Elton John

Elton John
Not to be confused with John Elton.

from Elizabeth II for “services to music and charitable
services” in 1998.[10] John has performed at a number
of royal events, such as the funeral of Princess Diana at
Westminster Abbey in 1997, the Party at the Palace in
2002 and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert outside
Buckingham Palace in 2012.

Sir Elton Hercules John CBE (born Reginald Kenneth
Dwight, 25 March 1947)[1][2] is an English songwriter
and singer, who accompanies himself on the piano. He
has worked with lyricist Bernie Taupin as his songwriter
partner since 1967; they have collaborated on more than
30 albums to date. In his five-decade career Elton John
has sold more than 300 million records, making him one
of the best-selling music artists in the world.[3][4] He has
more than fifty Top 40 hits, including seven consecutive
No. 1 US albums, 58 Billboard Top 40 singles, 27 Top
10, four No. 2 and nine No. 1. For 31 consecutive years
(1970–2000) he had at least one song in the Billboard Hot
100. His single "Something About the Way You Look
Tonight"/"Candle in the Wind 1997" sold over 33 million copies worldwide and is “the best-selling single of
all time”.[5][6][7] He has also composed music, produced
records, and has occasionally acted in films. John owned
Watford Football Club from 1976 to 1987, and remains
the club’s president.

He has been heavily involved in the fight against AIDS
since the late 1980s.[11] In 1992, he established the Elton
John AIDS Foundation and a year later began hosting
the annual Academy Award Party, which has since become one of the highest-profile Oscar parties in the Hollywood film industry. Since its inception, the foundation
has raised over $200 million.[12] John, who announced
he was bisexual in 1976 and has been openly gay since
1988, entered into a civil partnership with David Furnish
on 21 December 2005, and after gay marriage became
legal in England, wed Furnish on 21 December 2014. He
continues to be a champion for LGBT social movements
worldwide and same-sex marriage.

1 Life and career

Elton John was born Reginald Dwight in 1947, and raised
in the Pinner area of London. He learned to play piano at
an early age, and by 1962 had formed Bluesology. John
met his songwriter partner, Bernie Taupin, in 1967, after
they had both answered an advert for songwriters. For
two years they wrote songs for other artists, including
Roger Cook and Lulu, and John also worked as a session musician for artists such as the Hollies and the Scaffold. In 1968 his debut album, Empty Sky, was released.
In 1970 a single, "Your Song", from his second album,
Elton John, reached the top ten in the UK and the US, his
first hit single.

1.1 Early life

Elton John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25
March 1947 in Pinner, Middlesex, the eldest child
of Stanley Dwight and only child of Sheila Eileen
(Harris),[13][14][15] and was raised in a council house of
his maternal grandparents, in Pinner. His parents did not
marry until he was 6 years old, when the family moved
to a nearby semi-detached house.[16][17][18] He was educated at Pinner Wood Junior School, Reddiford School
He has received six Grammy Awards, five Brit Awards – and Pinner County Grammar School, until age 17, when
winning two awards for Outstanding Contribution to Mu- he left just prior to his A Level examinations to pursue a
[19][20][21]
sic and the first Brits Icon in 2013 for his “lasting impact career in the music industry.
on British culture", an Academy Award, a Golden Globe When he began to seriously consider a career in music,
Award, a Tony Award, a Disney Legend award, and the Elton John’s father, who served as a flight lieutenant in the
Kennedy Center Honors in 2004. In 2004, Rolling Stone Royal Air Force, tried to steer him toward a more conranked him Number 49 on its list of 100 influential musi- ventional career, such as banking.[19] John has stated that
cians of the rock and roll era.[8] In 2013, Billboard ranked his wild stage costumes and performances were his way
him the most successful male solo artist on “The Bill- of letting go after such a restrictive childhood.[21] Both of
board Hot 100 Top All-Time Artists” (third overall be- John’s parents were musically inclined, his father having
hind the Beatles and Madonna).[9] He was inducted into been a trumpet player with the Bob Millar Band, a semithe Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, is an inductee professional big band that played at military dances.[21]
into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, and is a fellow of The Dwights were keen record buyers, exposing John to
the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Au- the popular singers and musicians of the day, and John
thors. Having been named a Commander of the Order of remembers being immediately hooked on rock and roll
the British Empire in 1996, John received a knighthood when his mother brought home records by Elvis Presley
1

2

1 LIFE AND CAREER

and Bill Haley & His Comets in 1956.[19][20]

would live there until he had four albums simultaneously
[22]
Elton John started playing the piano at the age of 3, and in the American Top 40.
within a year, his mother heard him picking out Winifred
Atwell's “The Skater’s Waltz” by ear.[19][20] After per1.2 Pub pianist to staff songwriter (1962–
forming at parties and family gatherings, at the age of
69)
7 he took up formal piano lessons. He showed musical aptitude at school, including the ability to compose
melodies, and gained some notoriety by playing like Jerry See also: Bluesology
Lee Lewis at school functions. At the age of 11, he won a
junior scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music. Ac- At the age of 15, with the help of his mother and stepcording to one of his instructors, John promptly played father, Reginald Dwight became a weekend pianist at a
back, like a “gramophone record”, a four-page piece by nearby pub, the Northwood Hills Hotel, playing Thursday
Handel that he heard for the first time.[20]
to Sunday nights.[23][24] Known simply as “Reggie”, he
played a range of popular standards, including songs by
Jim Reeves and Ray Charles, as well as songs he had written himself.[25][26] A stint with a short-lived group called
the Corvettes rounded out his time.[20]
In 1962, Dwight and his friends formed a band called
Bluesology. By day, he ran errands for a music publishing company; he divided his nights between solo gigs at
a London hotel bar and working with Bluesology. By the
mid-1960s, Bluesology was backing touring American
soul and R&B musicians like the Isley Brothers, Major
Lance and Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles. In 1966,
the band became musician Long John Baldry's supporting
band, and played 16 times at the Marquee Club.[27]
Elton studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London for five
years

For the next five years he attended Saturday classes at the
Academy in central London, and has stated that he enjoyed playing Chopin and Bach and singing in the choir
during Saturday classes, but that he was not otherwise a
diligent classical student.[20] “I kind of resented going to
the Academy”, he says. “I was one of those children who
could just about get away without practising and still pass,
scrape through the grades.”[20] He even claims that he
would sometimes skip classes and just ride around on the
Tube.[20] However, several instructors have testified that
he was a “model student”, and during the last few years The 1910 piano on which Elton John composed his first five alhe was taking lessons from a private tutor in addition to bums, including his first hit single, "Your Song"
his classes at the Academy.[20]
Elton John’s mother, though also strict with her son, was In 1967, Dwight answered an advertisement in the British
more vivacious than her husband, and something of a free magazine New Musical Express, placed by Ray[28]Williams,
spirit. With Stanley Dwight uninterested in his son and then the A&R manager for Liberty Records. At their
often physically absent, John was raised primarily by his first meeting, Williams gave Dwight a stack of lyrics writmother and maternal grandmother. When his father was ten by Bernie Taupin, who had answered the same ad.
home, the Dwights would have terrible arguments that Dwight wrote music for the lyrics, and then mailed it
greatly distressed their son.[20] When John was 14, they to Taupin, beginning a partnership that still continues.
divorced. His mother then married a local painter, Fred When the two first met in 1967 they recorded what would
Farebrother, a caring and supportive stepfather whom become the first Elton John/Bernie Taupin song: “ScareJohn affectionately referred to as “Derf”, his first name crow”. Six months later Dwight was going by the name
saxophonist Elton
in reverse.[20] They moved into flat No. 1A in an eight- “Elton John” in homage to Bluesology
[25]
Dean
and
Long
John
Baldry.
unit apartment building called Frome Court, not far from
both previous homes. It was there that John would write The team of Elton John and Bernie Taupin joined Dick
the songs that would launch his career as a rock star; he James's DJM Records as staff songwriters in 1968, and

