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| {{Infobox musical artist | |||
| |Name = Elton John | |||
| |Img = EJ1.jpg | |||
| |Img_capt = | |||
| |Born = {{birth date and age|1947|3|25}} | |||
| |Origin = {{flagicon|England}} ], ], ], ] | |||
| |Genre = ], ], ] | |||
| |Occupation = ] ], ], ], ], ] | |||
| |Years_active = ]—] | |||
| |Label = ] <small>(1969—1972)</small> <br>] <small>(1972—1980)</small> <br>] <small>(1981—1987)<br>] <small>(1987—1993)</small> <br>]/] <small>(1995—1999)</small> <br> ] <small>(US 2001—2004)</small> <br> ] <small>(US 2006—present)</small> <br> ] <small>(non-US 1995—present)</small> | |||
| |URL = }} | |||
| '''Sir Elton Hercules John''', ]<ref> This middle name, after the horse named Hercules on the British sitcom '']'', appears little used (it only receives ), however uses the name in its entry. It is officially part of his name, as reflected in ] notifying the change of name of a company director (Elton John).</ref><ref></ref> (born '''Reginald Kenneth Dwight''' on ] ]) is an ] ]/] ], ] and ]. | |||
| In a career spanning five decades, Elton John has sold over 250 million records<ref>http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/18137562</ref> and has over 50 ] hits, making him one of the most successful musicians of all time. John was one of the dominant commercial forces in the rock world during the 1970s, with a string of seven consecutive #1 records on the U.S. album charts, 23 Top 40 singles, 16 Top 10 ones, and six #1 hits. His success had a profound impact on ], and contributed to the continued popularity of the piano in ]. Key musical elements in John's success included his melodic gifts matched with the contributions of his lyricist partner ], his rich ] and ]-chorded piano, aggressive ] arrangements, and his ] fashion sense and on-stage showmanship. In 2004, ] ranked him #49 on their list of the .<ref>{{cite web| title = The Immortals: The First Fifty| work = Rolling Stone Issue 946| publisher = Rolling Stone| url =http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5939214/the_immortals_the_first_fifty}}</ref><ref>http://www.classicbands.com/eltonjohn.html</ref> He continues to be a major public figure, and has been heavily involved in the fight against ] since the late ]. He was inducted into the ] in ] and was ] in ], and has remained an enduringly successful artist. | |||
| ==Biography== | |||
| Reginald Kenneth Dwight was born in ], ], a ] suburb. His father, Stanley Dwight, was an officer in the ] and was frequently away, while his mother, the former Sheila Harris commented years later that her son grew up "a bundle of nerves." Reginald's childhood was marred by terrible arguments between his parents. | |||
| Stanley Dwight had once played trumpet with an American-styled big band called Bob Miller and The Millermen. He and Sheila were avid record buyers, exposing Reginald to the music of pianists ], ], and ], and to singers ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. Aged 3 Reginald started playing the piano, while by aged 4 his parents recognized Reginald's talent, and would often ask him to play at parties. | |||
| In ], Reginald discovered ]. Soon his mother was buying him records by rock 'n' roll acts like Presley and ]. By the time he started attending the ] on a scholarship at age 11, Reginald's musical mind was firmly wedded to rock 'n' roll. | |||
| Reginald preferred playing by ear. Subprofessor Helen Piena once said that upon the boy's entrance into the Academy, she'd played him a four-page piece by ], which he promptly played back for her like a "gramophone record." Reginald enjoyed playing ] and ] and singing in the choir during his Saturday classes at the Academy, but was not otherwise a diligent classical student. As he remembered decades later, "I kind of resented going to the Academy. I was one of those children who could just about get away without practicing and still pass, scrape through the grades." Sometimes, he would play truant and ride around the tube (subway). Yet Piena saw Reginald as a "model student." | |||
| A student at the Academy for five years, Reginald rounded out the little free time he had with a newspaper route and a job at a wine shop on Saturday afternoons after class. At Pinner Country Grammar School, he was more advanced musically than his peers and had an aptitude for songwriting, dashing off good melodies for his composition assignments. | |||
| Reginald's record collection grew rapidly. He took sustenance in the early rock 'n' roll piano pioneers, annoying his father, who wanted him to concentrate on the classics, and frightening his mother with a fascination for music of the sexual, androgynous ]. Reginald gained some notoriety by playing like ] at ] functions, and even sang. | |||
| In 1962, Reginald's embattled parents finally divorced, in the wake of Sheila Dwight's friendship with a painter named Fred Farebrother. Later, Stanley married again and had four children. | |||
| ===Early career (1962–1969)=== | |||
| At age 15, with the help of caring father figure Farebrother, Reginald Dwight became a weekend pianist at the nearby Northwood Hills pub, playing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. The crowd was often rough – sometimes an unruly patron would dump a pint of beer into Reginald's piano – and the youngster had to work hard to please them. He played everything from ] ] songs ("He'll Have to Go") to ] ] numbers ("When Irish Eyes Are Smiling"), decades-old ditties ("Beer Barrel Polka"), hits of the day ("King of the Road"), and songs he had written himself. He received a modest, steady income and substantial tips. "During that whole period, I don't think I ever missed a gig," he said later. A stint with a short-lived group called the Corvettes rounded out his time. | |||
