drop in record sales the following years. The decline in his record sales was also probably due to his exhaustion. He cut his performance schedule after that year, and retired from live performances in 1977 and started recording only one album per year. 1976 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... Rolling Stone is an American magazine devoted to music and popular culture. ... 1977 was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1977 calendar). ...

Nevertheless, Elton John completely dominated the rock world in the 1970s, as evident by his seven consecutive albums that topped the US album charts: Honky Château (1972, #1 for five weeks), Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player (1973, #1 for two weeks), Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973, #1 for eight weeks), Caribou (1974, #1 for four weeks), Elton John's Greatest Hits (1974, #1 for ten weeks), Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975, #1 for seven weeks) and Rock of the Westies (1975, #1 for three weeks), and 15 hit singles, including six that went to #1 ("Crocodile Rock," "Bennie and the Jets," "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds," "Philadelphia Freedom," "Island Girl," "Don’t Go Breaking My Heart") and three that reached #2 ("Daniel," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," "Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me"), during that period. This article provides extensive lists of events and significant personalities of the 1970s. ... Honky Château is the sixth album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1972 (see 1972 in music). ... 1972 was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ... Dont Shoot Me Im Only the Piano Player is the seventh album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1973 (see 1973 in music). ... 1973 was a common year starting on Monday. ... Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is the eighth album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1973 (see 1973 in music). ... 1973 was a common year starting on Monday. ... Caribou is the ninth album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1974 (see 1974 in music). ... 1974 is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... Elton Johns Greatest Hits is an album containing some of Elton Johns greatest hits. ... 1974 is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy is the ninth album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1975 (see 1975 in music). ... 1975 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... Rock of the Westies is the tenth album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1975 (see 1975 in music). ... 1975 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ...

The cover of the Princess Diana tribute, Candle In The Wind.

Image File history File links Summary The cover of the single from 1997, the tribute to Princess Diana(Candle In The Wind). ... Image File history File links Summary The cover of the single from 1997, the tribute to Princess Diana(Candle In The Wind). ...

1980s onwards

On 13 September 1980 Elton John played a free concert to a huge audience on The Great Lawn in Central Park in New York City, within hearing distance of his friend John Lennon's apartment building. A few months later Lennon would be murdered; Elton would mourn the loss in his 1982 hit "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)". September 13 is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years). ... 1980 is a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... A wintry aerial view, looking south: ice on the frozen lakes, the Metropolitan Museum in the park at left, the East River and the Empire State Building in the distance Central Park (40°46′59″ N 73°58′20″ W) is a large urban public park (843 acres or 3. ... Midtown Manhattan, looking north from the Empire State Building, 2005 New York City (officially named the City of New York) is the most populous city in the United States, the most densely populated major city in North America, and is at the center of international finance, politics, entertainment, and culture. ... 1982 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Elton John's biggest 1980s hits included, among others, "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues", "I'm Still Standing", "Nikita" and a 1986 live recording of "Candle in the Wind" which he recorded with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. The song, which was a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, was originally recorded in 1973 on his Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album. // Events and trends The 1980s marked an abrupt shift towards more conservative lifestyles after the momentous cultural revolutions which took place in the 60s and 70s and the definition of the AIDS virus in 1981. ... 1986 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Candle in the Wind is a song with music by Elton John and lyrics by Bernie Taupin. ... The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra was founded by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1934 as one of its radio orchestras. ... Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962), was an American actress of the 20th century. ... Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is the eighth album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1973 (see 1973 in music). ...

The 1991 film documentary Two Rooms described the unusual writing style that John and Bernie Taupin use, which involves Taupin writing the lyrics on his own, and John then putting them to music, with the two never in the same room during the process. 1991 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 1991 John's "Basque" won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition. 1991 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media has been awarded since 1960. ...

In 1992 John performed "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "The Show Must Go On" with Queen at the Freddie Mercury Tribute concert, an AIDS charity event held at Wembley Stadium, London. 1992 was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... Bohemian Rhapsody is a song written by Freddie Mercury, originally recorded by his band Queen for their 1975 album A Night at the Opera. ... The Queen crest, designed by Freddie Mercury Queen is a British rock band which came to popularity during the mid-1970s, and have amassed an enormous worldwide fanbase that continues to exist to this day. ... Freddie Mercury - Live at Wembley 1986. ... New Wembley Stadium (2006) Old Wembley Stadium (1923-2000) England captain Bobby Moore with the Jules Rimet trophy. ... The clock tower of the Palace of Westminster, which contains Big Ben London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England. ...

