Name at birth: Reginald Kenneth Dwight

A prolific songwriter and a flamboyant performer, Elton John had 30 different hits on the top 40 charts between 1970 and 1982. His theatrical stage appearances, with John changing into a succession of elaborate costumes and outlandish spectacles, helped make him a pop megastar. His hit tunes included "Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road," "Your Song," "Bennie and the Jets," and "Rocket Man." All were written with his longtime lyricist, Bernie Taupin. Although John lost a bit of his shine during the '80s, he re-emerged as a force in the 1990s, touring and recording and cementing his spot among the pop music aristocracy. He performed his song "Candle in the Wind" at the funeral of Princess Diana in 1997, and the song went on to become an international best-seller. John (like Paul McCartney) was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997.

According to a 2004 BBC profile, John "has the rare accolade of charting a Top 40 single every year from 1970 to 1996"... "Candle in the Wind" originally was written about actress Marilyn Monroe... In 2000 John caused a flap when he performed a duet at the Grammy awards with controversial rapper Eminem... On 21 December 2005, John entered into civil partnership with his longtime companion, filmmaker David Furnish, shortly after such partnerships became legal in England.

Awards

• In 1991, John's "Basque" won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition
• Elton and Bernie Taupin were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992
• Elton John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994
• Elton John was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1995
• In September 1997, Taupin altered the lyrics of "Candle in the Wind" for a special version mourning the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, and John performed it at her funeral in Westminster Abbey. A recorded version, "Candle in the Wind 1997", then became the fastest selling single of all time, eventually going on to sell over 30 million copies worldwide, with the proceeds of approximately £55 million going to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. John would later win the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for the single.
• Elton John was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II on 24 February 1998, granting him the title of "Sir". The honour was officially for his charitable work
• A recipient of a Kennedy Center Honor in 2004, along with Joan Sutherland, John Williams, Warren Beatty, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee

Discography

For a complete list of albums and songs, see Elton John discography

External links

• Elton John at the Internet Movie Database
• Elton John's official website
• Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF)
• Elton John at Live 8

Discography & Lyric/Music sites

• Elton John Discography and Lyrics
• Elton John at the SoundtrackINFO project
• Elton John Biography
• EltonChords.com Resource for piano chording for Elton John Songs
• Elton John Lyrics
• Elton John's Music Cafe
• Cornflakes & Classics - The musical history of Elton John

Fan sites

• Global Fan site
• Elton John News Blog from The Crazy Water Site
• Elton John Fanatic
• Elton Expo 2006 and the magazine: East End Lights
• Brazilian Fansite in Portuguese