Search

The Online Encyclopedia and Dictionary
 
     
 

Encyclopedia

Dictionary

Quotes
 

Elton John


Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, is a very successful British pop singer, pianist, and songwriter. He has created a long string of hit records and projects over a career that is well into its fourth decade. His flamboyant fashion sense, on-stage showmanship, and public struggles with his private life have combined with his talent to make him a popular music icon.

Contents
1 Early Life
2 Musical career
3 Personal life
4 Musical style
5 Quotations
6 Discography
7 Hit singles
8 External links

Early Life

Elton John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25, 1947, in Pinner, Middlesex, England, the son of a squadron leader in the Royal Air Force named Stanley Dwight, and his wife Sheila Dwight. They would divorce in 1962, when Reginald was 14, and Sheila would marry Fred Farebrother, some ten years after. Stanley wanted Reggie to be a Royal Air Force pilot or a bank teller, when he grew up. Since Stanley was away most of the time, Reggie was raised primarily by Sheila, his grandmother and his aunt.

Reggie began playing piano when he was four, and when he was 11, he won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music. He had previously attended Pinner County Grammar School. He stayed at the Academy for six years, before leaving to get into the music business.

Musical career

In 1960, Reggie and some of his friends formed a band called the Corvettes, which evolved into Bluesology , a more serious group. Reggie would divide his time between playing with the group, giving solo concerts at a local hotel, and running errands for a London publishing house, for some time. By the mid-1960s, Bluesology was backing touring American soul and R&B musicians like Major Lance , Doris Troy, and the Bluebells . In 1966, the band became musician Long John Baldry's supporting band and began touring cabarets with him throughout England. As Baldry's control over the band increased, Reggie started looking for other groups to join. In one of many audition he attended and failed to get picked, Reggie was given some lyrics that lyricist Bernie Taupin had written.

Reggie then wrote music for the lyrics, and started corresponding with Bernie through the mail. Reggie at that time changed his name to Elton John, by deed poll, in homage to Bluesology saxophonist Elton Dean and Long John Baldry.

He scored his first international hits in 1970 with his self-titled second album, which included one of his best-loved songs, "Your Song". He went on to become one of the most successful recording artists of the 1970s, with globally-successful singles including "Rocket Man", "Crocodile Rock", "Saturday Night's Alright (for Fighting)", "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", and "Bennie and the Jets". His biggest 1980s hits included, among others, "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues", "I'm Still Standing", 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. In 1997, he updated the lyrics of "Candle in the Wind" for a special version mourning the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, and this became the fastest selling single of all time.

In 1992 he 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.

He has also done work both for and in films. In 1971, he wrote original songs for the movie Friends. In 1975, he appeared as the Pinball Wizard in the movie version of the rock opera Tommy. Then, in 1994, he (along with Tim Rice) wrote the songs for the Disney animated film The Lion King (John and Rice subsequently won a Best Original Song Oscar for "Can You Feel the Love Tonight"). Rice was reportedly stunned by the rapidity with which John was able to set his words to music. 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).

In each of 30 consecutive years, from 1970 through 1999, John appeared with at least one single on the "Top 40" of Billboard magazine's pop record chart, the "Hot 100" - a feat unmatched by any other recording artist.

In 2000, he recorded his One Night Only album over a two-night concert recorded from Madison Square Garden. His band included long-time members Davey Johnstone and Nigel Olsson , as well as the internationally renouned John Jorgenson , Bob Birch , John Mahon , and Curt Bisquera . The concert also featured duets with Mary J. Blige, Billy Joel, Ronan Keating, Bryan Adams, Kiki Dee, and Anastacia.

In 2003, he reached number one in the United Kingdom with a rerelease of the single "Are You Ready For Love" which had been only a minor hit when first released in 1979. In 2004, John expanded his musical theatre repertoire by composing songs for the musical adaptation of Billy Elliot. Later in December of that same year, John received the Kennedy Center Honor for a lifetime of contribution to entertainment.

