John was the first Western rock star to perform in Israel and the USSR, in 1979.
Knighted by Queen Elizabeth for contribution to music and fund-raising for AIDS charities. [24 February 1998]
Grammy award winning singer.
Performed a new version of "Candle in the Wind" in tribute to Diana Princess of Wales at her funeral, with new lyrics specially written by Bernie Taupin. (5 September 1997)
Changed his name legally to Elton Hercules John.
Awarded the Polar Music Prize, the Royal Swedish Academy of Music Award, in 1995.
Decided that all profits from his singles would be donated to AIDS charities, and formed the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The foundation has become one of the world's largest nonprofit AIDS organizations. [1992]
At age 11, entered the Royal Academy of Music, but quit just before graduation to pursue a rock career.
Appointed a CBE in 1996 and knighted in 1998.
He was twice a former Chairman of Watford Football Club.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
He was a friend of the late rock singer Freddie Mercury and performed at the Freddie Mercury tribute concert.
Reformed drug addict, alcoholic and bulimic.
Christmas hits: "Step into Christmas" (1973) and "Cold as Christmas (In the Middle of the Year)" (1983).
Dusty Springfield sang backing vocals on his song "The Bitch is Back".
Covered the Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" in 1974.
His song "Philadelphia Freedom" was a tribute to tennis star Billie Jean King.
Covered the Who's "Pinball Wizard" in 1976.
His hit "Song for Guy" was a tribute to Guy Burchett, Rocket Records messenger who was killed in a motorcyle accident.
John Lennon features on his song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds". (1974)
His song "Empty Garden" is a tribute to John Lennon.
Stevie Wonder played Harmonica on his song "I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues".
His song "Act of War" was a duet with Millie Jackson.
Sang a duet with Cliff Richard called "Slow Rivers".
Duet with Jennifer Rush: "Flames of Paradise".
Duet with Aretha Franklin: "Through the Storm".
"Runaway Train" was a duet with Eric Clapton.
Had a UK number one in 1991 with his live duet with George Michael "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me".
Has played the piano since he was four years old.
Once auditioned for the group King Crimson.
During one of his concerts at Madison Square Garden in 1974, John Lennon joined him onstage to perform three songs. This was part of a bet that if Lennon's song "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night" went to number one, he would join Elton onstage. This proved to be his last onstage performance.
Is the Godfather of John Lennon's son, Sean.
Often parodied on Saturday Night Live by Horatio Sanz.
Started wearing glasses to copy one of his idols, Buddy Holly. After a while, his eyes adjusted to the lenses and he's worn glasses ever since.
His partner, filmmaker David Furnish, made the documentary about Elton, Elton John: Tantrums & Tiaras (1997) (TV).
Long-time collaborator, lyricist Bernie Taupin.
He has teamed up with lyricist Tim Rice on four projects: The songs for the films 'The Lion King,' and 'The Road to El Dorado,' and the Broadway stage productions of 'The Lion King' and 'Aida.'
Duets he sang with Kiki Dee are 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart,' and 'True Love.'
Is a co-owner of the chic Sunset Strip restaurant Le Dome in Hollywood.
Sang with Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder and Gladys Knight on the song 'That's What Friends Are For.'
Re-recorded his 1976 hit 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' in 1994, this time as a duet with RuPaul.
The song 'You Can Make History (Young Again)' was a tribute to fashion designer Gianni Versace.
Sang the duet 'Donner Pour Donner' in French with singer France Gall.
His parents, Sheila and Stanley Dwight, divorced when he was young. His mother then married Fred Farebrother, whom Elton affectionately dubbed 'Derf.'
Recorded the song 'Whatever Gets You Through the Night' with John Lennon.
Covered the Kiki Dee song 'Sugar on the Floor.'
Covered the Queen song 'The Show Must Go On.'
Covered the John Lennon song 'Give Peace a Chance' on his four-CD boxed set 'To Be Continued...'
Gave friend Rod Stewart the nickname Phyllis.
Likes Indian food.
Sang a duet with Luciano Pavarotti called 'Live Like Horses.'
Attended the special dinner at Sony Studios in Los Angeles to honour the singer and activist Sting as MusiCares 2004 Person of the Year. The evening celebrated Sting's contribution to popular music, and honoured his charitable work with Amnesty International and the Rainforest Foundation. Other stars in attendance included Kylie Minogue & Dido. (6th February 2004)
Enjoys tennis.
His song 'On Dark Street' features back-up vocals by Kiki Dee.
His song 'All the Young Girls Love Alice' is a tribute to Alice Cooper.
Stated once in the '70s that if he ever had a daughter, he would name her 'Umbrella.'
Auditioned for the lead vocalist spot in the band King Crimson but was turned down.
When Steve Winwood left the Spencer Davis Group to form Traffic, he auditioned to take Winwood's place. Unfortunately, he was turned down.
He chose the middle name 'Hercules' for himself, not after the hero of mythology, but after the horse named Hercules on the British sitcom "Steptoe and Son" (1962)
He was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 2000 (1999 season) for Best New Musical for The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre.
Recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors in 2004, along with Joan Sutherland, John Williams, Warren Beatty, and Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee.
He was the 49th Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artist of all time by Rolling Stone.
Has epilepsy.
Had a pacemaker fitted to correct an irregular heartbeat following an episode of angina on an airplane in July 1999.
Underwent laser surgery to remove nodules from his vocal chords in Australia in January 1987. This followed a televised concert with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in which his voice sounded noticeably rough.
Godfather of Elizabeth Hurley's son Damian Charles
In 2001 declared that "Songs from the West Coast" would be his final studio album, and thereafter he would concentrate on just live performances. In 2004 however he released a new album, "Peachtree Road" which despite some favorable reviews, flopped in every country it was released in.
Elton John Detailed Biography
Sir Elton John (born March 25, 1947), British pop singer, composer and musician, was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in Pinner, Middlesex, but changed his name by deed poll to Elton Hercules John.
Working in a band called Bluesology throughout the mid to late 1960s, his first international hits came in 1971 on his second album, a self-titled release, including Your Song. The lyrics, then and since, were written by chief collaborator Bernie Taupin.
He went on to be one of the 1970s most successful recording artists, with globally-successful singles including Rocket Man, Crocodile Rock, Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting), Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and, notably Candle In The Wind (a song about Marilyn Monroe) and the equally well-known B-Side Bennie And The Jets.
His 1980s hits included Nikita, Sad Songs, and I'm Still Standing, amongst others, most featuring his distinctive piano playing.
In 1997, he updated the lyrics of Candle In The Wind for a special version mourning the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.
He continues to release new material to commercial success and tours extensively, despite the receiving a pacemaker.
Elton has had a chequered personal history. Coming out first as bisexual in 1980, he married (1984) and quickly divorced (1988) Renate Blauel. He subsequently stated that he was homosexual. He has occasionally battled addictions to cocaine and financial difficulties caused by his profligate spending.
Elton has long been associated with AIDS charities after the death of his friend Ryan White, raising large amounts of money and using his public profile to attract attention to the disease.