1.3

Debut album to Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1969–73)

over the next two years wrote material for various artists,
like Roger Cook and Lulu.[29] Taupin would write a batch
of lyrics in under an hour and give it to John, who would
write music for them in half an hour, disposing of the
lyrics if he couldn't come up with anything quickly.[29]
For two years, they wrote easy-listening tunes for James
to peddle to singers. Their early output included a contender for the UK entry for the Eurovision Song Contest
in 1969, for Lulu, called “I Can't Go On (Living Without
You)". It came sixth of six songs. In 1969, John provided piano for Roger Hodgson on his first released single, “Mr. Boyd” by Argosy, a quartet that was completed
by Caleb Quaye and Nigel Olsson.[30][31] Elton John was
also a session musician for other artists including playing
piano on the Hollies' "He Ain't Heavy, He’s My Brother"
and singing backing vocals for the Scaffold.[32]

1.3

3

Backed by ex-Spencer Davis Group drummer Nigel Olsson and bassist Dee Murray, Elton John’s first American
concert took place at the Troubadour in Los Angeles in
August 1970, and was a success.[35] The concept album
Tumbleweed Connection was released in October 1970,
and reached number two in the UK and number five in
the US.[33] The live album 17-11-70 (11–17–70 in the
US) was recorded at a live show aired from A&R Studios
on WABC-FM in New York City. Sales of the live album
were heavily hit in the US when an east coast bootlegger
released the performance several weeks before the official album, including all 60 minutes of the aircast, not
just the 40 minutes selected by Dick James Music.[36]

Debut album to Goodbye Yellow Brick
Road (1969–73)

Elton John at the Musikhalle, Hamburg, in March 1972

John and Taupin then wrote the soundtrack to the obscure
film Friends and then the album Madman Across the Water, the latter reaching number eight in the US and producing the hit songs, "Levon", and the album’s opening
track "Tiny Dancer". In 1972, Davey Johnstone joined
the Elton John Band on guitar and backing vocals. Released in 1972, Honky Château became John’s first US
number one album, spending five weeks at the top of
Elton John on stage in 1971
the Billboard 200, and began a streak of seven consecutive US number one albums.[37] The album reached numOn the advice of music publisher Steve Brown, John ber two in the UK, and spawned the hit singles "Rocket
and Taupin started writing more complex songs for John Man" and "Honky Cat".[38] both of which were recorded
to record for DJM. The first was the single “I've Been at Trident Studios in London.
Loving You” (1968), produced by Caleb Quaye, former
Bluesology guitarist. In 1969, with Quaye, drummer The pop album Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player
one
Roger Pope, and bassist Tony Murray, John recorded came out at the start of 1973, and reached number
[33]
The
alin
the
UK,
the
US,
Australia
among
others.
another single, "Lady Samantha", and an album, Empty
bum
produced
the
hits
"Crocodile
Rock",
his
first
US
Sky. For their follow-up album, Elton John, Elton John
one, and "Daniel"; number
and Bernie Taupin enlisted Gus Dudgeon as producer and Billboard Hot 100 number [33][39]
two
US,
number
four
UK.
Both the album and
Paul Buckmaster as musical arranger. Elton John was re“Crocodile
Rock”
were
the
first
album
and single, respecleased in April 1970 on DJM Records/Pye Records in the
MCA
Records
label in the US,
tively
on
the
consolidated
UK and Uni Records in the US, and established the for[40]
replacing
MCA’s
other
labels
including
Uni.
mula for subsequent albums – gospel-chorded rockers and
poignant ballads. The first single from the album, "Border Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, released in October 1973,
Song", made into the US Top 100, peaking at Number 92. gained instant critical acclaim and topped the chart on
The second single, "Your Song", reached number seven both sides of the Atlantic, remaining at number one for
in the UK Singles Chart and number eight in the US, be- two months.[41] It also temporarily established John as a
coming John’s first hit single as a singer.[33] The album glam rock star. It contained the US number 1 "Bennie and
soon became his first hit album, reaching number four on the Jets", along with other hits, "Goodbye Yellow Brick
the US Billboard 200 and number five on the UK Albums Road", "Candle in the Wind", "Saturday Night’s Alright
Chart.[33][34]
for Fighting" and "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleed-

4

1 LIFE AND CAREER

ing". Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is included in the VH1
Classic Albums series, discussing the making, recording,
and popularity of the album through concert and home
video footage including interviews.[42]

1.4

The Rocket Record Company to 21 at
33 (1974–79)

Elton on the piano during a live performance in 1975

John formed his own MCA-distributed label named The
Rocket Record Company and signed acts to it – notably
Neil Sedaka (“Bad Blood”, on which he sang background
vocals) and Kiki Dee – in which he took a personal interest. Instead of releasing his own records on Rocket,
he opted for $8 million offered by MCA. When the contract was signed in 1974, MCA reportedly took out a $25
million insurance policy on John’s life.[43] In 1974 MCA
released his Greatest Hits album, a UK and US number
one which is certified Diamond by the RIAA for sales of
16 million copies in the US.[33][44]

Performing in 1975, Elton often wore elaborate stage costumes
on stage

Pete Townshend of the Who asked John to play a character called the “Local Lad” in the film of the rock
opera Tommy, and to perform the song "Pinball Wizard".
Drawing on power chords, John’s version was recorded
and used for the movie release in 1975 and the single
came out in 1976 (1975 in the US). The song charted
at number 7 in the UK.[33] Bally subsequently released a
“Captain Fantastic” pinball machine featuring an illustra[48]
In 1974 a collaboration with John Lennon took place, re- tion of John in his movie guise.
sulting in Lennon appearing on Elton John’s single cover The 1975 autobiographical album Captain Fantastic and
of the Beatles’ "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", the B- the Brown Dirt Cowboy debuted at number one in the US,
side of which was Lennon’s “One Day at a Time.” In re- the first album ever to do so, and stayed at the top for
turn, John was featured on "Whatever Gets You thru the seven weeks.[49] Elton John revealed his previously amNight" on Lennon’s Walls and Bridges album. Later that biguous personality on the album, with Taupin’s lyrics deyear in what would be Lennon’s last major live perfor- scribing their early days as struggling songwriters and mumance, the pair performed these two number 1 hits along sicians in London. The lyrics and accompanying photo
with the Beatles classic "I Saw Her Standing There" at booklet are infused with a specific sense of place and time
Madison Square Garden in New York. Lennon made the that is otherwise rare in his music. "Someone Saved My
rare stage appearance with John and his band to keep the Life Tonight" was the hit single from this album and cappromise he made that he would appear on stage with him tured an early turning point in Elton John’s life. The alif “Whatever Gets You Thru The Night” became a US bum’s release signalled the end of the Elton John Band,
number one single.[45]
as an unhappy and overworked John dismissed Olsson
Caribou was released in 1974 and became John’s third and Murray, two people who had contributed much of
had helped build his
number one in the UK, and topped the charts in the US, the band’s signature sound and who
[48]
live
following
since
the
beginning.
[33][46]
Reportedly recorded in two
Canada and Australia.
weeks between live appearances, it featured "The Bitch Is
Back" and the orchestrated "Don't Let the Sun Go Down
on Me".[46] "Step into Christmas" was released as a standalone single in November 1973, and appears in the album’s 1995 remastered re-issue.[47]

