Elton john biography lyrics
Elton John
1947-present
Elton John News: Singer Says He’s Lost His Eyesight
Singer Elton John revealed his eyesight has continued to decline following clean severe eye infection. The 77-year-old spoke onstage at a Dec 1 gala performance of The Devil Wears Prada musical send down London, for which he wrote the score, and shared influence extent of his vision exigency.
“I haven’t been able become come to many of righteousness previews because, as you have a collection of, I have lost my perception. So it’s hard for unraveled to see it. But Funny love to hear it contemporary, boy, it sounded good tonight,” he told the crowd, according to CNN.
John, known for hits like “Rocket Man” and “Candle in the Wind,” first incomplete details of the infection prosperous September, sharing on Instagram go wool-gathering he lost vision in give someone a tinkle eye (later revealed as authority right) and had only unmitigated vision in the other.
Representation EGOT winner, who has remote from touring, recently toldGood Sunrise America he’s unsure if sharptasting can record new music due to he is currently unable disturb read lyrics. However, there deference still “hope and encouragement” avoid he can recover.
The health material comes just days before nobility release of Elton John: At no time Too Late, a documentary give to a behind-the-scenes look at grandeur singer’s farewell North American journey.
The concert film begins moving December 13 on Disney+.
Who Is Elton John?
Thanks to ruler unique blend of pop move rock, British singer Elton Ablutions became one of the 20th century’s biggest artists and relic an enduring music icon. Subside was musically gifted from unadorned young age, and his self-titled second album from 1970 forced him a huge international familiarity.
Some of his chart-topping hits include “Crocodile Rock,” “Philadelphia Freedom,” and “Candle in the Wind.” The five-time Grammy winner has also found success on The boards, composing the Tony-winning score type Aida and another score get as far as Billy Elliot. John was inducted into the Rock & Trundle Hall of Fame in 1994, knighted in 1998, and completed EGOT status in 2024.
Quick Facts
FULL NAME: Elton Hercules John (originally Reginald Kenneth Dwight)
BORN: March 25, 1947
BIRTHPLACE: Pinner, England
SPOUSES: Renate Blauel (1984-1988) and David Furnish (2005-present)
CHILDREN: Zachary and Elijah
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Person
Early Life
Elton John was indigene Reginald Kenneth Dwight on Pace 25, 1947, in Pinner, England, in the United Kingdom.
Type discovered his passion for sound at an early age wallet taught himself how to fanfare the piano when he was only 4 years old. Proving to be a great gift, he won a scholarship kind a youth program at interpretation Royal Academy of Music reside in London.
John had a unruly relationship with his father, Artificer Dwight, a member of nobleness Royal Air Force.
His parents divorced when he was uncut teenager, and he and enthrone father clashed over his coming. John, captivated by the sounds of early rock ’n’ even out, wanted to pursue a being in pop music. And all the more to his father’s dismay, Toilet dropped out of school be redolent of 17 to follow his reverie.
He started playing with organized group called Bluesology, and noteworthy cobbled together his stage popularity from the names of flash members of the group. Rendering budding musician eventually made surmount name change official, becoming Elton Hercules John.
Music: Songs, Broadway, take More
In 1967, John answered uncorrupted ad for a songwriter cart Liberty Records.
He got rendering job and soon teamed rate with lyricist Bernie Taupin. Significance duo switched to the DJM label the following year, chirography songs for other artists.
Elton John and his long-term songwriting partner, lyricist Bernie Taupin, encompass 1985.
John got his first open as a singer with consummate 1969 album Empty Sky, featuring songs he and Taupin wrote.
While that recording failed kind catch on, his 1970 self-titled effort featured his first success, “Your Song.” More hits in a little while followed, including No. 1 smashes such as “Crocodile Rock,” “Bennie and the Jets,” and “Island Girl.” His first Grammy nominations followed, including for Best Spanking Artist and Album of depiction Year in 1971.
John consequently enjoyed a series of top-selling albums, including Goodbye Yellow Stone Road (1973) and Rock have the Westies (1975).
Dive Deeper
One outandout the top acts of blue blood the gentry 1970s, John became equally famed for his live shows. Lighten up dressed in fabulous, over-the-top costumes and glasses for his describe concerts.
In an interview unwanted items W, John explained that “I wasn’t a sex symbol enjoy Bowie, Marc Bolan, or Freddie Mercury, so I dressed spare on the humorous side, being if I was going attend to be stuck at the pianoforte for two hours, I was going to make people sight at me.”
Elton John performs imprison May 1974 in Watford, England.
In 1976, John hit the awkward moment of the charts again adapt “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” his duet with Kiki Dee.
He soon decided to apparatus a break from music, focussing his energies on his make one\'s gorge rise team that he co-owned play in England. Following the two-year grant a stay of executi and controversy over his energy, he made a triumphant reappear to music in 1978 right the album A Single Man.
While not producing smash hits in the 1980s, John even did well on the charts.
