Sir Elton Hercules John CBE (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.
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 being fitted with 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 and has lived with his partner David Furnish, for a number of years. 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.
Discography
;1969 Empty Sky
;1970 Elton John
;1970 The Games [Original Soundtrack]
;1971 Tumbleweed Connection
;1971 Friends
;1971 11-17-70 [live]
;1971 Madman Across the Water
;1972 Honky Chateau
;1973 Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player
;1973 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
;1974 Caribou
;1975 Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
;1975 Rock of the Westies
;1975 West of the Rockies [live]
;1976 Here and There [live]
;1976 Blue Moves
;1978 A Single Man
;1979 Victim of Love
;1980 21 at 33
;1981 The Fox
;1982 Jump Up!
;1983 Too Low for Zero
;1984 Breaking Hearts
;1985 Ice on Fire
;1986 Leather Jackets
;1987 Live in Australia
;1988 Reg Strikes Back
;1989 Sleeping With the Past
;1992 The One
;1993 Duets
;1995 Made in England
;1997 Big Picture
;1999 The Muse
;2000 One Night Only [live]
;2001 Songs from the West Coast
;2001 Prologue
;2002 Live at the Ritz