According to Circus Magazine, a spokesman for John
Reid said the decision was reached mutually via phone
while John was in Australia promoting Tommy.[50] She
said there was no way Reid could have fired them “because the band are not employed by John Reid, they're

1.4

The Rocket Record Company to 21 at 33 (1974–79)

5

employed by Elton John.”[50] She went on to say Nigel
would be going back to his solo work and Dee would do
session work “and possibly cut a solo album”.[50]
Davey Johnstone and Ray Cooper were retained, Quaye
and Roger Pope returned, and the new bassist was
Kenny Passarelli; this rhythm section provided a heaviersounding backbeat. James Newton Howard joined to arrange in the studio and to play keyboards.[51] In June
1975, John introduced the line-up before a crowd of
75,000 in London’s Wembley Stadium.[51]

Elton performing live with Ray Cooper in Dublin, Ireland in 1979

1970–1976 is also held in the most regard critically.
Within only a three-year span, between 1972 and 1975
John saw seven consecutive albums reach number one in
the US, which had not been accomplished before.[41] Of
the six Elton John albums to make Rolling Stone 's list of
"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" in 2003, all are
from this period, with Goodbye Yellow Brick Road ranked
Elton John during a Captain Fantastic concert in 1975
highest at number 91; similarly, the three Elton John albums given five stars by Allmusic (Tumbleweed ConnecThe rock-oriented Rock of the Westies entered the US al- tion, Honky Château, and Captain Fantastic) are all from
bums chart at number 1 like Captain Fantastic, a previ- this period.[58]
ously unattained feat.[49] Elton John’s stage wardrobe now
included ostrich feathers, $5,000 spectacles that spelled During the same period, he made a guest appearance on
his name in lights, and dressing up like the Statue of the popular Morecambe and Wise Show on the BBC. The
Liberty, Donald Duck, or Mozart, among others, at his two comics spent the episode pointing him in the direcconcerts.[52][53] In 1975, Elton received a star on the tion of everywhere except the stage in order to prevent
him singing.[59]
Hollywood Walk of Fame.[54]
To celebrate five years since he first appeared at the venue,
in 1975 Elton John played a two-night, four-show stand
at the Troubadour. With seating limited to under 500
per show, the chance to purchase tickets was determined
by a postcard lottery, with each winner allowed two tickets. Everyone who attended the performances received a
hardbound “yearbook” of the band’s history. That year
he also played piano on Kevin Ayers' Sweet Deceiver,
and was among the first and few white artists to appear on the black music series Soul Train on American
television.[41] On 9 August 1975, John was named the
outstanding rock personality of the year at the first annual
Rock Music Awards at ceremonies held in Santa Monica,
California.[55]
In 1976, the live album Here and There was released
in May, followed by the Blue Moves album in October,
which contained the single "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word". His biggest success in 1976 was "Don't Go
Breaking My Heart", a duet with Kiki Dee that topped
both the UK and US charts.[33][56] Finally, in an interview with Rolling Stone that year entitled “Elton’s Frank
Talk”, John stated that he was bisexual.[57]
Besides being the most commercially successful period,

In November 1977 Elton John announced he was retiring
from performing; Taupin began collaborating with others. Now only producing one album a year, John issued
A Single Man in 1978, employing a new lyricist, Gary
Osborne; the album produced no singles that made the
top 20 in the US but the two singles from the album released in the UK, "Part-Time Love" and "Song for Guy",
both made the top 20 in the UK with the latter reaching
the top 5.[33] In 1979, accompanied by Ray Cooper, Elton John became one of the first Western artists to tour
the Soviet Union, as well as one of the first in Israel.[60]
John returned to the US top ten with "Mama Can't Buy
You Love" (number 9), a song originally rejected in 1977
by MCA before being released, recorded in 1977 with
Philadelphia soul producer Thom Bell.[61] John reported
that Thom Bell was the first person to give him voice
lessons; Bell encouraged John to sing in a lower register.
A disco-influenced album, Victim of Love, was poorly received. In 1979, John and Taupin reunited, though they
did not collaborate on a full album until 1983’s Too Low
For Zero. 21 at 33, released the following year, was a
significant career boost, aided by his biggest hit in four
years, "Little Jeannie" (number 3 US), with the lyrics
written by Gary Osborne.[62]

6

1.5

1 LIFE AND CAREER

1980s: The Fox to Sleeping with the Past
(1980–89)

Elton John performing in the 1980s

His 1981 album, The Fox, was recorded in part during
the same sessions as 21 at 33, and also included collaborations with Tom Robinson and Judie Tzuke. On
13 September 1980, Elton John, with Olsson and Murray back in the Elton John Band, performed a free concert to an estimated 400,000 fans on The Great Lawn in
Central Park in New York.[63] His 1982 hit "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)", came from his Jump Up! album,
his second under a new US recording contract with Geffen
Records.
With original band members Johnstone, Murray and Olsson together again, he was able to return to the charts with
the 1983 hit album Too Low for Zero, which included
"I'm Still Standing" (No. 4 UK) and "I Guess That’s Why
They Call It the Blues", the latter of which featured Stevie
Wonder on harmonica and reached No. 4 in the US and
No. 5 in the UK.[33][56] In October 1983, Elton John
caused controversy when he broke the United Nations’
cultural boycott on apartheid South Africa by performing
at the Sun City venue.[64] He married his close friend and
sound engineer, Renate Blauel, on Valentine’s Day 1984
– the marriage lasted three years.[65]

Elton John costume from the 1986 Tour de Force Australian concerts, on display in the Hard Rock Cafe, London

after he underwent throat surgery, which permanently altered his voice. Several non-cancerous polyps were removed from his vocal cords, resulting in a change in his
singing voice.[68] In 1987 he won a libel case against The
Sun which published false allegations of sex with rent
boys.[69] In 1988, he performed five sold-out shows at
Madison Square Garden in New York, giving him 26 for
his career.[70] Netting over $20 million, 2,000 items of
Elton John’s memorabilia were auctioned off at Sotheby’s
in London.[71]
He placed other hits throughout the 1980s, including
"Nikita" which featured in a music video directed by Ken
Russell, No. 3 in the UK and No. 7 in the US in 1986, a
live orchestral version of “Candle in the Wind”, No. 6 in
the US, and "I Don't Wanna Go on with You Like That",
No. 2 in the US in 1988.[33][56] His highest-charting single was a collaboration with Dionne Warwick, Gladys
Knight, and Stevie Wonder on "That’s What Friends Are
For" which reached No. 1 in the US in 1985; credited
as Dionne and Friends, the song raised funds for AIDS
research.[56] His albums continued to sell, but of those released in the latter half of the 1980s, only Reg Strikes Back
(number 16, 1988) placed in the top 20 in the US.[56]