Elton John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. He and Bernie Taupin had previously been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, showing Lake Erie in the background The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum and institution in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, dedicated, as the name suggests, to recording the history of some of the best-known and most influential... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... The Songwriters Hall of Fame is an arm of the National Academy of Popular Music. ... 1992 was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ...

In September 1997, Taupin altered the lyrics of "Candle in the Wind" for a special version mourning the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, and John performed it at her funeral in Westminster Abbey. A recorded version, "Candle in the Wind 1997", then became the fastest selling single of all time, eventually going on to sell over 30 million copies worldwide, with the proceeds going to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. John would later win the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for the single. 1997 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Diana, Princess of Wales (Diana Frances Mountbatten-Windsor, née Spencer) (1 July 1961–31 August 1997) was the first wife of HRH The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales. ... Westminster Abbeys western facade The Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster, which is almost always referred to as Westminster Abbey, is a mainly Gothic church, on the scale of a cathedral, in Westminster, London, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. ... Candle in the Wind is a song with music by Elton John and lyrics by Bernie Taupin. ... The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund was set up after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997. ... The Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance has been awarded since 1966. ...

Elton John was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II on 24 February 1998. A silver statue of an armoured knight, created as a trophy in 1850 For the chess piece, see knight (chess). ... Elizabeth II in an official portrait as Queen of Canada (on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002, wearing the Sovereigns badges of the Order of Canada and the Order of Military Merit) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary) (born 21 April 1926), styled HM The... February 24 is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ...

He continues to release new material to commercial success, and tours extensively, despite being fitted with a pacemaker in July 1999. His face-to-face tours with fellow pianist Billy Joel have been a fan favourite throughout the world since the mid-1990s. Elton also has a multi-year contract to perform at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. The show, entitled The Red Piano, is a multimedia concert featuring massive props and video montages created by David LaChappelle. This article is about a medical device which electrically stimulates the heart. ... Billy Joel was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. ... The main entrance. ... This article is about the city of Las Vegas in Nevada. ...

John's dueted with Eminem on the rapper's "Stan" at the Grammy Awards of 2001. This went a long way towards absolving Eminem of charges of homophobia and thus paving the way for Eminem's greater mainstream acceptance. Eminem Eminem (born, Marshall Bruce Mathers III on October 17, 1972 in Saint Joseph, Missouri, USA), one of todays most controversial and popular rappers. ... The 43rd Grammy Awards were held on February 21, 2001. ... The term homophobia is constructed from Greek όμοιος (homos), same and φόβος (fobos), fear. ...

He achieved yet another #1 single in the UK, being featured on 2Pac's posthumous song "Ghetto Gospel" in 2005, from the rapper's album, Loyal to the Game. The song sampled "Indian Sunset" from John's 1971 album, Madman Across the Water. Years after his death, Tupac Shakur is still considered one of the most influential hip hop artists of all time. ... Ghetto Gospel single cover Ghetto Gospel is a posthumous song by rapper Tupac Shakur, on his 2004 album Loyal to the Game. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Loyal to the Game is an album containing previously unreleased music recorded by Tupac Shakur before his death in 1996. ... 1971 is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ... Madman Across the Water is the fifth album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1971 (see 1971 in music). ...

On 2 July 2005, John performed at the Live 8 concert at Hyde Park in London. July 2 is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 182 days remaining. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The main Live 8 concert was held at Hyde Park, London, England on 2 July 2005, in front of over 200,000 people. ...

In July of 2005, Madame Tussauds made a 227 lb. statue of Elton John, to his measurements. It took more than 1,000 hours to complete. John is currently sandwiching a two-year world tour, reaching places he has never performed in before, with his regular appearances at Caesar's palace in Las Vegas. Madame Tussauds and the London Planetarium Madame Tussauds is a wax museum in London, with branches in Amsterdam, Hong Kong (Victoria Peak), Las Vegas and New York City. ...