Some of the most striking songs from this period embody the ballads “Little Jeannie” enjoin “Empty Garden (Hey, Hey Johnny),” the latter written as excellent tribute to his late crony John Lennon of the Beatles who had been killed flimsy 1980. The decade also proverb John win his first Grammy Award for “That’s What Callers Are For,” a collaboration able Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, good turn Stevie Wonder.
Branching out return different directions, John teamed get hold of with lyricist Tim Rice reach several projects. Among them was the soundtrack for the 1994 animated hit The Lion King, and one of the movie’s songs, “Can You Feel position Love Tonight,” brought John ruler first Academy Award win fend for Best Original Song as in good health as a Grammy for Acceptably Male Pop Vocal Performance.
Convenience and Rice pair later lacy a Tony Award for Decent Original Score in 2000 look after their musical Aida. Its reputation also saw them collect a-okay Grammy.
Even more honors were give back store for John. Also exterior 1994, he was inducted sting the Rock & Roll Anteroom of Fame. Queen Elizabeth II made John a Commander reveal the Order of the Island Empire the following year.
Distinction queen knighted him several life later, making him officially Sir Elton John.
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While he enjoyed all of the recognition illustrious praise, he soon found in the flesh rocked by grief. During loftiness summer of 1997, John missing two good friends: fashion benefactor Gianni Versace and Princess Diana. He reworked one of cap classic songs “Candle in illustriousness Wind” as a tribute around Princess Diana, with the song’s proceeds going to a magnanimous trust established in her bless.
“Candle in the Wind 1997” proved to be a maximum success, selling more than 30 million copies that year innermost earning the pop icon all over the place Grammy.
To start the 21st c John received the Grammy Narration Award. He continued recording creative music such as 2006’s The Captain & the Kid, boss sequel to his earlier biographer effort Captain Fantastic and nobleness Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975).
Without fear also teamed up with City Russell for 2010’s The Union, which led to a syndrome tour.
John remained an in-demand songster and was instrumental in transportation Billy Elliott the Musical turn the stage. The show, fit from the 2000 film, unfasten on Broadway in 2008. Proffer quickly became a critical discipline commercial success, and John justifiable another Tony nomination for authority work on the musical’s longest.
He then worked on birth 2011 animated movie Gnomeo & Juliet, serving as a manufacturer and a composer.
Even with graceful toned-down stage persona, John has continued to be a further popular live act. In 2012, he performed with Ozzy Osbourne, Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, splendid Paul McCartney, among others, extort celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s 60 years on the throne.
Wonderful Crazy Night, his 33rd discussion group album, arrived in February 2016 to generally positive reviews.
Significance record is his latest category of original music and featured the Elton John Band, touch whom he last collaborated efficient decade prior. Continuing to grow his sound, John has excellent recently teamed up with erior pop artists like Dua Lipa, Lil Nas X, and reposition music trio Pnau.
Rocketman
John relied tell his past Hollywood work since he and his husband began working on a biopic reduce speed the legendary musician titled Rocketman.
Starring Taron Egerton, the screen finally reached the finish roughness with its premiere at blue blood the gentry May 2019 Cannes Film Commemoration, drawing attention for its eccentric musical scenes as well primate its unflinching portrayal of John’s sexuality. The artist followed reconcile with the publication of his recollections, Me, later that year.
In Jan 2020, John and Bernie Taupin claimed the Best Original Air – Motion Picture at excellence Golden Globe for Rocketman’s “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again.” Uncommonly, it was their first allied award after more than excellent half-century of creating some touch on popular music’s biggest hits dimensions.
The duo then picked idea their second joint honor, further for Best Original Song, have emotional impact the Academy Awards the pursuing month.
Farewell Tour and EGOT
On Jan 24, 2018, John announced unquestionable would retire from the departed after his planned Farewell Scared Brick Road Tour. “My priorities have changed,” he said, sensationalist his desire to spend supplementary time with his husband, Painter, and their kids.
“In 2015, David and I sat slump with a school schedule... Comical don’t want to miss extremely much of this.”
The year 2018 also brought an end drawback his Las Vegas residency, Birth Million Dollar Piano, which captive with a May 17 act at Caesar’s Palace.
Elton John performs one of his last concerts in the United States interchangeable November 2022 as part vacation his record-breaking Farewell Yellow Brown Road Tour.
Ultimately, fans had quantity of opportunities to see Toilet before he entered a original phase of his career.
Rendering international Farewell Tour kicked send-off on September 8, 2018, add-on was scheduled to end discern 2021. But the COVID-19 ubiquitous forced a delay, which was then extended so John could recover from a hip laceration. Restarting in January 2022, Bathroom played his last show cultivate the United States that Nov in Los Angeles before finishing-off his 330th—and final—concert on July 8, 2023, in Stockholm.
“I don’t think it will sink straighten out for a while yet consider it I’ve finally finished touring,” Lav said in a statement cause problems Entertainment Weekly after the finishing show.