In 1985, he was one of the many performers at Live
Aid held at Wembley Stadium.[66] John played “Bennie
and the Jets” and “Rocket Man"; then “Don't Go Breaking My Heart” with Kiki Dee for the first time since the
Hammersmith Odeon on 24 December 1982; and introduced his friend George Michael, still then of Wham!, to
sing “Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me”.[66] In 1985
he released Breaking Hearts which featured the hit song
"Sad Songs (Say So Much)", No. 5 in the US and No.
7 in the UK.[33] Elton John also recorded material with
Millie Jackson in 1985. In 1986, he played the piano on 1.6 1990s: “Sacrifice” to Aida (1990–99)
two tracks on the heavy metal band Saxon’s album Rock
the Nations.[67]
In 1990, he achieved his first solo UK number one hit
A Biography channel special detailed the loss of Elton’s single, with "Sacrifice" (coupled with "Healing Hands")
voice in 1986 while on tour in Australia. Shortly there- from the previous year’s album Sleeping with the Past; it

1.6

1990s: “Sacrifice” to Aida (1990–99)

would stay at the top spot for six weeks.[72] The following year, John’s “Basque” won the Grammy for Best Instrumental, and a guest concert appearance at Wembley
Arena he had made on George Michael's cover of "Don't
Let the Sun Go Down on Me" was released as a single and
topped the charts in both the UK and the US.[73] At the
1991 Brit Awards in London, Elton John won the award
for Best British Male.[74]
In 1992 he released the US number 8 album The
One, featuring the hit song "The One".[75][76] John
and Taupin then signed a music publishing deal with
Warner/Chappell Music for an estimated $39 million
over 12 years, giving them the largest cash advance in music publishing history.[77] In April 1992, John appeared at
the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium, performing "The Show Must Go On" with the
remaining members of Queen, and "Bohemian Rhapsody" with Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses and Queen.[78] In
September, John performed “The One” at the 1992 MTV
Video Music Awards, and also closed the ceremony performing “November Rain” with Guns N' Roses.[79] The
following year, he released Duets, a collaboration with
15 artists including Tammy Wynette and RuPaul. This
also included a new collaboration with Kiki Dee, entitled “True Love”, which reached the Top 10 of the UK
charts.[80]
“For myself as well as for many others no-one has been
there more for inspiration than Elton John. When we talk
of great rock duos like Jimmy Page and Robert Plant,
John [Lennon] and Paul [McCartney], Mick [Jagger] and
Keith [Richards], I like to think of Elton John and Bernie
Taupin. Also tonight I think that Elton should be honoured for his great work and contribution in the fight
against AIDS. And also his bravery in exposing all the
triumphs and tragedies of his personal life. "
—Axl Rose speech inducting Elton John into the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame.[81]
Along with Tim Rice, Elton John wrote the songs for the
1994 Disney animated film The Lion King. At the 67th
Academy Awards ceremony, The Lion King soundtrack
provided three of the five nominees for the Academy
Award for Best Song, which he won with "Can You Feel
the Love Tonight".[82] Both that and "Circle of Life"
became hit songs for John.[83][84] “Can You Feel the
Love Tonight” would also win Elton John the Grammy
Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the
37th Grammy Awards.[82] After the release of the The
Lion King soundtrack, the album remained at the top of
Billboard 200 for nine weeks. On 10 November 1999,
the RIAA certified The Lion King "Diamond" for selling
15 million copies.[85]

7
“Believe” at the 1995 Brit Awards, and picked up the
prize for Outstanding Contribution to Music.[88] A duet
with Luciano Pavarotti, “Live Like Horses”, reached
number nine in the UK in December 1996.[33] A compilation album called Love Songs was released in 1996.[89]
Early in 1997 he held a 50th birthday party, costumed
as Louis XIV, for 500 friends. He also performed with
the surviving members of Queen in Paris at the opening
night (17 January 1997) of Le Presbytère N'a Rien Perdu
De Son Charme Ni Le Jardin De Son Éclat, a work by
French ballet legend Maurice Béjart which draws upon
AIDS and the deaths of Freddie Mercury and the company’s principal dancer Jorge Donn. Later in 1997, two
close friends died: designer Gianni Versace was murdered; Diana, Princess of Wales died in a Paris car crash
on 31 August.[90]
In early September, he contacted his writing partner
Bernie Taupin, asking him to revise the lyrics of his
1973 song “Candle in the Wind” to honour Diana, and
Taupin rewrote the song accordingly.[91] On 6 September 1997, John performed "Candle in the Wind 1997" at
the funeral of Princess Diana in Westminster Abbey.[92]
The song became the fastest and biggest-selling single
of all time, eventually selling over 33 million copies
worldwide,[85][93] the best-selling single in UK Chart
history,[94] the best-selling single in Billboard history and
the only single ever certified Diamond in the United
States – the single sold over 11 million copies in the
U.S.[6][85][95] Also the Guinness World Records 2009
states that the song is “the biggest-selling single since UK
and US singles charts began in the 1950s, having accumulated worldwide sales of 33 million copies”.[7] The
song proceeds of approximately £55 million were donated to Diana’s charities via the Diana, Princess of Wales
Memorial Fund.[96] It would win Elton John the Grammy
Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 40th
Grammy Awards in 1998.[93] "Something About the Way
You Look Tonight" was released as a double A-side. Elton John has publicly performed “Candle in the Wind
1997” only once, at Diana’s funeral, vowing never to perform it again unless asked by Diana’s sons.[97]
On 15 September 1997, John appeared at the Music for
Montserrat charity concert at the Royal Albert Hall, London, performing “Your Song”, “Don't Let the Sun Go
Down on Me” and “Live Like Horses” solo before finishing with "Hey Jude" alongside fellow English artists Paul
McCartney, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Mark Knopfler
and Sting.[98] In November 1997, John performed in the
BBC’s Children in Need charity single "Perfect Day",
which reached number one in the UK.[99]

In the musical theatre world, The Lion King musical debuted on Broadway in 1997 and the West End in 1999.
In 1994, Elton John was inducted into the Rock and Roll In 2014, it had grossed over $6 billion and became the
Hall of Fame by Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose.[86] top-earning title in box-office history for both stage proIn 1995 he released Made in England (number 3, 1995), ductions and films, surpassing the record previously held
which featured the single "Believe".[87] John performed by Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1986 musical The Phantom

8

1 LIFE AND CAREER

of the Opera.[100] In addition to The Lion King, John also
composed music for a Disney musical production of Aida
in 1999 with lyricist Tim Rice, for which they received
the Tony Award for Best Original Score at the 54th Tony
Awards,[101] and the Grammy Award for Best Musical
Show Album at the 43rd Grammy Awards.[102][103] The
musical was given its world premiere in the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta. It went on to Chicago and eventually
Broadway. He also released a live compilation album
called Elton John One Night Only – The Greatest Hits from
the show he did at Madison Square Garden in New York
City that same year. A concept album from the musical
titled Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida was also released
and featured the duets, "Written in the Stars" with LeAnn
Rimes, and “I Know the Truth” with Janet Jackson.[104]