| In 1964, 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 ], ], ] and ]. In 1966, the band became musician ]'s supporting band and began touring cabarets in England. | |||
| After failing lead vocalist auditions for both ] and ], Dwight answered an advertisement in the '']'' placed by ], then the A&R manager for ]. At their first meeting, Williams gave Dwight a stack of lyrics written by ], who had answered the same ad. Dwight wrote music for the lyrics, and then mailed it to Taupin, and thus began a partnership that continues to this day. In 1967, what would become the first Elton John/Bernie Taupin song, "Scarecrow", was recorded; when the two first met, six months later, Reginald Dwight had changed his name to '''Elton John''', by ], in homage to Bluesology saxophonist ] and Long ''John'' Baldry. | |||
| ]'', Elton John's 1969 ], went largely unnoticed.]] | |||
| The team of John and Taupin joined ]'s ] as staff songwriters in 1968, and over the next two years wrote material for various artists, like ] and ]. 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. For two years, they wrote ] tunes for James to peddle to singers. | |||
| Their early output included an entry for British song for the ] in ], called ''"Can't Go On (Living Without You)"'' It came sixth of six songs.<ref>http://www.sandieshaw.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=773&sid=017e2a49eed0aa995e7346cf214a7a90</ref> | |||
| During this period John also played on sessions for other artists including playing piano on ]' ] and singing backing vocals for ].<ref> In his 1981 book "Thank U Very Much - Mike McCartney's Family Album" Scaffold singer Mike McGear (McCartney) describes a meeting with Elton John during which John advises him he used to sing background vocals for the group.</ref> | |||
| On the advice of music publisher Steve Brown, John and Taupin started writing more complex songs for John to record for DJM. The first was the single "I've Been Loving You" (1968), produced by Caleb Quaye, former Bluesology guitarist. In 1969, with Quaye, drummer Roger Pope, and bassist Tony Murray, John recorded another single, "]," and an album, '']''. Despite good reviews, none of the records sold well. | |||
| ===1970s=== | |||
| John and Taupin now enlisted ] to produce a follow-up with ] as arranger. | |||
| '']'' was released in the spring of 1970 on ]/] in the UK and ] in the USA, and established the formula for subsequent albums; gospel-chorded rockers and poignant ballads. After the first single "]" made the ], the album followed suit. John's first American concert took place at ] in Los Angeles, in August, backed by ex-] drummer ] and bassist ]. Kicking over his piano bench ]-style and performing handstands on the keyboards, John left the critics raving, and drew praise from fellow artists such as ] and ]. | |||
| ''Elton John'' was followed quickly with the concept album '']'' in October 1970, which reached the Top Ten on the ]. A frenetic pace of releasing two albums a year was now established. | |||
| The live album '']'' ('']'' in the US) showcased Elton's talent as a rock pianist and father of ]. Taped at a live show aired from A&R Studios on ] in ], and introduced by disc jockey ], it featured extended versions of John/Taupin's early compositions that illustrate the gospel and boogie-woogie influences on John's piano playing. It also featured much interaction between John, bassist ], and drummer ]. During the magnum opus 18:20 version of "]", the band interpolates ]'s "My Baby Left Me" and a full rendition of ]' "]" before a rampaging conclusion. | |||
| John and Taupin then wrote the soundtrack to the obscure film '']'' and then the album '']'', the latter reaching the Top Ten and producing the hit "]", while the soundtrack album produced the hit "Friends". | |||
| ]'']] | |||
| In 1972, the final piece of what would become known as the '''Elton John Band''' fell into place, with the addition of ] (on guitar and backing vocals). Murray, Olsson, and Johnstone came together with John and Taupin's writing, John's flamboyant performance style, and ] ] to create a hit-making chemistry for the next five Elton John albums. Known for their instrumental playing, the members of the band were also strong backing vocalists who worked out and recorded many of their vocal harmonies themselves, usually in Elton's absence. | |||
| The band released '']'', which became Elton's first American number 1 album, spending five weeks at the top of the charts and spawning the hit singles "]" and "]". | |||
| The 1973 pop album '']'' came out at the start of 1973, and produced the hits "]" and "]"; the former became his first US number one hit. (Ironically this, like his other famous 1970s solo hits, would be popular in his native land but never top the ]; this achievement would have to wait two decades.) Both the album and "Crocodile Rock" were the first album and single, respectively on the consolidated ] label in the USA, replacing MCA's other labels including Uni. | |||
| '']'', a double album considered by many to be Elton John's best album, followed later in ]. It gained instant critical acclaim and topped the chart on both sides of the Atlantic. It also temporarily established Elton John as a ] star. It contained the Number 1 hit "]", along with the popular and praised "]", "]", "]", "]" and "Grey Seal". | |||
| John then formed his own MCA-distributed label ] and signed acts to it — notably ] ("Bad Blood", on which he sang background vocals) and ] — in which he took 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. | |||
