Elton John
Pop, Rock • Pinner, United Kingdom
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, songwriter and pianist whose music and flamboyant showmanship revolutionized popular music. With over 300 million records sold worldwide, he ranks among the best-selling artists of all time and stands as the most successful solo artist in US Billboard history.
John began piano lessons at age seven and won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music at eleven. After years as a session musician and pub pianist, he answered an advertisement in 1967 that led to a pivotal partnership with lyricist Bernie Taupin. The pair quickly became one of music's most prolific songwriting teams. John's 1970 debut album Elton John yielded his first hit, "Your Song," establishing the signature blend of gospel-influenced rock and poignant ballads that would define his sound.
Throughout the 1970s, John achieved unprecedented commercial success. Between 1972 and 1975, he released seven consecutive US number-one albums—a feat never accomplished before. Albums like Honky Château (1972), Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973), and Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975) produced timeless hits including "Rocket Man," "Bennie and the Jets," "Crocodile Rock," and "Don't Go Breaking My Heart." His 1997 tribute to Princess Diana, "Candle in the Wind 1997," became the best-selling single of all time with over 33 million copies sold.
Beyond music, John explored theatrical composition, writing scores for The Lion King (1994), Aida (2000), and Billy Elliot the Musical (2005). His artistry extended to his legendary stage presence—costumes featuring ostrich feathers, towering spectacles, and elaborate designs became cultural touchstones. His Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour (2018–2023) became the highest-grossing tour in history.
John's achievements earned him iconic status: five Grammy Awards, two Academy Awards, a Tony Award, and induction into both the Songwriters and Rock and Roll halls of fame. He was knighted in 1998 for services to music and charity, particularly his founding of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which has raised over £300 million. With a career spanning six decades and influence across generations, John remains one of music's most enduring and transformative figures.
Quotes
“I kind of resented going to the Academy. I was one of those children who could just about get away without practising and still pass, scrape through the grades.”
“She was the classiest woman I've ever met, but it wasn't meant to be. I was living a lie.”
“I was used to making records under the haze of alcohol or drugs, and here I was, 100% sober, so it was tough. But I managed to come up with a good song, which was the title of the record.”
“Ten years ago if you asked me if I would stop touring I would have said no. But we had children and that changed our lives. I have had an amazing life and career but my life has changed. My priorities are now my children and my husband and my family.”
“I realised there was something weirdly familiar about working like this. At the start of my career, in the late 60s, I worked as a session musician. Working with different artists during lockdown reminded me of that. I'd come full circle: I was a session musician again. And it was still a blast.”
Career Timeline
Farewell Tour Ends
Final concert of Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour in Stockholm, Sweden on July 8, 2023; tour was highest-grossing tour at the time
Rocketman Biographical Film
Biographical film about John's life from childhood to the 1980s, directed by Dexter Fletcher and starring Taron Egerton; won Academy Award for Best Original Song
Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour Begins
First concert of three-year farewell tour in Allentown, Pennsylvania, consisting of more than 300 concerts worldwide
Billy Elliot the Musical
Composed music for West End theatre production that won four Laurence Olivier Awards and became the 12th-longest-running musical in West End history
Candle in the Wind 1997
Rewritten version of 1974 single performed at Princess Diana's funeral; became the best-selling single of all time with over 33 million copies sold worldwide
The Lion King Soundtrack
Composed music with Tim Rice for Disney's animated film; won Academy Award for Best Original Song and Grammy Award
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
Autobiographical album that debuted at number one in the US, the first album to do so, and stayed there for seven weeks
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Double album that gained instant critical acclaim and topped charts on both sides of the Atlantic, establishing John as a glam rock star
Honky Château Released
First US number-one album, spending five weeks at the top of the Billboard 200 and beginning a streak of seven consecutive US number-one albums
First US Concert
Performed at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, California, achieving critical success