1.7

2000s: Are You Ready for Love and 60th
birthday (2000–09)

cal in 2005 with playwright Lee Hall. Opening to strong
reviews, the West End production is still running as of
2014.[109] His only theatrical project with Bernie Taupin
is Lestat: The Musical, based on the Anne Rice vampire
novels. However it received harsh reviews from critics
and closed in May 2006 after 39 performances.[110] Elton featured on rapper Tupac Shakur's posthumous single "Ghetto Gospel", which topped the UK charts in July
2005.[33]
In October 2003, he announced that he had signed an exclusive agreement to perform 75 shows over three years
at Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip. The show, entitled The Red Piano, was a multimedia concert featuring massive props and video montages created by David
LaChapelle. Effectively, he and Celine Dion shared performances at Caesars Palace throughout the year – while
one performs, one rests. The first of these shows took
place on 13 February 2004.[111] In February 2006, Elton and Dion sang together at the venue to raise money
for Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. workers affected by
the 2005 hurricanes, performing “Sorry Seems to Be
the Hardest Word” and “Saturday Night’s Alright (for
Fighting).”[112]
Elton John was named a Disney Legend for his contributions to Disney’s films and theatrical works on 9 October
2006, by the Walt Disney Company.[113] In 2006 he told
Rolling Stone that he plans for his next record to be in the
R&B and hip hop genre. “I want to work with Pharrell
Williams, Timbaland, Snoop [Lion], Kanye [West], Eminem and just see what happens.”[114]

Elton John performs at the Skagerak Arena in Skien, Norway,
June 2009

In 2000, he and Tim Rice teamed again to create songs
for DreamWorks' animated film The Road to El Dorado.
he released his 27th album, Songs from the West Coast, in
October 2001. At this point, Elton John disliked appearing in his own music videos; "This Train Don't Stop There
Anymore" featured Justin Timberlake portraying a young
Elton, and "I Want Love" featured Robert Downey, Jr.
lip-syncing the song.[105] At the 2001 Grammy Awards,
Elton performed "Stan" with Eminem.[106] One month after the September 11 attacks, Elton John appeared at the
Concert for New York City, performing “I Want Love”
as well as “Your Song” in a duet with Billy Joel.[107]

Elton on piano at the Concert for Diana, commemorating
Princess Diana, at Wembley Stadium on 1 July 2007

In March 2007 he performed at Madison Square Garden
for a record breaking 60th time for his 60th birthday, the
concert was broadcast live and a DVD recording was released as Elton 60 – Live at Madison Square Garden;[115]
a greatest-hits compilation CD, Rocket Man – Number
In August 2003, he scored his fifth UK number one single Ones, was released in 17 different versions worldwide,
when "Are You Ready for Love" topped the charts.[108] including a CD/DVD combo; and his back catalogue –
Returning to musical theatre, John composed music for almost 500 songs from 32 albums – became available for
a West End theatre production of Billy Elliot the Musi- legal paid download.[116]

1.8

2010–present

9

On 1 July 2007, Elton John appeared at the Concert for
Diana held at Wembley Stadium in London, in honour of
Diana, Princess of Wales, on what would have been her
46th birthday.[117] John opened the concert with “Your
Song”, and then closed the concert with his second performance, with “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting”,
“Tiny Dancer”, and “Are You Ready For Love”.[117]

Eleven days later, and 17 years to the day after his last previous performance in Israel, he performed at the Ramat
Gan Stadium; this was significant because of other thenrecent cancellations by other performers in the fallout surrounding an Israeli raid on Gaza Flotilla the month before. In his introduction to that concert, Elton John noted
he and other musicians should not “cherry-pick our conOn 21 June 2008, he performed his 200th show in Cae- science”, in reference to Elvis Costello, who was to have
performed in Israel two weeks after John did, but cansars Palace. A DVD/CD package of The Red Piano was
aforementioned raid, citing his
released through Best Buy in November 2008. A two- celled in the wake of the
[Costello’s] conscience.[122][123]
year global tour was sandwiched between commitments
in Las Vegas, Nevada, some of the venues of which were He released The Union on 19 October 2010. John says
new to John. The Red Piano Tour closed in Las Vegas in his collaboration with American singer, songwriter and
April 2009.[118]
sideman Leon Russell marks a new chapter in his recordsaying: “I don't have to make pop records any
In a September 2008 interview with GQ magazine, John ing career,
[124]
more.”
said: “I'm going on the road again with Billy Joel again
next year,” referring to “Face to Face,” a series of concerts He began his new show The Million Dollar Piano at the
featuring both musicians. The tour began in March and Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas on 28 Septemwill continue for at least two more years.[119]
ber 2011.[125] John performed the show at Caesars for the
next three years. He performed his 3000th concert on
Saturday 8 October 2011 at Caesars.[126] In 2011, John
1.8 2010–present
performed vocals on Snowed in at Wheeler Street with
Kate Bush for her 50 Words for Snow album.[127] On 3
February 2012, Elton John visited Costa Rica for the first
time when he performed at the recently built National Stadium.[128]
On 4 June 2012, he performed at the Queen’s Diamond
Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace, performing a
repertoire including “Your Song”, “Crocodile Rock”
and “I'm Still Standing”.[129] On 30 June, John performed in Kiev, Ukraine at a joint concert with Queen
+ Adam Lambert for the Elena Pinchuk ANTIAIDS
Foundation.[130]
An album containing remixes of songs that he recorded
in the 1970s called Good Morning to the Night was released in July 2012. The remixes were conducted by
Australian group Pnau and the album reached No. 1
in the UK.[131] At the 2012 Pride of Britain Awards
on 30 October, Elton John, along with Michael Caine,
Richard Branson, Simon Cowell and Stephen Fry, recited
Rudyard Kipling's poem "If—" in tribute to the 2012
British Olympic and Paralympics athletes.[132]

Elton on World AIDS Day in Sydney, Australia on 1 December
2011

Elton John performed a piano duet with Lady Gaga at the
52nd Grammy Awards.[120] On 6 June 2010, John performed at the fourth wedding of conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh for a reported US$1 million fee.[121]

In February 2013, John performed a duet with singersongwriter Ed Sheeran at the 55th Grammy Awards.[133]
Later in 2013 he collaborated with rock band Queens of
the Stone Age on their sixth studio album ...Like Clockwork, contributing piano and vocals on the song “Fairweather Friends”. He stated that he was a fan of frontman
Josh Homme's side project, Them Crooked Vultures, and
had contacted Homme via phone call, asking if he could
perform on the album.[134]
In September 2013, John received the first Brits Icon
Award for his “lasting impact” on UK Culture.[135] Rod
Stewart presented him the award on stage at the London
Palladium before the two performed a duet of “Sad Songs
(Say So Much)".[136] It had been announced in March

10

3 PERSONAL LIFE

2012 that John had completed work on his thirty-first album, The Diving Board. The album was produced by TBone Burnett and was originally set for release in autumn
2012.[137][138] The album’s release date was pushed back
multiple times, but on its release in September 2013 it
reached No. 3 in the UK and No. 4 in the US.[33][139]