He continues to release new material to commercial success, and tours extensively, despite being fitted with a pacemaker. His face-to-face tours with fellow pianist Billy Joel have been a fan favourite throughout the world since the mid-1990s.

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 has occasionally battled addictions to cocaine and financial difficulties caused by his profligate spending.

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.

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 Grammy awards for "Song of the Year" and for "Best Pop Performance, by a Duo or Group".

John founded the Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1992 as a charity to fund programs 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.

Currently, John lives in the Atlanta area, a fact that the city mentions freely in its promotional materials.

Musical style

"Your Song", one of his earliest and most popular hits, incorporates some 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.
  • Another feature of John's style is the use of 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".

Quotations

  • "I've always had a body-image problem. No self-esteem. And that will never leave me."

Discography

Hit singles

  • from "Friends " soundtrack
    • 1971 "Friends" #34 US
  • from "Elton John (album)"
    • 1971 "Your Song" #7 UK, #8 US
  • from "Honky Chateau"
    • 1972 "Rocket Man" #2 UK, #6 US
    • 1972 "Honky Cat" #31 UK, #8 US
  • from "Madman Across the Water"
    • 1972 "Levon" #24 US
  • from "Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player"
    • 1972 "Crocodile Rock" #5 UK, #1 US
    • 1973 "Daniel" #4 UK, #2 US
  • from "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"
    • 1973 "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" #7 UK, #12 US
    • 1973 "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" #6 UK, #2 US
  • non-album single
    • 1973 "Step into Christmas" #24 UK, #1 US
  • from "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"
    • 1974 "Candle in the Wind" #11 UK
    • 1974 "Bennie and the Jets" #37 UK (1976 release), #1 US
  • from "Caribou"
    • 1974 "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" #16 UK, #2 US
    • 1974 "The Bitch is Back" #15 UK, #4 US
  • from "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy"
    • 1974 "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" #10 UK, #1 US
    • 1975 "Philadelphia Freedom" (Elton John Band) #12 UK, #1 US
    • 1975 "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" #22 UK, #4 US
  • from "Rock of the Westies"
    • 1975 "Island Girl" #14 UK, #1 US
    • 1976 "Grow Some Funk of Your Own" #14 US
    • 1976 "I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)" #14 US
  • non-album single
    • 1976 "Pinball Wizard" #7 UK
    • 1976 "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (with Kiki Dee) #1 UK, #1 US
  • from "Blue Moves"
    • 1976 "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" #11 UK, #6 US
    • 1977 "Crazy Water" #27 UK
    • 1977 "Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance)" #28 UK, #28 US
  • non-album single
    • 1978 "Ego" #34 UK, #34 US
  • from "A Single Man"
    • 1978 "Part Time Love" #15 UK, #22 US
    • 1978 "Song for Guy" #4 UK
  • from "The Thom Bell Sessions EP "
    • 1979 "Mama Can't Buy You Love" #9 US
  • from "Victim of Love"
    • 1979 "Victim of Love" #31 US
  • from "21 at 33 "
    • 1980 "Little Jeannie " #33 UK, #3 US
    • 1980 "(Sartorial Eloquence) Don't Ya Wanna Play This Game No More" #39 US
  • non-album single
    • 1981 "I Saw Her Standing There " (Elton John Band feat. John Lennon & The Muscle Shoals Horns) #40 UK
  • from "The Fox "
    • 1981 "Chloe" #34 US
    • 1981 "Nobody Wins" #21 US
  • from "Jump Up! "