| In 1974 a collaboration with ] took place, resulting in Elton John covering ]' "]" and Lennon's "One Day at a Time", and in return Elton John and band being featured on Lennon's "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night". In what would be Lennon's last live performance, the pair performed these two number 1 hits along with the Beatles classic "]" at ]. Lennon made the rare stage appearance to keep the promise he made that he would appear onstage with Elton if "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night" became a number 1 single. | |||
| ]''.]] | |||
| '']'' was released in 1974, and although it reached number 1, it was widely considered a lesser quality album. Reportedly recorded in a scant two weeks between live appearances, it featured "The Bitch Is Back" and John's versatility in orchestral songs with "]". At the end of the year, the compilation album '']'' was released and reached number 1. | |||
| ] of ] asked John to play a character called the "Pinball Wizard" in the film of the rock opera '']'', and to perform the song of the same name. Drawing on ]s, 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 England. ] subsequently released a "Captain Fantastic" pinball machine featuring an illustration of Elton John in his movie guise. | |||
| In the 1975 autobiographical album '']'', Elton John revealed his previously ambiguous personality, with Taupin's lyrics describing their early days as struggling songwriters and musicians in ]. The lyrics and accompanying photo booklet are infused with a specific sense of place and time that is otherwise rare in John's music. "]" was the hit single from this album and captured an early turning point in John's life. | |||
| The album's release signaled the end of the Elton John Band, as an unhappy and overworked John dismissed Olsson and Murray, two people who had contributed much of the band's signature sound and who had helped build his live following since the beginning. Johnstone and Ray Cooper were retained, Quaye and Roger Pope returned, and the new bassist was Kenny Passarelli; this rhythm section provided a heavier-sounding backbeat. James Newton-Howard joined to arrange in the studio and to play keyboards. John introduced the lineup before a crowd of 75,000 in London's ]. | |||
| Rock-oriented '']'' entered the ] at number 1 like ''Captain Fantastic'', a previously unattained feat. However, the material was almost universally regarded as not on a par with previous releases. The musical and vocal chemistry Olsson and Murray brought to Elton's previous releases was seen as lacking by some, both on the album and in the concerts that supported it. | |||
| Commercially, Elton owed much of his success during the mid-1970s to his concert performances. He filled arenas and stadiums worldwide, and was arguably the hottest act in the rock world. | |||
| John was an unlikely rock idol to begin with, as he was short of stature at 5'7" (1.70 m), chubby, and gradually losing his hair. But he made up for it with impassioned performances and over-the-top ]. Also known for his glasses (he started wearing them as a youth to copy his idol ]), his flamboyant stage wardrobe now included ] feathers, $5,000 spectacles that spelled his name in lights, and dressing up like the ], ], or ] among others at his concerts made them a success and created interest for his music. | |||
| To celebrate five years of unparalleled success since he first appeared at the venue, in 1975 John played a two-night, four-show stand at ]. 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. | |||
| In 1976, Elton released the live album '']'' in May, then the downbeat '']'' in October, which contained the memorable but even gloomier hit "]". His biggest success in 1976 was the "]", a peppy duet with ] that topped both the American and British charts. Finally, in an interview with '']'' that year entitled "Elton's Frank Talk", a stressed John stated that he was ]. | |||
| Besides being his most commercially successful period, 1970 - 1976 is also held in the most regard critically. Of the six Elton John albums to make ''Rolling Stone'''s 2003 ] list, all are from this period, with ''Goodbye Yellow Brick Road'' ranked highest at number 91; similarly, the three Elton John albums given five stars by ] are all from this period too (''Tumbleweed Connection'', ''Honky Château'', and ''Captain Fantastic''). | |||
| Elton's career took a hit after 1976. In November 1977 John announced he was retiring from performing; Taupin began collaborating with others. John secluded himself in any of his three mansions, appearing publicly only to cheer the ], an English football team that he later bought. Some speculated that John's retreat from stardom was prompted by adverse reactions to the ''Rolling Stone'' article. | |||
| Now only producing one album a year, John issued '']'' in 1978, employing a new lyricist, Gary Osborne; the album featured no Top 20 singles. In 1979, accompanied by ], John became the first Western pop star to tour the ] (as well as one of the first in ], then mounted a two-man comeback tour of the US in small halls. John returned to the singles chart with "Mama Can't Buy You Love" (number 9, 1979), a song from an EP recorded in 1977 with Philadelphia soul producer ]. A ]-influenced album, '']'', was poorly received. | |||
| === 1980s === | |||
| In 1979, John and Taupin reunited. '']'', released the following year, was a significant career boost, aided by his biggest hit in four years, "]" (number 3 US), although the lyrics were written by ]. (John also worked with lyricists ] and ] during this period as well.) His 1981 follow-up, '']'', was recorded in part during the same sessions and also included collaborations with both lyricists. On ] ] Elton John performed a free concert to an estimated 400,000 fans on The Great Lawn in ] in ], with Olsson and Murray back in the Elton John Band, and within hearing distance of his friend ]'s ]. Three months later Lennon would be murdered in front of that same building. Elton mourned the loss in his 1982 hit "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)", from his '']'' album, his second under a new US recording contract with ]. He performed the tribute at a sold-out Madison Square Garden show in August ], joined on stage by ] and ], Elton's godchild. | |||
