Elton John is a famous British pop-rock singer and composer, one of the most successful musicians in the UK. The performer has already sold more than 250 million records during his productive and very successful career, many of his songs and albums held at the top of the world charts. He has won numerous awards, including the Grammy and the Oscars, Sir of the British Empire (1998).
In the photo: Elton John
The audience recalled Elton John not only for his beautiful music but also for his extravagant and unique stage manner - bright costumes and, of course, always large eyeglasses. His net worth is over $500 million.
Childhood and youth
A boy was born to the family of pilot officer Stanley and housewife Sheila Dwight on March 25, 1947, who received the name Reginald Kenneth at baptism. The Dwight’s lived in the Middlesex County, which became the north-western district of London in 1965.
Elton John in childhood
In the next house lived his maternal grandparents, who took far more part in Reginald’s education than his father. The only child in the family, Reggie was overweight, wore eyeglasses, and was afraid of his father. Growing up, his son called him a cruel snob.
At the age of 11 Elton John entered the Royal Academy of Music
His Mother, a very liberal person, always brought home records that introduced the boy to music. Already at the age of 4, though not reaching the pedals, Reginald decently performed complex melodies on the piano. At the age of 11, a brilliant self-taught artist had already entered the Royal Academy of Music.
When the boy was 15, his parents divorced, and later his mother married painter Fred Farebrother, with whom the teenager had a warm relationship.
Young Elton John
2 weeks before graduating from the academy, Kenneth dropped out of lessons, deciding to devote himself entirely to a musical career. The guy got a job at a music publishing company, and also played the piano in bars, and then joined a band called Bluesology.
He invented his stage name himself, borrowing some of the names of the band members: saxophonist Elton Dean and singer John Baldry.
Musical career
In 1968 John met poet Bernie Taupin, who became a regular author for his songs throughout his career. Elton's first album the Empty Sky (1969) turned out to be a commercial failure, while the second record modestly named Elton John (1970) presented the talented performer to the American public, and so successfully that the record received a Grammy nomination for album of the year. And the Your song single became a hit both in the United States and in the singer's homeland.
The composition from the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) album, the Candle in the Wind, dedicated to Marilyn Monroe made Elton a megastar and the singer confirmed his high status with the following successful albums: the Caribou (1974 ) and the Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975).
Elton John and Bernie Taupin
After hearing several covers of his songs performed by the singer, in 1974 John Lennon offered Elton a joint performance in Madison Square Garden, where they sang several Beatles’ songs, including Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds and I Saw Her Standing Here. This performance of the two legends of British music went down in history as Lennon’s last appearance on the stage.
Elton John and John Lennon
In 1976 Elton John presented one of his saddest records entitled Blue Moves with the iconic single Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word.
Elton John – Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word
The 70s were the peak of success for the singer, later his career began to decline a little, though he continued recording albums and touring. In 1979 the singer was one of the first world stars to accept an invitation to perform in Russia and Israel.
Elton John – Can You Feel the Love Tonight
In 1994 Elton John wrote a wonderful soundtrack for The Lion King animated film, three songs from which was nominated for an Oscar, and the lyrical Can You Feel the Love Tonight, for which the singer was also awarded the Grammy Award, won the award.
In 1995 Elton John’s merits were noted by the British government - he received the title of Knight Bachelor and became Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
In 1997 John was shocked by the death of his friend Princess Diana in a car accident. He performed a new version of the famous Candle in the Wind at her funeral. More than thirty million copies of the single were sold around the world, which the singer never performed at concerts. The musician donated all the profits (more than 47 million dollars) to the princess's fund. The act was appreciated by the Queen of Great Britain herself and in 1998 the singer was awarded the title of Sir.
Elton John – Candle in the Wind
With the beginning of the XXI century a stage of close cooperation with many artists, movie filming, working on Broadway musicals came for John. In 2001 he performed at the Grammy Awards with Eminem, who is known for his homophobia. This time, Eminem showed tolerance towards a respected colleague. In 2002 Elton John recorded a song with the Blue band.
Elton John and Ed Sheeran
According to Zoomboola.com, in 2015 Elton John pleased the fans with his performance at Ed Sheeran’s concert, with whom he performed his famous song Don’t Go Breaking My Heart and Sheeran’s, Afire Love. In 2016 the singer presented his 32nd studio album the Wonderful Crazy Night, which eventually became the latest in his eventful career. In 2017 Elton appeared in the role of a cameo in the popular Kingsman: The Golden Circle spy action picture with Colin Firth and Taron Egerton.
Elton John in the Kingsman: The Golden Circle
Shocking star
John became famous not only for his compositions but also for his memorable extravagant image, namely, extra-large eyeglasses and challenging stage costumes in the style of fashionable at the time of the start of his glam-rock career. He was called Queen Mum of Pop. John was also known for his passion for expensive cars, luxury houses and runaway shopping. At the beginning of his career, the singer already had his own Boeing for touring flights.
In 1976 Elton John came out as bisexual
The subsequent coming out as bisexual in 1976 shocked his army of fans, and the press attacks provoked the musician a severe depression. Elton began to abuse alcohol and drugs. Later he managed to survive the dysfunctional period.
Charity work
In 1990 Elton John, along with Michael Jackson took care of a boy with AIDS. The child’s death was a turning point in the singer’s life - under the strong impression of the tragedy, he decided to be treated for alcoholism, drug addiction, and bulimia and publicly came out as homosexual. John began to actively engage in charity work and in 1992 he founded the Elton John Aids Foundation.
Elton John’s personal life
The first marriage with German recording engineer, 30-year-old Renate Blauel, with whom the singer met after quitting cocaine addiction, took place in 1984 and lasted 4 years. At the same time, John first admitted to the press that he was bisexual.
Elton John and Renate Blauel
The musician’s numerous affairs ended in 1993 when he met Canadian film director David Furnish. A marriage contract ceremony was held at Windsor Castle in 2005, after which a banquet was held, where more than 700 guests gathered. Among them were Prime Minister Tony Blair, Ozzy Osborne, Sting, Madonna, Elizabeth Hurley, whose son John baptized. He is also the godfather of the two sons of Victoria and David Beckham.
Elton John and his husband David Furnish
Elton John always dreamed of children and in 2009 he tried to adopt a Ukrainian HIV-positive orphan, but the authorities refused him, citing the marital status and age of the adopter. In 2010 John and David became the fathers of the boy Zechariah, who was carried out by a surrogate mother, and in 2013, their second son, Elijah, was born.
Elton John and David Furnish with children
In 2014 shortly after the legalization of same-sex marriages in the UK, the couple signed for the 9th anniversary of civil partnership and played a wedding.
In December 2017 Elton John’s mother Sheila Dwight passed away. They didn’t keep relations for 8 years before: his mother didn’t hide her dislike for her son’s choice, but 2 years before her death, they nevertheless reconciled.
Elton John nowadays
In 2018 Sir Elton John announced a farewell world tour and the end of concert activities. From now on, he intends to devote all his time to himself and his happy family.
Elton John at the Gram Norton Show
In 2019, the biographical drama "Rocketman" about the life of Elton John was released. The main role in it was played by Taron Egerton. The film was greeted positively by both critics and viewers - the picture grossed about $ 150 million at the box office. In the same year, Elton John entered the Forbes list of the highest-paid musicians with a fortune of $ 84 million.
Rocketman, 2019. Trailer
In 2020, the film about Elton John won a Golden Globe and an Oscar for Best Original Song.
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