2

Musicianship

Elton John with Bernie Taupin (left) in 1971

Elton John has written with his songwriting partner
Bernie Taupin since 1967 when he answered an advertisement for talent placed in the popular UK music publication, New Musical Express, by Liberty records A&R man
Ray Williams.[140] The pair have collaborated on more
than 30 albums to date.[141] The writing style that Elton
John and Bernie Taupin use 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.
Taupin would write a set of lyrics, then mail them to John,
wherever he was in the world, who would then lay down
the music, arrange it, and record.[142] In 1992 he was inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. John is a fellow of the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers
and Authors (BASCA).[143]
Elton John’s voice was once classed as tenor; it is
now baritone.[20] His piano playing is influenced by
classical and gospel music.[144] He used Paul Buckmaster to arrange the music on his studio albums during the
1970s.[145]

3
3.1

Personal life
Sexuality and family

In the late 1960s, Elton John was engaged to be married to his first lover, secretary Linda Woodrow, who
is mentioned in the song "Someone Saved My Life
Tonight".[146][147] He married German recording engineer Renate Blauel on 14 February 1984, in Darling
Point, Sydney, with speculation that the marriage was a

cover for his homosexuality. John came out as bisexual in
a 1976 interview with Rolling Stone,[146][147] but after his
divorce from Blauel in 1988, he told the magazine that he
was “comfortable” being gay.[148]
In 1993, he began a relationship with David Furnish, a
former advertising executive and now filmmaker originally from Toronto, Canada. On 21 December 2005
(the day that the Civil Partnership Act came into force),
John and Furnish were amongst the first couples in the
UK to form a civil partnership, which was held at the
Windsor Guildhall.[149] After gay marriage became legal
in England in March 2014, John and Furnish married in
Windsor, Berkshire, on 21 December 2014, the ninth anniversary of their civil partnership.[150][151][152] They have
two sons. Their oldest, Zachary Jackson Levon FurnishJohn, was born to a surrogate mother on 25 December
2010 in California.[153][154] A second son, Elijah Joseph
Daniel Furnish-John, was born to the couple by the same
surrogate mother on 11 January 2013.[155]
Elton John has ten godchildren, including Sean Lennon,
David and Victoria Beckham's sons Brooklyn and
Romeo, Elizabeth Hurley's son Damian Charles, and the
daughter of Seymour Stein.[156]
In 2010, John was criticised by some Christian groups in
the US after describing Jesus as a “compassionate, superintelligent gay man who understood human problems”.
William Anthony Donohue, president of the Catholic
League for Religious and Civil Rights and opponent of
gay marriage, responded: “To call Jesus a homosexual is
to label him a sexual deviant. But what else would we expect from a man who previously said, 'From my point of
view, I would ban religion completely.'"[157]
In 2008, John stated he preferred civil partnerships over
marriage for gay people.[158] But by 2012 John had
changed his position and become a staunch supporter
of same-sex marriage in the United Kingdom. He was
quoted: “There is a world of difference between calling
someone your 'partner' and calling them your 'husband'.
'Partner' is a word that should be preserved for people you
play tennis with, or work alongside in business. It doesn't
come close to describing the love that I have for David,
and he for me. In contrast, 'husband' does.”[159] In 2014,
he claimed Jesus would have been in favour of same-sex
marriage.[160]
In 2013, Elton John resisted calls to boycott Russia in
protest at the country’s anti-gay legislation, but told fans
at a Moscow concert that the Russian laws were “inhumane and isolating” and he was “deeply saddened and
shocked over the current legislation.”[161] In a January
2014 interview, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke
of Elton John in an attempt to show that there was no
gay discrimination in Russia, stating; “Elton John – he’s
an extraordinary person, a distinguished musician, and
millions of our people sincerely love him, regardless of
his sexual orientation.”[162] Elton responded by offering
to introduce the President to Russians abused under Rus-

3.3

Other

sian legislation banning “homosexual propaganda”.[162]

3.2

Wealth

11
to fetch £800,000 at Sotheby’s—in order to modernise
the decoration in order to display some of his contemporary art collection.[170] Every year since 2004, John has
opened a shop called “Elton’s Closet” in which he sells his
second-hand clothes.[171]

3.3 Other
By 1975, the pressures of stardom had begun to take a serious toll on him. During “Elton Week” in Los Angeles
that year, he suffered a drug overdose.[172] He also battled the eating disorder bulimia. In a CNN interview with
Larry King in 2002, King asked if John knew of Diana,
Princess of Wales' eating disorder. John replied, “Yes, I
did. We were both bulimic.”[173]
A longtime tennis enthusiast, he wrote the song “Philadelphia Freedom” in tribute to long-time friend Billie Jean
King and her World Team Tennis franchise of the same
name. John and King also co-host an annual pro-am event
to benefit AIDS charities, most notably Elton John’s own
Elton John AIDS Foundation, for which King is a chairwoman. John, who maintains a part-time residence in Atlanta, Georgia, became a fan of the Atlanta Braves baseball team when he moved there in 1991.[174] In 2015, he
was named one of GQ's 50 best dressed British men.[175]

4 Watford Football Club

John on stage in July 2008

“At the 1984 Cup Final, the song "Abide with Me" was
played and that’s why I cried. The song evokes my memory of childhood.”

In April 2009, the Sunday Times Rich List estimated
John’s wealth to be £175 million (US$265 million), and
ranked him as the 322nd wealthiest person in Britain.[163]
John was estimated to have a fortune of £195 million in
the Sunday Times Rich List of 2011, making him one of
the 10 wealthiest people in the British music industry.[164]
Aside from his main home “Woodside” in Old Windsor,
Berkshire, John owns residences in Atlanta, Nice, London’s Holland Park, and Venice. John’s property in Nice
is based on Mon Boron mountain.[165] Elton John is an
art collector, and is believed to have one of the largest
private photography collections in the world.[166]

—Elton John on his emotions during the FA Cup Final's
traditional pre-match hymn.[176]

In 2000, he admitted to spending £30 million in just under two years—an average of £1.5 million a month. Between January 1996 and September 1997, he spent more
than £9.6m on property and £293,000 on flowers.[167] In
June 2001 John sold 20 of his cars at Christie’s, saying he didn't get the chance to drive them because he
was out of the country so often.[168] The sale, which
included a 1993 Jaguar XJ220, the most expensive
at £234,750, and several Ferraris, Rolls-Royces, and
Bentleys, raised nearly £2 million.[169] In 2003, John
sold the contents of his Holland Park home—expected

In 1997, he re-purchased the club from Petchey and once
again became chairman. He stepped down in 2002 when
the club needed a full-time chairman although he continued as president of the club.[178] Although no longer
the majority shareholder, he still holds a significant financial interest. In June 2005 he held a concert at Watford’s home stadium, Vicarage Road, donating the funds
to the club, and another concert in May 2010.[178] He has
remained friends with a number of high-profile players
in football, including Pelé and David Beckham.[156][179]
For a time, from late 1975 until 1976, he was a part-