| With original band members Johnstone, Murray and Olsson together again, Elton was able to return to the charts with the 1983 hit album '']'', which included "I'm Still Standing" and "]", the latter of which featured ] on harmonica and reached number 4 in the US, giving Elton John his biggest hit there since "Little Jeannie." Indeed while he would never again match his 1970s success, he placed hits in the US Top Ten throughout the 1980s — "]" (number 3, 1980), "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" (number 5, 1984), "]" (number 7, 1986), an orchestral version of "]" (number 6, 1987), and "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That" (number 2, 1988). His highest-charting single was a collaboration with ], ], and Stevie Wonder on "]" (number 1, 1985); credited as Dionne and Friends, the song raised funds for ] research. His albums continued to sell, but of the six released in the latter half of the ], only '']'' (number 16, 1988) placed in the Top 20 in the US. | |||
| The ] were years of personal upheaval for John. In 1984 he surprised many by marrying ] ]. While the marriage lasted four years, John later maintained that he had realised that he was gay before he married. In 1986 he lost his voice while touring ] and shortly thereafter underwent throat surgery. John continued recording prolifically, but years of ] and alcohol abuse, initiated in earnest around the time of ''Rock of the Westies''' 1976 release, were beginning to take their toll. In 1987 he won a libel case against '']'' who had written about his allegedly having underaged sex; afterwards he said, ''"You can call me a fat, balding, talentless old queen who can't sing — but you can't tell lies about me."'' | |||
| In 1988, he performed five sold-out shows at New York's Madison Square Garden, giving him 26 for his career, breaking the ]'s house record. But that year also marked the end of an era. Netting over $20 million, 2,000 items of John's memorabilia were auctioned off at Sotheby's in London, as John bade symbolic farewell to his excessive theatrical persona. (Among the items withheld from the auction were the tens of thousands of records John had been carefully collecting and cataloguing throughout his life.) In later interviews, he deemed 1989 the worst period of his life, comparing his mental and physical deterioration to ]'s last years. | |||
| === 1990s === | |||
| Elton John was deeply affected by the plight of ], an Indiana teenager with ]. Along with ], John befriended and supported the boy and his family until White's death in 1990. Himself a mess and confronted by his then-lover, John checked into a Chicago hospital in 1990 to combat his ], ], and ]. In recovery, he lost weight and underwent hair replacement, and subsequently took up residence in ]. Also in 1990, John would finally achieve his first UK number one hit on his own, with "]" (backed with "Healing Hands") from the previous year's album '']''; it would stay at the top spot for six weeks. | |||
| The 1991 film documentary '']'' described the unusual writing style that John and Bernie Taupin use, which 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. That same year, the '']'' ] came out, featuring contributions from many top British and American rock and pop performers. Finally in 1991, John's "Basque" won the ], and his guest concert appearance on ]'s reverent treatment of "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" topped the singles charts in both the US and UK. | |||
| In 1992 he established the Elton John AIDS Foundation, intending to direct 90 percent of the funds it raised to direct care, and 10 percent to AIDS prevention education. He also announced his intention to donate all future royalties from sales of his singles in the US and UK to AIDS research. That year, he released the US number 8 album '']'', his highest-charting release since 1976's ''Blue Moves'', and John and Taupin 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. John performed "]" and "]" with ] at the ], an AIDS charity event held at ], ] in honour of Queen's late front man ]. "Bohemian Rhapsody" featured a duet with ], a reconciliatory gesture given Rose's previous homophobic reputation. | |||
| In September of the same year, he performed "]" with Rose's band ] for the 1992 ] at the ] in Los Angeles. The following year, he released '']'', a collaboration with 15 artists ranging from ] to ]. | |||
| In 1994, along with ], he wrote the songs for the ] animated film '']''. (Rice was reportedly stunned by the rapidity with which John was able to set his words to music.) ''The Lion King'' went on to become the highest-grossing traditionally-animated feature of all time, with the songs playing a key part. Three of the five songs nominated for the ] that year were John and Rice songs from '']'', with "]" winning. (John acknowledged his domestic partner, Canadian filmmaker ], at the ceremonies.) In versions sung by John, both that and "]" became big hits, while the other songs such as "]" achieved popularity with all ages as well. "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" would also win John the ]. After the release of the soundtrack, the album remained at the top of Billboard's charts for nine weeks. On ], ], the ] announced that the album ''The Lion King'' had sold 15 million copies and therefore was certified as a ] with room to spare. | |||