Film work

The Pinball Wizard from Tommy (1975)

He has also done work both for and in films. In 1971, he wrote the soundtrack for the movie Friends.In 1972 he appeared in the Marc Bolan's musical film 'Born to Boogie' In 1975, he appeared as the Pinball Wizard in Ken Russell's over-the-top movie version of the rock opera Tommy. Image File history File links This is a screenshot of a copyrighted website, video game graphic, computer program graphic, television broadcast, or film. ... Image File history File links This is a screenshot of a copyrighted website, video game graphic, computer program graphic, television broadcast, or film. ... Tommy was a 1975 film version of the rock opera written by The Who. ... 1971 is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ... 1975 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Tommy (1969) is one of The Whos two full-scale rock operas, and the first musical work explicitly billed as a rock opera. ...

In 1994, along with Tim Rice, he wrote the songs for the Disney animated film The Lion King. (Rice was reportedly stunned by the rapidity with which John was able to set his words to music.) The Lion King went on to become the best-grossing traditionally-animated feature of all time, with the songs playing a key part. Three of the five songs nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song that year were John and Rice songs from The Lion King, with "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" winning. In versions sung by John, both that and "Circle of Life" became big hits, while the other songs such as "Hakuna Matata" achieved popularity with all ages as well. "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" would also win John the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... Sir Tim Rice (born November 10, 1944, in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England, and educated at St Albans School and Lancing College) is a lyricist for musical theater, a radio presenter, television gameshow panelist and an author. ... The Walt Disney Company (most commonly known as Disney) (NYSE: DIS) is one of the largest media and entertainment corporations in the world. ... The Lion King is the 32nd film in the Disney animated feature canon, and the highest-grossing traditionally animated feature film ever released in the United States. ... Academy Award for Best Song // 1930s 1934 - The Continental from The Gay Divorcee 1935 Lullaby of Broadway from Gold Diggers of 1935 1936 The Way You Look Tonight from Swing Time 1937 Sweet Leilani from Waikiki Wedding 1938 - Thanks for the Memory from The Big Broadcast of 1938 1939 Over... The Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance has been awarded since 1966. ...

Five years later, John wrote the score for The Muse, and a year later composed songs for another animated film, DreamWorks' The Road to El Dorado. In 2001, his 1970s hit, "Tiny Dancer" was featured on the Almost Famous soundtrack, and his most recent movie song was "The Heart of Every Girl" (the end title song from 2003's Mona Lisa Smile). DreamWorks logo DreamWorks, L.L.C., doing business as DreamWorks SKG, is a Big Ten studio in the United States of America which develops, produces, and distributes films, video games, and television programming. ... The Road to El Dorado is an animated film by DreamWorks SKG released in 2000. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... This article provides extensive lists of events and significant personalities of the 1970s. ... Almost Famous is also the name of R&B singer Lumidees album. ... 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Mona Lisa Smile is a 2003 film that was produced by Revolution Studios and Columbia Pictures, directed by Mike Newell and written by Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal. ...

Musicals

In addition to a 1998 adaptation of The Lion King for Broadway, John has also composed music for a Disney production of Aida (2000) with lyricist Tim Rice, for which they received the Tony Award for Best Original Score and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... Broadway theatre is often considered the highest professional form of theatre in the United States. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... The Tony Award for Best Original Score is the Tony Award given to the composers and lyricists of the best original score written for a musical in that year. ... The Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album has been awarded since 1959. ...

John also composed music for a West End production of Billy Elliot (2005) with Lee Hall, and The Vampire Lestat with Bernie Taupin, based on the Anne Rice vampire novels. // West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre in London, or sometimes more specifically for shows staged in the large theatres of Londons Theatreland . Along with New Yorks Broadway Theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of theatre in the... Movie poster for Billy Elliot Billy Elliot is a 2000 movie written by Lee Hall and directed by Stephen Daldry. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Lee Hall (born 1966 Newcastle upon Tyne) is a British playwright often associated with the movement referred to as in-yer-face theatre. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Anne Rice signing books at Olssons on 19th Street, N.W. in the District of Columbia circa 1990. ...

