Elton John
Great BritainBiography of Elton John
Elton John, an English pop singer and songwriter, is considered the most successful rock musician in the United Kingdom. His net worth is estimated at $260 million, and he has donated over $1 billion to charity. With his amazing voice, enchanting piano music, and heartfelt, captivating lyrics, Elton has won the hearts of listeners and gained a legion of fans. Selling over 250 million records in his career, Elton John has had a significant influence on the development of soft rock.
Elton John, whose real name is Reginald Dwight, was born on March 25, 1947, in the English town of Pinner. His father, an officer in the Royal Air Force, was rarely at home. When his parents divorced in 1962, Elton's upbringing was taken over by his mother. However, his stepfather also played a significant role in his upbringing, and Elton had a great love for him.
Reginald showed his musical talent at an early age. At the age of 4, he began learning to play the piano. Within a few years, Dwight could play any classical melody, earning him the nickname "wonder child." At the age of 11, he became a scholar at the Royal Academy of Music, where he studied for 6 years.
Early Music Career
Elton John's musical career began too early. In 1960, along with his comrades, he formed a blues band called "The Corvettes," which was later renamed to "Bluesology." During the day, Reginald worked in a music publishing company, and at night, he played in bars and pubs. By the late 1960s, Elton's band was already touring the United States and England. The music they played was something between light rock and rhythm and blues.
During this time, Dwight met Long John Baldry, who became the band's concert organizer, and poet Bernie Taupin. Elton and Bernie continue to collaborate to this day. Their first song, "Scarecrow," was released in 1967, and a year later, their single "I've Been Loving You" was released. By this time, Reginald was already performing under the stage name Elton John.
In 1969, Elton released his first solo album, "Empty Sky," which received favorable reviews but did not achieve commercial success. In 1970, he released the album "Elton John," which contained the formula for success. It included both hard rock songs and poignant, sensual ballads. Elton John gave his first solo concert in Los Angeles and won everyone over. His performance style caused a sensation and garnered praise from the audience and music critics.
After this, the rock artist participated in writing the anthem for the English national football team and released the album "Madman Across the Water" in 1971. This dark record with stunning orchestration by Paul Buckmaster became a hit in the United States and brought Elton John international fame.
Commercial Success and Personal Life
The commercial success of his recent works allowed Elton to create the label "Rocket Records," under which he released the album "Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player" in 1973. Most critics consider this album the best in his career. His next work, "Caribou" (1974), also achieved great success, reaching the top spot in the US charts. However, this album did not completely satisfy the critics, who believed it was "designed for external effect."
In 1976, Elton achieved his highest commercial success by duetting with Kiki Dee on the song "Don't Go Breaking My Heart." The single topped the British and American charts, becoming one of the most famous songs in Elton's repertoire.
At the height of his popularity, Elton John surprised everyone by publicly acknowledging his bisexuality. He later confessed that he did not want to reveal that he was gay to avoid disappointing his fans. From that time on, the public became more interested in the artist's personal relationships, and the press focused on this aspect of his life.
In 1979, Elton visited the USSR, where he performed in four concerts. He was one of the first rock musicians to tour the Soviet Union. In 1980, the singer released the successful album "21 at 33," which was a collaboration with Bernie Taupin.
In the 1980s, Elton faced deep shocks and problems. In 1984, he unexpectedly married Renate Blauel, who worked as a sound engineer. Four years later, the marriage ended in divorce. Personal struggles significantly affected the musician's mental health. In 1986, Elton lost his voice due to an operation to remove polyps, causing a slight change in his vocal timbre.
The second half of the 1980s became the most challenging time for Elton John. Problems in his personal life, the loss of his voice, accusations of pedophilia, and subsequent legal proceedings left him in a state of despair. He developed a dependence on alcohol and drugs, performed rarely, and stopped writing songs.
In 1990, Elton was admitted to a hospital in Chicago, where he underwent rehabilitation. To overcome his problems and rediscover the joy of life, David Furnish, whom he met in 1993, helped him. After Elton was discharged from the clinic, he became actively involved in music and public activities. He released the album "The One" (1992) and established an organization that funds programs to fight AIDS.
In 1995, together with Tim Rice, Elton won an Oscar for the song from the animated film "The Lion King" and was knighted by the British Queen. He could now add the title "Sir" before his name. In 2001, Elton announced that he would no longer release albums and would focus on live performances. However, he did not keep his word and has since released four more albums, with the latest being "The Diving Board" in 2013.
Elton John's entire body of work includes 128 singles and 29 albums. He is also the composer of music for several animated films and movies. Elton John was one of the first to legalize same-sex relationships. In 2004, same-sex marriages were allowed in the UK, and in 2005, David Furnish and Elton John entered into a civil partnership. In 2010, they became fathers through surrogacy, with a surrogate mother giving birth to their son Zachary Jackson. Three years later, their second child, Elijah Joseph Daniel, was born. Finally, after years of uncertainty and turmoil, Elton John has found happiness in his personal life.