| Elton John was inducted into the ] in his first year of eligibility in 1994. He and Bernie Taupin had previously been inducted into the ] in 1992. Elton John was made a ] in 1995. | |||
| In 1995 John released '']'' (number 13, 1995), which featured the hit single "Believe" (number 13, 1995). Also, a compilation called '']'' was released the following year. | |||
| ] | |||
| The year 1997 found extreme highs and lows for John. Early in the year, vestiges of the flamboyant Elton resurfaced as he threw a 50th birthday, costumed as ], for 500 friends (the costume cost more than $80,000). But later that year he lost two close friends, designer ] and ]. | |||
| In September, Taupin altered the lyrics of "Candle in the Wind" for a special version mourning the death of Diana, and John performed it at her funeral in ] While John sang, ] was seen with tears in his eyes. A recorded version, "]", then became the fastest selling single of all time, eventually going on to sell over 30 million copies worldwide, with the proceeds of approximately £55 million going to the ]. John would later win the ] for the single. | |||
| Elton John was ] by ] on ] ], granting him the title of "Sir". The honour was officially for his charitable work. | |||
| John closed out the decade by writing the score for '']'' in 1999. He also had a ] installed to overcome a minor heart problem. | |||
| John even featured in a few episodes of ] and performed "Wake Up Wendy" for ]. | |||
| His 1999 duet with ], '']'' (written by Tommy Santelli) reached #29 on the U.S. Top 40, marking the 30th consecutive year in which Elton John had had a Top 40 single. (However, this methodology credits one late 1995 hit ("Blessed") that extended into the January 1996 chart, and another single ("Candle in the Wind '97") whose chart run covered both 1997 and 1998.) John had separate Top 40 singles in every calendar year from 1970 to 1995, a 26-year stretch which surpasses any other performer of the rock era. (] had hits in each year from 1931 to 1957; this includes two years-- 1955 and 1957-- in which his only Top 40 single was the annual rerelease of '']''. Crosby had separate Top 40 singles in every calendar year from 1931 to 1954.) | |||
| === 2000s - Present Day === | |||
| In the 2000s, John began frequently collaborating with other artists. In 2000, John and Tim Rice teamed again to create songs for ]' animated film '']'' and was also the narrator. In the ] world, addition to a 1998 adaptation of ''The Lion King'' for ], John also composed music for a Disney production of '']'' in 1999 with lyricist Tim Rice, for which they received the ] and the ]. | |||
| In 2001, he duetted with ] on the rapper's "]" at the ] which appears on Eminem's compilation album '']'' as its bonus track. This went a long way towards absolving Eminem of charges of ] and thus paving the way for Eminem's greater mainstream acceptance. That same year, his 1970s track "]" was prominently featured in the film '']'', and then his "The Heart of Every Girl" was the end title song from 2003's '']''. | |||
| In 2001 he declared that '']'' would be his final studio album, and that he would now concentrate on just live performances. In 2004, however, he released a new album, '']'' which, despite some favourable reviews, was his least commercially successful album in every country it was released in. | |||
| On ], ], John was pretty saddened to hear that fellow musician ] had passed away of ]. John made a guest appearance on Harrison's, '']'', in 1988, and sang ] in the video. | |||
| "Are You Ready For Love" was pretty much ignored when it was first recorded during the late 1970s ] sessions, but it became something of a ] fixture and eventually got a re-release on ] in 2004 and proceeded to go straight to number 1 in the UK and on Billboard's ] chart. | |||
| Previously, in 2003, British boyband ] had released a version of "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word", which included John. It went to number 1 in the UK as well as many other European countries and he achieved yet another number 1 single in the UK in 2005, being featured on ]'s posthumous song "]" from the rapper's album, '']''. The song sampled "]" from John's 1971 album, '']''. In ] ], ] released their album '']'', the limited edition included "In Private", a new version of the ] single they had written in ]. The song, this time, had been recorded as a duet with John and was later released as bonus track on Pet Shop Boys' top 20 hit "Minimal". In 2003 he recorded a version of 'Your Song' with the British Cellist . | |||
| Elton's concert projects in the decade have included: | |||
| * In October 2003 Elton announced that he had signed an exclusive agreement to perform 75 shows over three years at ] in ]. The show, entitled ''The Red Piano'', is a multimedia concert featuring massive props and video montages created by ]. Effectively, he and ] share performances at Caesar's Palace throughout the year - while one performs, one rests. The first of these shows took place on ] ]. <ref>http://www.eltonjohn.com/home_index.asp?page=now/projects/redpiano.asp</ref> | |||
| * A two year global tour sandwiched between commitments in Las Vegas, some of the venues of which are new to Elton. | |||
| * Face-to-Face tours with fellow pianist ] have been a fan favourite throughout the world since the mid-1990s. | |||
| On ] ], John performed at the ]. Here he sang "]", "]" and lastly, ]'s "]" with ] and ]' frontman, ]. Another measure of fame came that July when ] made a statue of Elton John to his measurements; it took more than 1,000 hours to complete. | |||
