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Elton John

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Elton John was really called Reginald Dwight and was born in 1947 in Pinner, near London. As a small boy he played on his grandmother's piano, and at eleven he won a scholarship to the Saturday classes of the Royal Academy of Music. At fifteen he played piano in a pub, then in the blues band Bluesology. His stage name dates from that time, as does the collaboration with the lyricist Bernie Taupin, with whom he would write most of his songs.

Music and breakthrough

After the debut Empty Sky (1969) he broke through in 1970 with the ballad Your Song. In the 1970s the hits followed each other quickly: Tiny Dancer, Rocket Man, Crocodile Rock, Daniel, and on the double album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) Bennie and the Jets and Candle in the Wind, among others. With Kiki Dee he sang Don't Go Breaking My Heart. In 1985 he had a big hit with Nikita, with George Michael on backing vocals. Later he wrote music for The Lion King (1994) and for musicals such as Billy Elliot.

Influence

Elton John builds his songs around the piano, which he plays with the energy of his boyhood heroes Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis. On stage he stood out with wild costumes and enormous glasses. He became one of the best-selling artists of all time. His new version of Candle in the Wind, recorded in 1997 after the death of Princess Diana, is the best-selling single ever. Since the late 1980s he has committed himself to the fight against AIDS.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Nikita and notice how the story of a love on the other side of the Wall is packaged in a pop song. Listen in the backing vocals for the voice of George Michael.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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Mentioned in other articles

See also

Categories: ArtistsDisney Renaissance