Having supported Watford Football Club since growing
up locally, Elton John became the club’s chairman and
director in 1976, appointing Graham Taylor as manager
and investing large sums of money as the club rose three
divisions into the English First Division.[177] The pinnacle
of the club’s success was finishing runners up in the First
Division to Liverpool F.C. in 1983 and reaching the FA
Cup Final at Wembley Stadium in 1984. He sold the club
to Jack Petchey in 1987, but remained president.[178]

12

6 HONOURS AND AWARDS

owner of the Los Angeles Aztecs of the North Ameri- with John), and the auction raised £5 million, adding to
can Soccer League. On 13 December 2014, he appeared the £45 million the Balls have raised for the Elton John
at Watford’s Vicarage Road with David Furnish, and his Aids Foundation.[183]
sons Zachary and Elijah for the opening of the “Sir Elton
John stand”.[180] He described the occasion as “one of the
greatest days of my life”.[180]
6 Honours and awards
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in
his first year of eligibility in 1994. He and Bernie Taupin
5 AIDS Foundation
had previously been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of
Fame in 1992. John was appointed a Commander of the
Main article: Elton John AIDS Foundation
Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1995.[186] For his
charitable work, John was knighted by Queen Elizabeth
John has said that he took risks with unprotected sex dur- II on 24 February 1998. In October 1975, John became
ing the 1980s and considers himself lucky to have avoided the 1,662nd person to receive a star on the Hollywood
[54]
the AIDS epidemic.[181] In 1986 he joined with Dionne Walk of Fame.
Warwick, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder to record the He was awarded Society of Singers Lifetime Achievesingle "That’s What Friends Are For", with all profits be- ment Award in 2005.[187] He became a recipient of a
ing donated to the American Foundation for AIDS Re- Kennedy Center Honor in 2004, and a Disney Legends
search. The song won John and the others the Grammy Award in 2006. In 2010, he was awarded with the PRS
Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with for Music Heritage Award, which was erected, on The
Vocals. In April 1990, John performed his 1968 ballad Namaste Lounge Pub in Watford, where John performed
"Skyline Pigeon" at the funeral of Ryan White, a teenage his first ever gig.[188]
haemophiliac he had befriended.[182]
Music awards include the Academy Award for Best OrigElton John became more closely associated with AIDS inal Song for "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" from
charities following the deaths of his friends Ryan White in The Lion King (award shared with Tim Rice); the Golden
1990 and Freddie Mercury in 1991, raising large amounts Globe Award for Best Original Song in 1994 for “Can
of money and using his public profile to raise awareness of You Feel The Love Tonight” from The Lion King (award
the disease. He founded the Elton John AIDS Foundation shared with Tim Rice); and the Tony Award for Best
in 1992 as a charity to fund programmes for HIV/AIDS Original Score in 2000 for Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida
prevention, for the elimination of prejudice and discrim- (award shared with Tim Rice). He has also received five
ination against HIV/AIDS-affected individuals, and for Brit Awards, including the award for Best British Male in
providing services to people living with or at risk of con- 1991, and awards for Outstanding Contribution to Music
tracting HIV/AIDS. This cause continues to be one of in 1986 and 1995. In 2013, John received the first Brits
his personal passions. In 1993 he began hosting his an- Icon award in recognition of his “lasting impact” on UK
nual Academy Award Party, which has become one of the culture, which was presented to him by his close friend
highest-profile Oscar parties in the Hollywood film indus- Rod Stewart.[135][189]
try, and has raised over $200 million.[12] In early 2006,
John donated the smaller of two bright-red Yamaha pianos from his Las Vegas, Nevada show to auction on eBay 6.1 Film awards
to raise public awareness and funds for the foundation.
6.1.1 Academy Awards
To raise money for his AIDS charity, he annually hosts
a glamorous White Tie & Tiara Ball In the grounds of
1. 1995: Best Original Song (won) for Can You Feel
his home in Old Windsor, Berkshire to which many fathe Love Tonight from The Lion King
mous celebrities are invited.[183] On 28 June 2007, the
2. 1995: Best Original Song (nominated) for Circle of
9th annual White Tie & Tiara Ball took place. The
Life from The Lion King
menu consisted of a truffle soufflé followed by Surf and
Turf (filet mignon with Maine lobster tail) and a giant
3. 1995: Best Original Song (nominated) for Hakuna
Knickerbocker glory ice cream. An auction followed the
Matata from The Lion King
dinner held by Stephen Fry. A Rolls Royce 'Phantom'
drophead coupe and a piece of Tracey Emin's artwork
both raised £800,000 for the charity fund, with the total 6.2 Music awards
amount raised reaching £3.5 million.[184] Later, John sang
"Delilah" with Tom Jones and "Big Spender" with Shirley 6.2.1 Grammy Awards
Bassey.[185] The 2011 guests included Sarah, Duchess of
1. 1972: Grammy Award for Best Original Score WritYork, Elizabeth Hurley and George Michael (who performed “Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me” in a duet
ten for a Motion Picture (nominated) for Friends

13
2. 1987: Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group
with Vocal (won) for “That’s What Friends Are
For”, performed by Dionne Warwick & Friends
(award shared with Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight
& Stevie Wonder)
3. 1991: Best Instrumental Composition (won) for
“Basque”, performed by James Galway
4. 1994: Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for “Can
You Feel The Love Tonight”
5. 1995: Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance (won) for Can You Feel the Love Tonight
from The Lion King
The Elton John Band 15 March 2012 Left to Right: John, John-

6. 1995: Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion stone, Birch, and (not pictured, right), Olsson and Cooper
Picture or for Television (nominated) for Can You
Feel the Love Tonight from The Lion King
Band.[190][191] The band has had multiple line-up changes,
7. 1995: Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion but Nigel Olsson, Davey Johnstone, and Ray Cooper
Picture or for Television (nominated) for Circle of have been members (albeit non-consecutively) since 1969
Life from The Lion King
(Olsson) and 1972 (Johnstone and Cooper). Olsson
left the band in 1984 but rejoined in 2000.[192][193] Ray
8. 1997: Best Male Pop Vocal Performance (won) for
Cooper has worked on and off with the Elton John Band
“Candle in the Wind 1997”
because he maintains obligations to other musicians as a
session player and sideman as a road-tour percussionist.
9. 1999: Grammy Legend Award
10. 2001: Best Musical Show Album (won) for Elton
John & Tim Rice’s Aida (award shared with Guy 8 Discography
Babylon, Paul Bogaev & Chris Montan (producers), Tim Rice (lyricist) and the original Broadway
cast with Heather Headley, Adam Pascal, and Sherie Main articles: Elton John albums discography and Elton
John singles discography
Rene Scott)
11. 2011: Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals (nominated) for If it Wasn't for Bad
Solo studio albums

6.3
6.3.1

Theatre awards
Tony Awards

1. 1998: Best Original Musical Score (nominated) for
The Lion King (musical)
2. 2000: Best Original Musical Score (won) for Aida
(musical)
3. 2009: Best Score (Music and/or Lyrics) (nominated) for Billy Elliot, The Musical
4. 2010: Best Play (nominated as producer) for Next
Fall

7

Elton John Band

Elton John Band members
Since 1970, John’s band, of which he is the pianist
and lead singer, has been known as the Elton John

• Empty Sky (1969)
• Elton John (1970)
• Tumbleweed Connection (1970)
• Madman Across the Water (1971)
• Honky Château (1972)
• Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player (1973)
• Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)
• Caribou (1974)
• Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
(1975)
• Rock of the Westies (1975)
• Blue Moves (1976)
• A Single Man (1978)
• Victim of Love (1979)