| Returning again to musical theatre, John composed music for a ] production of '']'' in 2005 with playwright ]. John's only theatrical project with Bernie Taupin so far is '']'', based on the ] vampire novels. However it was slammed by the critics and closed in May 2006 after 39 performances. <ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5013218.stm</ref> | |||
| In ], Elton co-wrote the single "]" with the ], featuring Elton on piano. Recorded in Las Vegas, it is taken from the Scissor Sisters album '']''. | |||
| On ], 2006, Elton and Bernie Taupin released a sequel to ''],'' reflecting again on the phenomenal success, the sadnesses, the creativity and the optimism within their 40 year songwriting partnership; '']'' features ten new songs, including the first single "]", and for the first time ever, photographs of both Elton and Bernie Taupin are featured on the album front cover. | |||
| On ], 2006, ] named Elton a ], the company's highest honor, for his numerous outstanding contributions to Disney's films and theatrical works <ref>http://legends.disney.go.com/legends/detail?key=Elton+John</ref>. | |||
| In interviews Elton has listed a number of other projects of his in various stages, including an adaptation of '']''. <ref>http://www.stipkocontent.com/contentengine/publish/buzzine/interviews/article_1604.shtml </ref> He also told '']'' magazine that he plans for his next record to be in the ] genre. "I want to work with ], ], ], ], ] and just see what happens. It may be a ], it could be fantastic, but you don't know until you try." <ref name=6abc></ref> | |||
| On ] during ], ], Elton told '']'' magazine that he would like to see all organized religion banned<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6140710.stm?ls</ref>. "From my point of view, I would ban religion completely, even though there are some wonderful things about it. I love the idea of the teachings of Jesus Christ and all of the beautiful stories about it, which I loved in Sunday School and I collected all the little stickers and put them in my book. There are so many people I know who are gay and love their religion. But the reality is that organized religion doesn't seem to work. It turns people into hateful lemmings and it's not really compassionate." <ref>http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0,,1942193,00.html</ref> | |||
| "I think religion has always tried to turn hatred towards gay people. Religion promotes the hatred and spite against gays. Religious leaders had also failed to do anything about tensions and conflicts around the world. Why aren't they having a conclave? Why aren't they coming together? It's like the peace movement in the '60s. Musicians got through to people by getting out there and doing peace concerts, but we don't seem to do them any more. If John Lennon were alive today, he'd be leading it with a vengeance." | |||
| In a response, Reverend Jane Clarke, pastor of the ] which is a ] church in ], ], issued him a personal invitation. She said, "Before you give up entirely on religion, come and see how we do it here. I am certain that Elton will get a better idea of that faith can do if he came to see the love of God demonstrated for all people here at our church. We would be delighted to welcome him. We know that religions haven't always kept an unblemished record in combating the most hateful expressions of homophobia; many of our members have experienced this, which is why it's so important for us to get it right." | |||
| John will turn 60 on ], ]. He will celebrate with a lavish party with lots invited to attend. | |||
| == Personal life == | |||
| ] | |||
| John has had a complicated personal history in both his ], as well as personal battles with drugs, ], ] and spending. | |||
| ===Sexual orientation and extended relationships=== | |||
| In a ] '']'' interview he announced that he was ]. He said that he believed that everyone is allegedly bisexual to a degree which has never been proven, though. On rigid notions of ] gender expression, he cited Shirley MacLaine: "Shirley MacLaine said the right thing to ] on TV. She said, 'Oh c'mon, Tom. Let's stop al this stupid macho business. It really is a bit passé now.'"<ref>http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/davidbowie/articles/story/8718858/elton_john_its_lonely_at_the_top</ref>. | |||
| John married ] recording engineer ] on ], ], but they divorced four years later. John later renounced his bisexuality and came out as a ] instead. | |||
| He met his partner ], a former ] executive and now film maker, in ]. Furnish helped John overcome his drug addiction. On ] ], they entered into a ]. A low-key ceremony with only their parents in attendance was held at the ], followed by a lavish party at their ] mansion<ref></ref>. | |||
| John does not have any children, but does have ten ] as of March ]. Besides the aforementioned ], these include ]'s son Damian Charles and ] and ]'s son Brooklyn. | |||
| Within the music industry, Elton is sometimes known as "Sharon", a nickname originally given to him by good friend ]<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2003/11/02/do0210.xml&sSheet=/opinion/2003/11/02/ixop.html</ref>. In return, Elton calls Rod "Phyllis". | |||
| ===Drugs, alcohol and health=== | |||
| Throughout his career, John has battled addictions to ] and ]. He also battled the eating disorder ]. In a CNN Interview with Larry King in 2002, King asked if John was aware of Princess Diana's eating disorder. John replied, "Yes, I did. We were both bulimic. I was also a bulimic." <ref></ref> | |||
| He is also rumored to have struggled with significant financial difficulties caused by his profligate spending. In the mid-late 1990s, John formed a friendship with pop singer ], who later dedicated his ] album '']'' to him for the support John had given him during his struggle with addiction to prescription ]. | |||
