Elton John

Sir Elton John is an English singer, songwriter and pianist who is one of the best-selling and most enduring musicians in the history of popular music. Over a career spanning more than five decades, he has produced a vast catalogue of hit songs, most written in collaboration with the lyricist Bernie Taupin, and has become known for his flamboyant stage persona, his work in film and theatre, and his philanthropy.

Early life

Elton John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25, 1947, in Pinner, in the London area, England. A musical prodigy, he learned the piano as a child and won a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music. He played in bands during his teenage years and worked as a session musician before adopting the stage name Elton John, drawn in part from the names of fellow musicians. His pivotal early partnership with lyricist Bernie Taupin, formed after they answered the same advertisement, became the foundation of his songwriting career.

Career

John rose to prominence around the start of the 1970s, achieving breakthrough success with the song Your Song and a series of acclaimed albums. Through the 1970s he became one of the era's dominant recording artists, with hits including Rocket Man, Tiny Dancer, Crocodile Rock, Bennie and the Jets, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and many others. His distinctive piano-driven sound, paired with Taupin's lyrics and his own extravagant stage costumes, made him a global superstar. Over the years he recorded numerous chart-topping albums and singles and became known for both ballads and uptempo rock and pop songs. His re-recorded tribute Candle in the Wind, performed at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, became one of the best-selling singles ever released.

Recent work

John's work extended well beyond his recording career. He composed music for the Disney film The Lion King, winning an Academy Award, and wrote scores for stage musicals including Aida and Billy Elliot the Musical, earning further major awards. He has been a prominent advocate in the fight against HIV/AIDS through his charitable foundation. After publicly announcing his retirement from extensive touring, he completed a lengthy, multi-year farewell concert tour that ranked among the highest-grossing tours in history. His life and music were also dramatized in the biographical film Rocketman, and he co-wrote an original song for the film that earned him further awards recognition. Over his career he won numerous Grammy Awards and other major honours across the recording, film and theatre industries. Honoured with a knighthood and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and openly gay and married, he has long used his platform to support charitable and humanitarian causes. He remains one of the most celebrated and influential figures in modern popular music.