ELTON JOHN

THE ROCKET MAN ROCKS ON

NOT many British singers can claim a box-office smash hit film about their lives and No.1 hits in the 1980s, ‘90s and 2000s but Elton John can. Sir Elton Hercules John, to give him his full name (although he was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight), is that rarity in the pop music world: a star who has endured and whose fan base traverses all ages and types. He’s now 74, still successful, still productive and happy with the person he acknowledges he is. But it wasn’t always that way. As anyone who has seen his autobiographical film Rocket Man knows, as a youngster he was not always happy with who he was and the life he led.

Music probably saved him so it’s no surprise to learn that he started playing the piano at the age of four. He was raised in Pinner in London and both his parents were interested in music. As a result, they exposed young Reggie to the popular singers of the day. When he first heard rock ‘n roll, he was hooked. He had regular piano lessons and music swiftly became the most important force in his life. He was educated locally and, at the age of 15 was hired as a pianist at a nearby pub. At 17, he left school and his A level studies for a career in music. He and some friends started a band called Bluesology which proved successful, backing touring American soul and R & B musicians like the Isley Brothers. In 1966, the band became singer Long John Baldry’s supporting band. In 1967, Reggie answered an advert in the New Musical Express by Liberty Records looking for new talent. He was given some lyrics by Bernie Taupin, who had also answered the advert, and so began a fruitful partnership that resulted in countless hit songs. Six months later, Reggie changed his name to Elton John and the duo joined Dick James’s DJM Records as staff songwriters in 1968. Over the next two years, they wrote material for artists including Lulu and Roger Cook. Unlike most collaborations, Bernie would write a batch of lyrics and give it to Elton to provide the music, resulting in many haunting, memorable songs. For their second album, thanks in no small way to Elton’s rich falsetto voice, they created Your Song which reached No.7 in the UK singles’ chart and No.8 in the US. The album named Elton John reached No.4 in the US Billboard 200 and No.5 in the UK albums’ chart.

Elton’s first American concert - at the Troubador Club in Los Angeles in August, 1970 - was a great success and his next album Tumbleweed Connection that year reached No.2 in the UK and No.5 in the US.

Elton and Bernie then wrote the soundrack to the 1971 film Friends followed by the album Madman Across the Water, which again did well. This included hit songs Levon and Tiny Dancer and this time heralded a string of hit albums on both sides of the water.

The album Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player came out at the start of 1973 and reached No.1 in both the UK and the US. This produced hits Crocodile Rock and Daniel, topping the charts in both countries.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road followed in 1973 and contained the US No.1 single Bennie and the Jets, along with the title song, plus Candle in the Wind and Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting. Elton formed his own company, The Rocket Record Company and signed acts including Neil Sedaka and Kiki Dee. Instead of releasing his own songs through the company, though, he signed an $8 million contract with MCA and in 1974 they released Elton John’s Greatest Hits. In 1975, he was asked by The Who to take part in the film adaptation of the rock opera Tommy and to perform Pinball Wizard, which also became a UK chart favourite. By now, Elton was becoming known for his flambouyant costumes and fantastic specs as much for his music. Live audiences loved him, turning up in their thousands to see him perform. The ‘70s were undoubtedly Elton’s most commercially successful period but in 1977, he announced that he was retiring from performing and Bernie Taupin began collaborating with other people. He continued recording, however, and his next album included hit singles Part-time Love and Song for Guy. His 1983 album Too Low for Zero featured I’m Still Standing and I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues. And in 1990, he had a UK No.1 hit single with Sacrifice.

He has collaborated on appearances and records with some of music’s most famous names including John Lennon, George Michael, opera star Luciano Pavoretti, Lady Gaga and Ed Sheeran.

In 1997, he asked Bernie Taupin to revise the lyrics of their 1973 song Candle in the Wind to honour Princess Diana and Elton gave a poignant performance at her Westminister Abbey funeral. The song became the fastest and biggest-selling single of all time, eventually selling more than 33 million copies globally. Elton has also created music for hit musicals including The Lion King in 1997 and Billy Elliott in 2005. In 2003, he capitalised on his popularity in America by agreeing to perform 75 shows over three years at Caesar’s Palace on the Las Vegan Strip. He shared performances throughout the year with Celine Dion – while one performed the other rested. In 2019, the film Rocket Man about his life answered many questions around his sexuality and won the singer many new fans. He has received all kinds of accolades and awards throughout his career – from a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1975 to a CBE in 1996 and a knighthood in 1998 for his services to music and fundraising for AIDS charities. He registered his civil partnership with long-term partner David Furnish in 2005 and upgraded their relationship to marriage in 2014. The couple have two sons. Elton has had his share of health problems over the years but today remains a sprightly entertainer whose popularity has never really waned.

As he quite rightly says: “An overview of my career is usually … glasses …homosexuality …Watford Football Club … tantrums … flowers. But the music was pretty phenomenal, you know.”