Elton John

Elton John: Early Life

Born as Reginald Kenneth Dwight in 1947 to a Royal Air Force musician, Elton began playing piano at the age of four—he was able to play any song by ear—and by the time he was 11, he had won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music. He studied at the Academy for six years before leaving to join his first band, Bluesology.

Muscial Career

While Elton John's musical career has spanned four decades, the height of his success came in the 1970's when he released such hits as:

• Rocket Man
• Crocodile Rock
• The Bitch is Back
• Tiny Dancer

His hits now number more than 50 including Candle in the Wind, a song written in tribute of Princess Diana, and this does not include the songs he has written for other performers, like Pinball Wizard for The Who.

Many of his compositions have been done in collaboration with other talented musicians, most notably his long-time lyrist partner, Bernie Taupin; however, he has also worked with the likes of John Lennon on such memorably hits as Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds and Tim Rice on many of the songs included in the animated masterpiece and stage production of The Lion King, such as The Circle of Life and Can You Feel the Love Tonight.

Elton has also recorded duets with many music stars of our time including such names as:

• George Michael
• Aretha Franklin
• Eric Clapton
• Eminem
• RuPaul
• Luciano Pavarotti

Private and Public Battles

While Elton John's stage presence may make it seem like his life is problem free, that is not the case. The celebrity has had his share of problems, including well-publicized problems with drugs, alcohol, depression, and bulimia.

His colorful and luxurious lifestyle has also led to much publicity. Included in his holdings are an extensive art collection, a fleet of vintage cars, and several elaborate homes located around the world. A 2000 court case against his former manager revealed the musician's annual expenses were extensive enough to support a small third world country, leading many to speculate over his real net worth and yet Forbes still ranked him ninth in its 2005 Top 100 Celebrities list.

Elton John is an international proponent of gay rights and is a leading figure in the fight against AIDs. In fact, he announced in 1992 that all proceeds from his singles would be donated to AIDs charities. He also set up the Elton John AIDs Foundation, which has become one of the largest AIDs nonprofit organizations in the world.

His own health has suffered over the years. Elton is an epileptic, and in 1999, he was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat and fitted with a pacemaker.

In Conclusion

If the secret to true talent can be measured in longevity, Sir Elton Hercules John has more than met the qualifications of a musical genius.

Elton John Triva

• He was knighted in 1998.
• He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
• Rod Stewart gave him the nickname of "Sharon", and Elton named Stewart "Phyllis". These two timeless celebrities are still sometimes referred to as such within the music industry.
• Elton John married his long-time partner David Furnish in December, 2005. This is a second marriage for the flamboyant pop rocker.

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