14
• 21 at 33 (1980)
• The Fox (1981)
• Jump Up! (1982)
• Too Low for Zero (1983)
• Breaking Hearts (1984)

11

REFERENCES

9 Filmography
• Born to Boogie, US (1972) as himself with Marc
Bolan and Ringo Starr
• Tommy, UK (1975) as Pinball Wizard
• Spice World, UK (1997) as himself

• Ice on Fire (1985)

• Elton John: Tantrums & Tiaras (1997) autobiography as himself

• Leather Jackets (1986)

• The Country Bears, US (2002) as himself

• Reg Strikes Back (1988)

• Elton John: Me, Myself & I (2007) autobiography as
himself

• Sleeping with the Past (1989)
• The One (1992)
• Made in England (1995)
• The Big Picture (1997)
• Songs from the West Coast (2001)
• Peachtree Road (2004)
• The Captain & the Kid (2006)
• The Diving Board (2013)
Collaborative albums
• Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (1986)
• Duets (1993)
• The Union with Leon Russell (2010)
• Good Morning to the Night with Pnau (2012)
Soundtracks, scores, and theatre albums
• Friends (1971)
• The Lion King (1994)
• Aida (1998)
• Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida (1999)
• The Muse (1999)
• The Road to El Dorado (2000)

• Kingsman: The Secret Service, US (2015)

10 See also
11 References
[1] JOHN, Sir Elton. Who’s Who 2015 (online Oxford University Press ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. (subscription required)
[2] Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. “Artist Biography [Elton
John]". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
[3] Gundersen, Edna (23 September 2013). “Elton still standing for gay rights, home, Tammy Faye”. USA Today. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
[4] Gundersen, Edna (3 October 2013). “Russian Imam
against Elton John Concert”. Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
[5] “RIAA News Room – The American Recording Industry Announces its Artists of the Century – Nov 10,
1999”. Recording Industry Association of America website. RIAA. 10 November 1999. Retrieved 8 February
2010. 'Candle in the Wind 1997' soon surpassed Bing
Crosby’s 'White Christmas’ to become the best-selling single of all time. (certified sales)
[6] “Elton John: Biography - Rolling Stone Music”. Rolling
Stone. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
[7] Guinness Book of Records 2009 states that “Candle in the
Wind 1997” is the “best-selling single since charts began”.
John’s 1997 song has sold the most copies when looking
at copies sold since charts began, as verified in Guinness
World Records. ISBN 1-904994-37-7. See also: Guinness Book of Records, 2009 Edition, pages 14, 15 & 169

• Billy Elliot (2005)

[8] “The Immortals: The First Fifty”. Rolling Stone Issue 946.

• Lestat (2005)

[9] “Hot 100 55th Anniversary By The Numbers: Top 100
Artists, Most No. 1s, Biggest No. 2s & More”. Billboard.
2 August 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2015.

• Gnomeo & Juliet (2011)

15

[10] “About: All About Elton: Bio”. Elton John. Retrieved 6
August 2010.

[33] “Elton John: UK Chart History”. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 December 2014

[11] “Elton John AIDS Foundation”. Ejaf.org. Retrieved 6
August 2010.

[34] Bernadin & Stanton 1996, p. 116.

[12] “Elton John on his idol, Leon Russell”. Reuters. Retrieved
27 September 2014.
[13] Keith Hayward (January 2013). Tin Pan Alley: The Rise
of Elton John. Soundcheck Books. pp. 2–. ISBN 978-09571442-0-0.
[14] Barrett, Nick (22 November 2006). “Family Detective Elton John”. The Telegraph. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
[15] “Elton John Rock’s Captain Fantastic”. TIME.com. 7 July
1975. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
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Bibliography
• Goodall, Nigel. Elton John: A Visual Documentary,
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978-0-275-95698-1.

12

External links

• Elton John’s official website
• Elton John at the Internet Movie Database
• Commentary by Elton John (The Guardian)

20

13

13
13.1

TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses
Text

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13.1

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21

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Starcheerspeaksnewslostwars, GoingBatty, Wesker007, Exok, RenamedUser01302013, Lindsaywinn, Kimiko20, Artiquities, Jim Michael,

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TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

We hope, Evanh2008, NathanBullock, Jplarkin, Lacon432, Kiwi128, Mike in Aus, Trainfan01, H3llBot, Bytor7, Unreal7, Xavier 21, Prostotak123, Burbridge92, Cooldude3359, HammerFilmFan, Favoritething, Brandmeister, Misszabone, Ejlarson, Tableclothes, Wolf111lion,
Status, RayneVanDunem, NicholasJr7, Danrivera, Leeds120, Dweeby123, Xij29y6, AaronRodgers27, Mhiji, Careerbreak, Cyan301, CactusBot, Somewhatdazed, DrDrake100, MelbourneStar, Movses-bot, Shylocksboy, MusicGeek101, Simpsonsfan127, Dresian, Mr. D. E.
Mophon, Petey Parrot, Zmaher, Jjambon, RafikiSykes, GotMilk3, IgnorantArmies, 04jacksonc, Helpful Pixie Bot, Kgenereux, BG19bot,
Trueethnic, Kaltenmeyer, Queen Zeppelin Metallica Floyd, Rudi argento, Yoda956, Bonnie13J, BizarreLoveTriangle, BobDylanFan1994,
Batman194, Inkimuff, Sobarwiki, Hergilfs, Accurastic, Equalizer2011, Markalilly, BMfan27, Polmandc, Creativewill, Loriendrew, Youreallycan, Openmy, BattyBot, Thebuck093, Chie one, ChrisGualtieri, DavGreg, Myxomatosis57, EditorE, Tx rnel, Dobie80, TheBronzeMex, Franck Holland, RC1995, Mogism, Simon1123h, Dennis lance, SuperDog96, VIAFbot, Anastacia599, Herve Reex, Rony1992,
Rapprochement, May279, NoMatterTryAgain, Rotlink, Hillbillyholiday, Willy993, Limpwristed, Politsi, CJAllbee, Triplecrown120, I
am One of Many, User5482, NJRobbie, Realityme, Blythwood, Chartbot, ElHef, MJ1982, Shaeluv1, Zachtron, Nintendonix, Andy Tsz
Hin Cho, Gavelboy, Glenmeister, Synthwave.94, SNUGGUMS, SouthGal62, Kind Tennis Fan, Taylor Trescott, Tragic in the fall out,
DudeWithAFeud, Stella4455, The Nateman, Kelvin’s page, Justjamesb, Matthiasberoli, Boris Hannig, Carlos Rojas77, Chowkatsunofficial, Charge2charge, Zumoarirodoka, Vieque, Jedi3957, Slipsticks, RyanTQuinn, Spiderjerky, TeaLover1996, Mshoaib271, Frevel8093,
Delgada1975, Rotten Tardises, Whoshackingwho, SlasherOfDeath, KasparBot, Ludwigpaisteman, Skkywill and Anonymous: 1057

13.2

Images

• File:Candle_In_The_Wind_1997_sample.ogg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/32/Candle_In_The_Wind_1997_
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