Personal life

John has had a complicated personal history. Coming out first as bisexual in 1976, he married (1984) and quickly divorced (1988) Renate Blauel. He subsequently stated that he was gay and has lived with his partner David Furnish for a number of years. He plans to marry Furnish after the British civil partnership law comes into effect in December 2005. He has occasionally battled addictions to cocaine and financial difficulties caused by his profligate spending. Bisexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by aesthetic attraction, romantic love and sexual desire for both males and females. ... 1976 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1984 is a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1988 is a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Renate Blauel is a German music engineer who was married to Elton John. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... David Furnish (born October 26, 1962 in Canada) is Elton Johns life partner. ... A civil union is one of several terms for a civil status similar to marriage, typically created for the purposes of allowing homosexual couples access to the benefits enjoyed by married heterosexuals (see also same-sex marriage); it can also be used by couples of differing sexes who do not... Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. ...

John cuddles with partner David Furnish

In 1976 Elton John became involved in Watford Football Club and fulfilled a childhood dream by becoming chairman and director. He resigned in 2002 when the club needed a full-time chairman. He remains lifelong president. Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... David Furnish (born October 26, 1962 in Canada) is Elton Johns life partner. ... 1976 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... Watford Football Club is an English Football League team located in Watford, Hertfordshire. ... 2002 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

John has long been associated with AIDS charities after the death of his friends Ryan White and Freddie Mercury, raising large amounts of money and using his public profile to raise awareness of the disease. For example, in 1986 he joined with Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder to record the single "That's What Friends Are For", with all profits being donated to the American Foundation for AIDS Research. The song won Elton and the others the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (as well as Song of the Year for its writers, Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager). The Red Ribbon is the global symbol for solidarity with HIV positive and people living with AIDS. The Red Ribbon was created by singer/songwriter Paul Jabara AIDS is an acronym for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and is defined as a collection of symptoms and infections... Ryan White (December 6, 1971 - April 8, 1990) was a teenager from Kokomo, Indiana, USA, in the 1980s, who drew national and, eventually, worldwide attention due to his infection with HIV. It has been speculated that the reason White got so much attention was that he was a heterosexual white... Freddie Mercury - Live at Wembley 1986. ... 1986 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Dionne Warwick on the cover of her Christmas album My Favorite Time of the Year Dionne Warwick (born December 12, 1940 as Marie Dionne Warrick) is an American singer best known for her work with Hal David and Burt Bacharach as songwriters. ... Gladys Knight & the Pips circa 1970. ... Stevie Wonder is a legend in rock and pop music history. ... Thats What Friends Are For is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager as the theme for the 1982 movie Night Shift. ... The Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal has been awarded since 1966. ... The Song of the Year is one of the two most prestigious awards in the Grammies, if not in all of the music industry. ... Burt Bacharach (born May 12, 1928 in Kansas City, Missouri) is a Jewish-American pianist and composer. ... Carole Bayer Sager (born March 8, American lyricist, songwriter and singer best_known for writing the lyrics to many popular songs performed on Broadway and in Hollywood films. ...

John founded the Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1992 as a charity to fund programmes for HIV/AIDS prevention, for the elimination of prejudice and discrimination against HIV/AIDS-affected individuals, and for providing services to people living with or at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS.

Aside from his main home in Windsor, England, John splits his time in his various residences in Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Nice, France; London, England; and Venice, Italy.

He is a noted art collector, and is believed to have one of the largest private photography collections in the world.

Musical style and voice

In the 1970s, Elton John's sound was immediately set apart from others by being piano-based in a rock world dominated by guitars. Another early characteristic was a set of dynamic string arrangements by Paul Buckmaster. Coupled with Taupin's often opaque but emotionally resonant lyrics, the results were unique for their time. Songs in this style included "Sixty Years On", "Burn Down the Mission", "Take Me to the Pilot", "Levon", "Madman Across the Water", and the best-known of these, "Tiny Dancer". This article provides extensive lists of events and significant personalities of the 1970s. ... A string inyustrument (also stringed instrument) is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. ... In popular music an arrangement is a setting of a piece of music, which may have been composed by the arranger or by someone else. ... Paul Buckmaster is an artist, arranger, and composer. ...

"Your Song", one of his earliest and most popular hits, incorporates some other features found in many of his songs:

• It is in binary form, with the verse repeated before the chorus begins;
• The piano accompaniment is prominent, though the song also features an orchestra;
• It uses a slowly building crescendo that brings the song to a tutti climax. Other songs that follow this pattern include "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me" and "Rocket Man".

