Sir Elton John is one of pop music's great survivors. Born 25 March, 1947 as Reginald Kenneth Dwight, he started to play the piano at the early age of four. At the age of 11 he won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music. His first band was called Bluesology. He later auditioned (unsuccessfully) as lead singer for the progressive rock bands King Crimson and Gentle Giant. Dwight teamed up with lyricist Bernie Taupin and changed his name to Elton John (merging the names of saxophonist Elton Dean and Long John Baldry). The duo wrote songs for Lulu and Roger Cook. In the early 1970s he recorded the concept album "Tumbleweed Connection". He became the most successful pop artist of the 1970s and he has survived many different pop fads including punk, the New Romantics and Britpop to remain one of Britain's most internationally acclaimed musicians.

Elton John announced he was a bisexual in 1976 and in 1984 he married Renate Blauel. The marriage lasted four years, before he finally came to terms with the fact that he was actually homosexual. In the 1970s and 1980s he suffered from drug and alcohol addiction and bulimia, but came through it. He is well known as a campaigner for AIDS research and he keeps his finger on the pulse of modern music, enjoying artists such as Eminem, Radiohead, Coldplay and Robbie Williams. He was knighted in 1997.


1979: He was the first Western rock star to perform in Israel and the USSR. Grammy award winning singer. Changed his name legally to Elton Hercules John. He chose the middle name "Hercules" not after the hero of mythology, but after the horse named Hercules on the British sitcom "Steptoe and Son" (1962). 1992: 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. He was twice a former Chairman of Watford Football Club. He was a friend of the late rock singer Freddie Mercury and performed at the Freddie Mercury tribute concert. Christmas hits: "Step into Christmas" (1973) and "Cold as Christmas (In the Middle of the Year)" (1983). Covered the The Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" in 1974. John Lennon is featured in this recording. 1976: Covered The Who's "Pinball Wizard". His song "Empty Garden" is a tribute to John Lennon. His song "Act of War" was a duet with Millie Jackson. Duet with Jennifer Rush: "Flames of Paradise". Duet with Eric Clapton: "Runaway Train". Has played the piano since he was four years old. Is the Godfather of John Lennon's son, Sean Lennon, Elizabeth Hurley's son Damian and David Beckham and Victoria Beckham's sons Brooklyn and Romeo. 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. Long-time collaborator, lyricist Bernie Taupin. Duets he sang with Kiki Dee are "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" and "True Love". Sang with Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder and Gladys Knight on the song "That's What Friends Are For". The song "You Can Make History (Young Again)" was a tribute to fashion designer Gianni Versace. His parents, Sheila and Stanley Dwight, divorced when he was young. His mother then married Fred Farebrother, whom Elton affectionately dubbed 'Derf.' Covered the Queen song "The Show Must Go On". Gave friend Rod Stewart the nickname "Phyllis". Duet with Luciano Pavarotti: "Live Like Horses". Enjoys tennis. His song "All the Young Girls Love Alice" is a tribute to Alice Cooper. Auditioned for the lead vocalist spot in the band King Crimson but was turned down. 2000: Nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award (1999 season) for Best New Musical for "The Lion King" at the Lyceum Theatre. Has epilepsy. 1/87: Underwent laser surgery to remove nodules from his vocal chords in Australia. This followed a televised concert with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in which his voice sounded noticeably rough. In 2004 he admitted this problem had been caused by smoking too many drugs, including marijuana. 1976 song "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" was about his real life suicide attempt. He was voted the 49th Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artist of all time by Rolling Stone magazine. Covered the John Lennon song "Give Peace a Chance" on his four-CD boxed set "To Be Continued...". 1991: Had a UK #1 hit with his live duet with George Michael, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me". One of his all-time favorite singers is Country Music Hall-Of-Fame legend "Gentleman" Jim Reeves (1923-1964). Reportedly he once considered recording Reeves' mega-hit (on both Pop and Country Charts) "He'll Have To Go" (1960), but decided he couldn't possibly top Reeves' version. 1991: Winner of the Brit Award for British Male Solo Artist. 2002: Presented (along with musical partner Bernie Taupin) with the Music Industry Trusts' Award for his outstanding contribution to the British music industry. Estimated in 2006 to have sold 250 million albums during his career. 1995: Winner of the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution. Having previously won the award in 1986, he became the first person to win the award twice as a solo artist, a record which still stands in 2008. Sang a song with Tupac Shakur called "Ghetto Gospel". 2004: Winner of the Q Classic Songwriter Award. Started piano lessons at age four, and showed promise as a musician at an early age. 1992: Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Names The Beatles as a major musical inspiration and became friends with all the members of the band. In 2007, Forbes Magazine reported his earnings to be approximately $53 million for the year. He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6915 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California. Won a Tony for Original Musical Score in 2000 alongside Tim Rice for their work on "Aida". He was also nominated in the same category in 1998 for the musical version of The Lion King (1994) (alongside Tim Rice, Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor and Hans Zimmer) and in 2009 for the musical version of Billy Elliot (2000) alongside Lee Hall. The Sunday Times List estimated his net worth at $287 million. [2009] Lives in London, United Kingdom, Nice, France and Atlanta, Georgia.