| In ] he had an operation to remove polyps from his vocal cords. Physicians speculated that John's heavy use of ] may have contributed to the formation of the polyps.<ref>http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/celebrity/11352004.htm</ref>. | |||
| After many years of struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, John finally checked himself into a ] clinic in ]. He has cited the highly-publicized case of ], who died that same year of complications from ] (and at whose funeral John performed), as a major motivating factor in his decision to enter rehab. | |||
| In ], he was fitted with a ] due to an irregular heart beat. | |||
| ===Spending=== | |||
| Aside from his main home in Windsor, England, John splits his time in his various residences in ]; ]; ] in ]; and ]. Elton John is a noted ], and is believed to have one of the largest private ] collections in the world. | |||
| During the 2000 court case, where John sued both his former manager John Reid, the CEO of Reid's company and accountants Price Waterhouse Coopers, he admitted spending £30 million in just under two years - an average of £1.5 million a month, the High Court in London heard. The singer's lavish lifestyle saw him spend more than £9.6m on property and £293,000 on flowers between January 1996 and September 1997. John accused the pair of being negligent, and PWC of failing in their duties. Mark Hapgood QC for defendants PWC suggested that John went "spending mad" following a £42m deal with recording company ] in February 1996. When quizzed by Mr Hapgood about the £293,000 spent on flowers, John said: ''Yes, I like flowers.'' John stated that the terms of the contract, whereby John paid Reid 20% of his gross earnings, were agreed in ] in the summer of 1984 - but that he could not remember the exact occasion on which the deal was made. <ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1024745.stm</ref> After losing the case, he faced an £8 million bill for legal fees. | |||
| Elton John decided with his fleet manager John Newman to sell 20 of his collection of 28 cars at ] - including several Ferraris, Aston Martins, and six post-war Bentleys. His reason for selling them was stated as: ''I do not find enough time to drive them.'' The sale raised £2 million <ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/showbiz/1283409.stm</ref> included: | |||
| * 1993 ] - the most expensive car in the collection, with a 213mph top speed and only 852 miles on the clock - sold for £234,750. The auction room was told how Sir Elton's chauffeur refused to drive the car after he "twitched it" on a flyover and was scared by its power. | |||
| * 1978 ] Coupe - known as "The Beast" because of its roar went for £80,750. The car was painted in black, red and yellow; the colours of Sir Elton's favourite Watford Football Club. | |||
| * Two ]s - a 1992 512 ] and a 1987 Testarossa given to John by ] on the occasion of his 40th birthday. ] had been among a group of friends who had ridden in the car<ref>http://www.forbes.com/2001/06/04/0604vow.html</ref>. | |||
| * 1973 ] - Lawrence Cohen from Hertfordshire spent over twice as much on a car valued at £110,000. It was fitted with a 36-speaker stereo system which cost £28,000. It was so powerful that it once blew out the rear window, after which the glass in the car had to be reinforced. | |||
| * 1985 ] Convertible - in Tudor Red, the car used in the video for Nikita. The car's body was specially crafted by coachbuilder ] of ], and a long list of special fitments include colour-coded radiator veins and parchment trim piped in red. | |||
| * 1969 ] Mk3 - supplied new in Arizona, it was a purchase by John in Atlanta and named Daisy after the film '']'' which was filmed close to his Atlanta home. Flown to the UK in 1994 by KLM, it spent two years being restored at the cost of £100,000. It sold for £90,000. | |||
| In 2003, Elton John sold the contents of his Holland Park home in a bid to create more room for his collection of contemporary art. The auctioneer's ] catalogue had a list of more than 400 items, expected to fetch £800,000, including: Biedermeier furniture; early 16th and 17th century items including an Edward Bower estimated at £20,000-£30,000 and a portrait of Elizabeth Honeywood from the circle of William Larkin, which was estimated at £30,000-£40,000. John's bedroom featured a painting by 19th-century French artist Jacques-Noël-Marie Frémy, which was exhibited at the 1814 Paris Salon, and is estimated at £12,000-£18,000 <ref>http://www.findaproperty.com/story.aspx?storyid=4831</ref>. | |||
| ===Sports and other interests=== | |||
| *In 1976, Elton John became involved in ] and fulfilled a childhood dream by becoming its chairman and director. He invested large sums of money and the club rose into the ] after a number of key acquisitions. He sold the club to ] in 1987, but remained their life-long president. 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. Although no longer the majority shareholder, he stills holds a significant financial interest. In June 2005 he held a concert at Watford's ] ground, donating the funds to the club. | |||
| *A longtime ] enthusiast, Elton wrote the song "Philadelphia Freedom" in tribute to longtime friend ] and her ] franchise of the same name. John and King also co-host an annual pro-am event to benefit AIDS charities, most notably John's own ], for which King is a chairperson. | |||
| *John is a co-owner of the ] restaurant “]” in ]. | |||
| ===Charity=== | |||
| John has long been associated with ] charities after the deaths of his friends ] and ], raising large amounts of money and using his public profile to raise awareness of the disease. For example, in 1986 he joined with ], ], and ] to record the single "]", with all profits being donated to the ]. The song won Elton and the others the ] (as well as ] for its writers, ] and ]). In April 1990, John performed "]" at the funeral of White, a teenage ] he had befriended. | |||
