Happy Birthday to the legendary Elton John!!
Elton John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in Pinner, Middlesex, a suburb of London. John was playing piano at age three, and by the age of 11 he was studying at London’s Royal Academy of Music. He later dropped out to work as a music publishing errand boy and play rock n’ roll at night. John recorded and gigged with his early band Bluesology, and went on to back such legendary acts as Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles and the Isley Brothers.
In 1967 he hooked up with aspiring lyricist Bernie Taupin and went on to form one of the most successful songwriting partnerships in rock history. By early 1971, Elton had cracked the American charts with “Your Song,” which peaked at Number Eight, and became the first of his 25 Top 40 hits of the 1970’s. In the ’70s, John and Taupin turned out hit after hit, placing 25 singles in the top 40, 16 in the Top Ten, and sending six to Number One.
Elton John’s classic singles include “Rocket Man,” “Honky Cat,” “Crocodile Rock,” “Bennie And The Jets,” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” “The Bitch Is Back,” “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me,” “Daniel,” “Philadelphia Freedom,” “Island Girl,” the duet “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” with Kiki Dee, “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” with John Lennon, “Someone Saved My Life Tonight,” “Little Jeannie,” “I’m Still Standing,” “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues,” “Sad Songs (Say So Much),” “Candle In The Wind,” “Can You Feel The Love Tonight,” and many, many more.
Today, Elton is back home in Britain after putting his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour on ice due to the pandemic. In an interview with Apple Music about the subject, he said, “This is the time where people are going to spend more time with their families than they’ve ever done before. And so far, again, check with me in two weeks. I’m enjoying it so much because I don’t spend that much time with my family during the day and I’m loving every second of it. So cherish it while you can. Every cloud has a silver lining.”