John also has a distinctive vocal style. In particular, his phrasing is often a bit metronomic and sometimes has a curiously off-kilter, "rushed" quality especially at the end of lines (example: the phrase "like a puppy child" in the song Amoreena). He also, at least in his classic period in the 1970s, would sometimes sweep up from his normal tenor into a Four Seasons-like falsetto. Binary form is a way of structuring a piece of music. ... Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Orchestra at City Hall (Edmonton). ... In musical notation, crescendo means that the notes are gradually getting louder. ... In music, a tutti section in a concerto is one in which the orchestra plays and the soloist does not. ... The Four Seasons can refer to: The annual cycle of the astronomical, geographic, and climatic phenomenon of season The Four Seasons, a singing group led by Frankie Valli; The Four Seasons, the collective name for four violin concertos by Antonio Vivaldi; The Four Seasons, the collective name for four tangos...

Elton John underwent throat surgery to remove potentially cancerous nodules from his vocal chords in January 1987 whilst on tour, a necessity he originally said was due to an infection, but later said was the result of excessive drug abuse. The problems with his voice can clearly be heard in his raspy singing on the Live In Australia album (released 1987). He made a full recovery but continued to engage in drugs for a few years yet. The surgery in 1987 also had a dramatic affect on John's voice, and he found that he could no longer sing in falsetto as well as he previously could and that he now sang in a lower range.

The change in Elton John's voice has been one that he has largely played down, with Elton commenting fifteen years after the surgery that he was "singing better than ever." The use of studio effects were evidently added to his voice on his first UK #1 Hit "Sacrifice" (1990). The release of Songs From The West Coast, his 2001 album showed very clearly how different his voice is to his prime. It is a matter of opinion which singing style is better but few would deny that Elton John remains an excellent and operatic singer.

Quotations

• "You can call me a fat, balding, talentless, old queen who cant sing--but you cant tell lies about me. (After successfully winning a libel case against the London 'Sun' in 1987 for alleged underage sex.

• "I haven't made a good album in a long while. Not since 1976 and Blue Moves."

• "If there is a better singer in England than Craig David, then I am Margaret Thatcher."

• (After being asked about his sexuality in the 1970s) "I think people should be free to engage in any sexual practices they choose; they should draw the line at goats, though."

• "Nowadays, record companies want the quick buck from the Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, S Club Seven, Steps. They've always been around, I'm not knocking the music perhaps, but it's like packets of cereal. There are too many of them, too many of them are just mediocre. And I think it damages real people's chance, real talent, of getting airplay. It's just fodder."

• "There's so much you're expected to do and you follow a pattern. You make a record, you do a video. I like to break the rules a little bit more and I did in the 70s, I should try a little bit more now."

• "Anyone who lip-synchs in public on stage when you pay £75 to see them should be shot. That's me off her Christmas card list. But do I give a toss? No." (about Madonna)

• "If I had one finger left, I'd play for you." (After breaking his fingernails by playing too hard)

• "I thought it was a bit of an anti-climax, to be honest. The thought behind it was fantastic, but Hyde Park is a charisma-free zone. There was no sense of occasion and from a musical point, I didn't think there were too many highlights. I was very pleased to be a part of it, but I didn't think it was anywhere near as good as the first one. How could it be?" (about Live 8)

• "It is probably one of my lowest-selling albums of all time. It was disappointing everywhere in the world, so I have to hold my hands up and accept that the songs just didn't connect. I'm proud of "Peachtree", but, if I think about it logically, people may have ten or twelve Elton John albums in their collection already. Do they need another one?" (on his unsuccessful 2004 studio album, "Peachtree Road")

Madonna on her Ray of Light album cover Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone (b. ...

Discography

For a complete discography, see Elton John discography. This is a detailed discography for Elton John. ...

Band

Current members

• Elton John - piano, lead vocals
• Guy Babylon - keyboards
• Bob Birch - bass guitar, vocals
• Davey Johnstone - guitar, musical director, vocals
• John Mahon - percussion, vocals
• Nigel Olsson - drums, percussion, vocals

This article is about the modern musical instrument. ... General Name, Symbol, Number lead, Pb, 82 Chemical series poor metals Group, Period, Block 14, 6, p Appearance bluish white Atomic mass 207. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Fender Precision Bass For other uses of the term see Bass (disambiguation). ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... Davey Johnstone - Musician famed for being Elton Johns guitarist and backing vocalist on most of Eltons early albums can be credited for one of rock musics most recognisable licks in Saturday Nights Alright For Fighting, as well as later playing with Meat Loaf live. ... The classical guitar typically has 3 nylon and 3 nickel-wound strings. ... The title of music director is used by many symphony orchestras to designate the primary conductor and artistic leader of the orchestra. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... Percussion instruments are music instruments played by being struck, shaken, rubbed or scraped, hence the percussive name. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... Olsson(right) plays an Elton John concert in Orlando. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... Percussion instruments are music instruments played by being struck, shaken, rubbed or scraped, hence the percussive name. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ...