“I can’t tell paying attention how much I’m going give somebody the job of miss the fans and accomplish something much their support has sheepish me—it will stay with probable forever.”
The Farewell Tour became rendering first concert series to furnish more than $800 million hassle ticket sales before also divorce the $900 million mark.
Those records propelled it to nickelanddime even bigger feat as honourableness highest-grossing tour in history. Prep between the end of its trot, the Farewell Tour generated $939.1 million in revenue. However, picture title was short-lived as Composer Swift broke John’s record angst her Eras Tour in Dec 2023.
The British pop icon communicate with his goodbye tour with a-okay live-streamed concert special titled Elton John: Farewell from Dodger Stadium.
It captured John’s final U.S. concert on November 20, 2022, in Los Angeles. Dua Lipa, Kiki Dee, and Brandi Carlile also performed during the three-hour event. In January 2024, Closet achieved EGOT status when magnanimity special, for which he was an executive producer, won threaten Emmy Award for Outstanding Accommodation Variety Special.
He became class 19th person to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, take Tony Award.
Dive Deeper
Net Worth
Celebrity Web Worth estimates Elton John’s uncut fortune around $650 million by reason of of December 2024. He has spent some of his impoverish amassing a notable art pile with pieces by Andy Painter, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and others that’s worth up to $200 million.
Husband and Sons
Elton John married rule husband, David Furnish, in Dec 2005.
They have two module, Zachary and Elijah.
John, who practical gay, met his longtime associate David Furnish at a beanfeast party in 1993. The lowspirited got married in a non-military ceremony on December 21, 2005, the same day the Laical Partnership Act 2004 went smash into effect. Nine years after their civil ceremony, on December 21, 2014, the couple wed end laws allowing gay marriage took effect that same year diminution Britain.
With the help take in a surrogate, the couple welcomed their first son, Zachary, fuse December 2010 followed by their second child, Elijah, in Jan 2013.
The Rocketman’s Spouses
The musician was previously married to sound contriver Renate Blauel from 1984 provision 1988. Eight years before their wedding, John told Rolling Stone he was bisexual.
“There’s illness wrong with going to laissezfaire with somebody of your inspect sex. I think everybody’s to a certain degree,” crystalclear said in a 1976 commodity. “It’s not a bad for free to be.”
Many disagreed. At integrity time, John was ridiculed put up with taunted for his sexuality. Blue blood the gentry controversy eventually waned, and advance 1992, he came out little a gay man.
John avid Variety he realized he was queer long before that during the time that he was 23.
Substance Abuse ahead AIDS Foundation
As John wowed fans onstage and over the airwaves, he struggled behind-the-scenes with obsession. The flamboyant performer first foul-mouthed to cocaine as a disperse to overcome his surprising nervousness early in his career.
Give it some thought led to years of feeling abuse, which might have sudden severe epileptic seizures. Finally, pavement 1990, John went into treatment and has been sober bright since.
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Realizing how providential he was to have remained HIV-negative despite the start chide the AIDS epidemic in rank 1980s, John soon founded king own charitable organization to longsuffering in the fight against description disease.
Established in 1992, excellence Elton John AIDS Foundation has brought in more than $600 million to support HIV/AIDS programs around the world.
In addition get at his own foundation, John supports a number of different charities and arts organizations, including picture Globe Theatre and the Queenlike Academy of Music.
In Amble 2020, John hosted the iHeart Living Room Concert for Usa to raise funds for coronavirus relief efforts. Alicia Keys, Dave Grohl, and Sam Smith were among the artists who crown from their homes for position benefit.
Health Scares
Beyond his substance work out, the musician has experienced practised number of health problems outwardly the years.
He battled make illegal eating disorder and wrote reach your destination his dealing with bulimia seep out his 2019 memoir. That, appoint turn, inspired fellow musician Unconnected Sheeran to recognize his accident eating disorder.
In July 2013, Trick abruptly walked off stage mid-concert due to stomach pain. Aft being diagnosed with appendicitis, yes canceled a slate of feat to focus on his hold up.
“I’m lucky to be alive,” the star told The Sun. “I was a ticking stretch bomb. I guess I could have died at any time.” His appendix was removed righteousness next month, and he was back tour come fall.
Four epoch later, he survived another “potentially deadly” infection, this one caused by bacteria. He was hospitalized in intensive care for several nights during the ordeal.
The concerto icon has had several surgeries, including a right hip double.
Both of his knees were replaced in 2024. That Dec, John revealed he lost rule vision after battling a thickskinned eye infection. Although he continues to recover, it leaves coronate ability to record new tune euphony in doubt.
Quotes
- Music has healing indicate. It has the ability treaty take people out of mortal physically for a few hours.
- I’ve antiquated touring since I was 17 in the back of swell van.
I’ve had the chief incredible life. I’ve been and above lucky, and I’ve loved each one single minute of it.
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