Sir Elton Hercules John CH CBE is a British singer, pianist and composer. Commonly nicknamed the Rocket Man after his 1972 hit single of the same name, John has led a commercially successful career as a solo artist since the 1970s, having released 31 albums since 1969 and sold more than 250 million records (over 50 million in the United States alone). He has more than 50 Top 40 hits including seven consecutive #1 U.S. albums, 56 Top 40 singles (including ten UK #1s), 16 Top 10, seven #2 singles, and nine #3 singles in the U.S. Sir Elton John s Incredible Life and Career
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Early life
Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in 1947, Sir Elton John is a world-renowned singer, songwriter and pianist. He began playing piano at the age of three and by the age of 11, he had composed his first song. When he was 15, he joined a band called Bluesology which toured England with artists such as Marvin Gaye and the Isley Brothers. Sir Elton John s Incredible Life and Career
Musical influences
From a young age, John was exposed to a wide range of music styles, including classical, blues, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll. All of these genres would later come to influence his own style of music. He was also influenced by the work of other artists such as the Beatles, Little Richard, and Jerry Lee Lewis. After hearing the Animals’ cover of House of the Rising Sun in 1964, he abandoned piano lessons that same year; three years later he started playing again. After hearing this song, he bought a $3 acoustic guitar from a shop on Kings Road for six pounds ten shillings (equal to $17 today). At 16 years old (or 14 according to Wikipedia), he played his first gig at local pub called The Pint Pot in Surrey.
Writing hits
Elton John is one of the most iconic musicians of our time. He’s best known for his hits Rocket Man and Candle in the Wind, but he has so many other great songs as well. Elton John has been writing hits for over 50 years, and he shows no signs of slowing down. He’s an incredible artist with a career that is truly inspiring. To give you some perspective on how long Elton John has been around, I’m just going to list all of his albums from 1969-2017: Empty Sky (1969), Tumbleweed Connection (1970), Madman Across the Water (1971), Honky Chateau (1972), Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player (1973), Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973), Caribou (1974), Captain Fantastic and The Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975), Rock Of The Westies (1975)
Charity efforts
Since the early 1990s, John has been an active supporter of the AIDS Foundation. He has also raised money for other charities such as research into Prostate cancer and Childline. In 1992, he established the Elton John AIDS Foundation which has raised over $385 million to date. Most recently, in 2016 Sir Elton auctioned off his personal collection of memorabilia which raised over $38 million for his foundation. With this new fund, it is estimated that they will be able to continue their services until 2020.
Other interests
Few people know that Sir Elton John is also a huge philanthropist, having founded the Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1992. He has also been a supporter of the abolition of land mines, campaigning with Princess Diana. In 2010, he was made a Knight Bachelor by Queen Elizabeth II for services to music and charitable services. And on October 26th 2017, it was announced that he would be one of seven recipients of this year’s Kennedy Center Honors award. His musical genius has created some of the most iconic songs from our time, said President Barack Obama, who will present him with the award. Long may you run.
Personal life
Elton John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25, 1947, in Pinner, Middlesex, England. His father, Stanley Dwight, was a Royal Air Force pilot and his mother, Sheila Eileen, was a homemaker. John showed an early aptitude for music and began playing the piano at age 3. When he was 11 years old, he attended the Royal Academy of Music in London on a scholarship. He left school when he was 15 to pursue a career as a musician, just as The Beatles were achieving widespread success. In 1962, while still attending the academy, John became lead singer of Bluesology; with this band he toured Britain and Europe to great acclaim.
Q.&A.
1. How did Sir Elton John become a famous musician?
2. What are some of Sir Elton John’s most popular songs?
3. What has Sir Elton John accomplished in his career?
4. How has Sir Elton John’s personal life been?
5. What is Sir Elton John’s net worth?
1. How did Sir Elton John become a famous musician?
Sir Elton John was born on March 25, 1947, in Pinner, Middlesex, England. His birth name was Reginald Kenneth Dwight. When he was four years old, his parents gave him a piano for Christmas. He took to the instrument immediately and began taking piano lessons. It soon became apparent that he had a prodigious talent for music. When he was 11 years old, he won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music.
2. What are some of Sir Elton John’s most popular songs?
1. Rocket Man
2. Bennie and the Jets
3. Candle in the Wind
4. Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me
5. I’m Still Standing
3. What has Sir Elton John accomplished in his career?
Sir Elton John is a musical legend who has achieved massive success both in the UK and the US. He has released 31 albums, sold over 300 million records, and has won five Grammy Awards.
5. What is Sir Elton John’s net worth?
Sir Elton John has an estimated net worth of $450 million. He has earned his fortune through his successful career as a solo artist and composer. His most popular hits include Rocket Man, Bennie and the Jets, and Candle in the Wind. Sir Elton John is one of the best-selling artists of all time, with sales of over 300 million records worldwide.