| John founded the in 1992 as a charity to fund programmes 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. This cause continues to be one of his personal passions. In early 2006, Elton donated the smaller of two bright-red ] pianos from his Las Vegas show to auction on eBay to raise public awareness and funds for the foundation | |||
| Every year since 2004, he has opened a shop (this year in Manhattan, before in London and Atlanta), selling his second hand clothes. Called "Elton's Closet" the sale this year of 10,000 items was expected to raise $400,000 <ref>http://www.theage.com.au/news/people/elton-john-turns-rags-to-riches-for-charity/2006/04/11/1144521337887.html</ref> | |||
| == Musical style and voice == | |||
| In the 1970s, Elton John's sound immediately set him apart from most others by being piano-based in a rock 'n' roll world dominated by guitars. Another early characteristic was a set of dynamic ] ]s by ]. Coupled with Taupin's often opaque but emotionally resonant lyrics, the results were unique in the history of music. Songs in this style included "Sixty Years On", "Burn Down the Mission", "]", "]", "]", and the best-known of these, "]". | |||
| "]", one of his earliest popular hits, incorporates some other features found in many of his songs: | |||
| * It is in ], with the verse repeated before the chorus begins; | |||
| * The piano accompaniment is prominent, though the song also features an ]; | |||
| * It uses a slowly building ] that brings the song to a '']'' climax. Other songs that follow this pattern include "]" and "]". | |||
| John also has a distinctive vocal style. In particular, his phrasing is often a bit metronomic and sometimes has a curiously off-kilter, "rushed" quality especially at the end of lines (example: the phrase "like a puppy child" in the song "Amoreena"). He also, at least in his classic period in the 1970s, would sometimes sweep up from his normal tenor into a ]-like falsetto. | |||
| Elton John underwent throat surgery to remove potentially cancerous nodules from his vocal cords in January 1987 while on tour, a necessity he originally said was due to an infection, but later said was the result of excessive ].<ref>http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/celebrity/11352004.htm</ref> | |||
| The problems with his voice can clearly be heard in his raspy singing on the '']'' album (released 1987). He made a full recovery from the surgery, but he continued to indulge in ] until 1990. The surgery in 1987 also had an after-effect on John's voice, and he found that he could no longer sing in falsetto as well as he previously could, and that he now sang in a lower range. During an interview with ], John had claimed to embrace this new tone, feeling it gave a more "masculine" quality that contrasted with his earlier work. | |||
| The change in Elton John's voice has been largely played down, though he stated, commenting fifteen years after the surgery, that he was "singing better than ever." Studio effects were evidently added to his voice on his first UK number 1 hit "Sacrifice" (1990). The release of '']'', his 2001 album, showed very clearly how different his voice is to his prime. | |||
| Elton John continues to inspire musicians today, particularly ], ], ], and ], however, more unlikely artists like ] (]), ] (]) and even ] (]) are said to be fans. ] music composer ] was also greatly influenced by him throughout his life, claiming "no one writes a melody like him." | |||
| ==Awards== | |||
| * In 1991, John's "Basque" won the ]. | |||
| * Elton and Bernie Taupin were inducted into the ] in 1992. | |||
| * Elton John was inducted into the ] in 1994. | |||
| * Elton John was made a ] in 1995. | |||
| * In September 1997, Taupin altered the lyrics of "Candle in the Wind" for a special version mourning the death of ], and John performed it at her funeral in ]. A recorded version, "]", then became the fastest selling single of all time, eventually going on to sell over 30 million copies worldwide, with the proceeds of approximately £55 million going to the ]. John would later win the ] for the single. | |||
| * Elton John was ] by ] on ] ], granting him the title of "Sir". The honour was officially for his charitable work. | |||
| * A recipient of a ] in 2004, along with ], ], ], ] and ]. | |||
| ==Discography== | |||
| :''For a complete album discography, see ].'' | |||
| :''For a complete singles discography, see ]. '' | |||
| ==Band members== | |||
| ;Current members | |||
| * '''Elton John''' - ], ] ] | |||
| * ] - ] | |||
| * ] - ], ] | |||
| * ] - ], ], ] | |||
| * ] - ], ] | |||
| * ] - ], ], ] | |||
| ;Previous band members | |||
| * ] - ] | |||
| * ] - touring ] | |||
| * ] - ] | |||
| * ] - ], ], ], ], ] | |||
| * ] - ] | |||
| * ] - ] | |||
| * ] - ] | |||
| * ] - ] | |||
| * ] - ], ] | |||
| * ] - ], ] | |||
| * ] - vocals | |||
| * ] - ] | |||
| * ] - ], ] | |||
| * ] - ], ] | |||
| * ] - ] | |||
| * ] - ] | |||
| * ] - ] | |||
| * ] - ] | |||
| * ] - ], ] | |||
| * ] - ], ] | |||
| * ] - additional ], ] | |||
| * ] - ] | |||
| * ] - ] | |||
| * ]- ], ] | |||
| * ] - ] | |||
| * ] - ] | |||
| == See also == | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| ==References and notes== | |||
| <div class="references-small"> | |||
| <references /> | |||
| </div> | |||
| == External links == | |||
| {{wikiquote}} | |||
| *{{MusicBrainz artist|id=b83bc61f-8451-4a5d-8b8e-7e9ed295e822|name=Elton John}} | |||
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| * {{imdb name|id=0005056|name=Elton John}} | |||
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