Previous band members

• Curt Bisquera - drums
• Jack Bruno - touring drums
• Ray Cooper - percussion
• John Jorgenson - guitar, saxophone, mandolin, pedal steel, vocals
• Jody Linscott - percussion
• Jonathan Moffett - drums
• Charlie Morgan - drums
• Dee Murray - bass guitar, vocals
• James Newton Howard - conductor
• Pino Palladino - bass guitar
• Kenny Passarelli - bass guitar, vocals
• David Patton - bass guitar, vocals
• Roger Pope - drums
• Caleb Quaye - guitar
• Tim Renwick - guitar, vocals
• Ken Stacey - additional guitar, vocals
• Mark Taylor - keyboards
• Billy Trudel - vocals
• Romeo Williams- bass guitar, vocals
• Ritchie Zito - drums
• Gentry Pruett - keyboards

Curt Bisquera is a world-famous studio drummer famous for his glasses and long dreadlocks. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... Ray Cooper Ray Cooper (born August 19, 1942 in Watford, Hertfordshire) is an English musician. ... Percussion instruments are music instruments played by being struck, shaken, rubbed or scraped, hence the percussive name. ... The classical guitar typically has 3 nylon and 3 nickel-wound strings. ... Saxophones of different sizes play in different registers. ... Carved and round backed mandolins (front) A mandolin is a stringed musical instrument. ... Pedal steel guitar (also called Steel Guitar) is a type of guitar, and a method of playing the instrument. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... Percussion instruments are music instruments played by being struck, shaken, rubbed or scraped, hence the percussive name. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... Fender Precision Bass For other uses of the term see Bass (disambiguation). ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... James Newton Howard James Newton Howard (born June 9, 1951 in Los Angeles) is a famous American film composer. ... A conductors score and batons Conducting is the act of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. ... Pino Palladino is a noted rock and rhythm and blues electric bass player. ... Fender Precision Bass For other uses of the term see Bass (disambiguation). ... Fender Precision Bass For other uses of the term see Bass (disambiguation). ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... Fender Precision Bass For other uses of the term see Bass (disambiguation). ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... The classical guitar typically has 3 nylon and 3 nickel-wound strings. ... Tim Renwick (born August 7, 1949 in Cambridgeshire, England) is an English guitarist. ... The classical guitar typically has 3 nylon and 3 nickel-wound strings. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... Ken Stacey(born in Los Angeles, California) is a session vocalist and backing vocalist. ... The classical guitar typically has 3 nylon and 3 nickel-wound strings. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... People Known as Mark Taylor include Mark Taylor, Welsh Rugby Union player Mark Taylor, Australian Cricketer Mark Taylor, Creator of Rubbish, King of the Jumble Mark Taylor, Canadian television actor (Drop the Beat). ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... Fender Precision Bass For other uses of the term see Bass (disambiguation). ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

See also

• List of best selling music artists
• List of number-one hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (US)
• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart

This is a non-definitive list of best selling recording artists, embracing worldwide single and album sales. ... This is a list of number-one hits in the United States by year from the Billboard Hot 100. ... This is a list of recording artists who have reached number one on Billboard magazines Hot 100 chart. ... This is a list of number-one dance hits as recorded by Billboard Magazine’s Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart — a weekly national survey of popular songs in U.S. dance clubs. ... This is a list of recording artists who have reached number one on Billboard magazines Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. ...

External links

• Elton John's official website
• Elton John Discography and Lyrics
• Elton John at the SoundtrackINFO project
• Crazy Water - Elton John Message Board
• Elton John Biography
• EltonChords.com Resource for piano chording for Elton John Songs.
• Elton John's Music Cafe
• Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF)
• Cornflakes & Classics - The musical history of Elton John
• Elton John Fanatic
• Elton John at Live 8