Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John [1][2] (birth name Reginald Kenneth Dwight, born 25 March 1947) is an English singer, songwriter, pianist and composer. He started his music career immediately after leaving school.[3] Elton John was the biggest music star of the 1970s.[4]
Elton John | |
|---|---|
.JPG) John at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival | |
| Born | Reginald Kenneth Dwight 25 March 1947 |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1962–present |
| Spouse(s) | Renate Blauel (m. 1984; div. 1988) David Furnish (m. 2014) |
| Children | 2 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments |
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| Labels | |
| Associated acts | |
| Website | eltonjohn |
| Website | @Elton_Johns |
Early life
Reginald Kenneth Dwight was born at 55 Pinner Hill Road, Pinner, Middlesex. He is the eldest child of Stanley Dwight and Sheila Eileen.[5] He was educated in Pinner.
Career
John became famous in the early 1970s when he and lyricist Bernie Taupin wrote several songs which he performed and recorded. John became a huge star, not only for his musical abilities, but for his flamboyant stage personality. He composed several musicals. He also composed the music for the animated movies The Lion King (1994) and The Road to El Dorado (2000). He is active in charity work. In 1997, in honor of Diana, Princess of Wales, John co-wrote and released a version of his hit Candle in the Wind. That became the world's best-selling single of all time. It sold 37 million copies within two months.
Outside of music, John has raised millions of pounds for people living with HIV and AIDS through the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Awards
John has received the following awards:
Academy Awards
- 1995: Best Original Song for "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" from The Lion King
- 2020: Best Original Song for “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from Rocketman
Grammy Awards
- 1987: Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "That's What Friends Are For", performed by Dionne Warwick & Friends (award shared with Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight & Stevie Wonder)
- 1991: Best Instrumental Composition for "Basque", performed by James Galway
- 1995: Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Can You Feel the Love Tonight"
- 1997: Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Candle in the Wind 1997"
- 1999: Grammy Legend Award
- 2001: Best Musical Show Album for Elton John & Tim Rice's Aida (award shared with Guy Babylon, Paul Bogaev & Chris Montan (producers), Tim Rice (lyricist) and the original Broadway cast with Heather Headley, Adam Pascal, and Sherie Rene Scott)
Tony Awards
- 2000: Best Original Musical Score for Aida
Personal life
John has had treatment for alcoholism, drug abuse and bulimia nervosa.[6] In 1984, he was married to Renate Blauel. In 2005, John entered a civil partnership with David Furnish. They had been together for over 16 years.[7] On 21 December 2014, John and Furnish married. Guests at their wedding included English former footballer David Beckham along with his wife Victoria Beckham and their younger sons and their daughter. Their eldest son, who is also John's godson, was not present.[8]
Discography
- Studio albums
- Empty Sky (1969)
- Elton John (1970)
- Tumbleweed Connection (1970)
- Madman Across the Water (1971)
- Honky Chateau (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)
- 21 at 33 (1980)
- The Fox (1981)
- Jump Up! (1982)
- Too Low of Zero (1983)
- Breaking Hearts (1984)
- Ice on Fire (1985)
- Leather Jackets (1986)
- Reg Strikes Back (1988)
- Sleeping with the Past (1989)
- The One (1992)
- Duets (1993)
- Made in England (1995)
- The Big Picture (1997)
- Songs from the West Coast (2001)
- Peachtree Road (2004)
- The Captain & the Kid (2006)
- The Union (2010)
- The Diving Board (2013)
- Wonderful Crazy Night (2016)
- Regimental Sgt. Zippo (2021)
Elton John Media
Elton John (known then as Reg Dwight) studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London for five years.
The 1910 piano on which John composed his first five albums
John at the Musikhalle Hamburg, in March 1972
John on the piano during a live performance in 1975
John receiving his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1975
John performing live in Dublin with Ray Cooper in 1979
Elton John performing at The Prince’s Trust Rock Gala Concert on June 20, 1986.
John costume from the 1986 Tour de Force Australian concerts, on display in the Hard Rock Cafe, London
John with Luciano Pavarotti in Modena, 1996
Interior of Westminster Abbey where John performed "Candle in the Wind 1997" live for the only time at Princess Diana's funeral
References
- ↑ Change of Name. 11 January 1972. p. 403. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/45571/page/403
- ↑ "New year honours". BBC News (The British Broadcasting Corporation). 1997-12-31. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/for_christmas/_new_year/new_year_honours/43509.stm. Retrieved 2009-08-07. "KNIGHTS BACHELOR ...Elton Hercules John, CBE. Musician and Composer. For services to Music and for charitable services.".
- ↑ "Elton John's biography on eltonjohn.com". Archived from the original on 2010-07-15. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
- ↑ "A biography of Elton John". Archived from the original on 2009-04-13. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
- ↑ "Birthplace of Elton John goes up for sale". Harrow Times. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
- ↑ Rolling Stone
- ↑ Briggs, Caroline (21 December 2005). "Sir Elton celebrates his big day". BBC. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
- ↑ Barbara Miller (2014-12-21). "Sir Elton John marries partner David Furnish in ceremony at their home". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2014-12-21.