    • 1982 "Blue Eyes" #8 UK, #12 US
    • 1982 "Empty Garden (Hey, Hey Johnny)" #13 US
  • from "Too Low for Zero "
    • 1983 "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" #5 UK, #4 US
    • 1983 "I'm Still Standing" #4 UK, #12 US
    • 1983 "Kiss the Bride" #20 UK, #25 US
    • 1983 "Cold As Christmas/Crystal" #33 UK
  • from "Breaking Hearts "
    • 1984 "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" #7 UK, #5 US
    • 1984 "Passengers" #5 UK
    • 1984 "In Neon" #38 US
    • 1984 "Who Wears These Shoes?" #16 US
  • from "Ice on Fire "
    • 1985 "Act of War" (with Millie Jackson) #32 UK
    • 1985 "Nikita" #3 UK, #7 US
  • from "Friends" (album by Dionne Warwick)
    • 1985 "That's What Friends are for" (Dionne Warwick & Friends feat. Elton John, Stevie Wonder & Gladys Knight) #16 UK, #1 US
  • from "Ice on Fire "
    • 1985 "Wrap Her Up" #12 UK, #20 US
  • non-album-related re-issue
    • 1988 "Candle In The Wind" (re-issue) #8 UK, #6 US
  • from "Reg Strikes Back "
    • 1988 "I Don't Wanna Go on with You Like That" #30 UK, #2 US
    • 1988 "A Word in Spanish" #19 US
  • from "Sleeping with the Past "
    • 1990 "Sacrifice" (re-issue) #1 UK (double A-side with Healing Hands in the UK), #18 US
    • 1990 "Healing Hands" #13 US
    • 1990 "Club at the End of the Street" #28 US
  • from "The Very Best Of Elton John "
    • 1990 "You Gotta Love Someone" #33 UK
  • non-album single
    • 1991 "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (George Michael with Elton John) #1 UK, #1 US
  • from "The One"
    • 1992 "The One" #10 UK, #9 US
    • 1992 "Runaway Train" (with Eric Clapton) #31 UK
    • 1992 "The Last Song" #21 UK, #23 US
    • 1993 "Simple Life" #30 US
  • from "Duets "
    • 1993 "True Love" (with Kiki Dee) #2 UK
    • 1994 "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (with RuPaul) #7 UK
    • 1994 "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (Marcella Detroit & Elton John) #24 UK
  • from "The Lion King" soundtrack
    • 1994 "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" #14 UK, #4 US
    • 1994 "Circle of Life" #11 UK, #18 US
  • from "Made in England "
    • 1995 "Believe" #15 UK, #13 US
    • 1995 "Made in England" #18 UK
    • 1995 "Blessed" #34 US
    • 1996 "Please" #33 UK
  • from "Luciano Pavarotti & Friends for War Child " charity compilation
    • 1996 "Live Like Horses" (with Luciano Pavarotti) #9 UK
  • non-album single
    • 1997 "Candle in the Wind 97/Something about the Way You Look Tonight" #1 UK, #1 US
  • from "Big Picture "
    • 1998 "Recover Your Soul" #16 UK
    • 1998 "If the River Can Bend" #32 UK
  • from "Aida " soundtrack
    • 1999 "Written in the Stars" (with LeAnn Rimes) #10 UK, #29 US
  • from "Songs from the West Coast "
    • 2001 "I Want Love" #9 UK
    • 2002 "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore" #24 UK
    • 2002 "Original Sin" #39 UK
  • non-album charity single based on "Moulin Rouge" soundtrack version of the song
    • 2002 "Your Song" (with Alessandro Safina) #4 UK
  • from "One Love (Blue album) " (album by Blue)
    • 2002 "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word" (Blue feat. Elton John) #1 UK
  • from the UK release of "Greatest Hits 1970-2002 ", originally from "The Thom Bell Sessions EP "
    • 2003 "Are You Ready for Love" #1 UK
  • from "Peachtree Road"
    • 2004 "All That I'm Allowed (I'm Thankful)" #20 UK
    • 2005 "Turn The Lights Out When You Leave" #32 UK

External links

Last updated: 10-12-2005 02:55:19
The contents of this article are licensed from Wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. How to see transparent copy
 
 
     
 
Arts and Culture Entertainment People Science Social Sciences Geography
Maths Nature Knowledge All Categories
Fact Archive.com, 2005. Legal info