Elton John, survived career dips, drug addiction
and a variety of public court cases to become one of the most
successful and enduring musicians of the last 40 years. The
son of an RAF trumpeter, Elton was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight
in Pinner, Middlesex on March 25, 1947. Living his infancy
at 55 Pinner Hill Road that Reg Dwight called home. It was
actually the home of grandparents Fred and Ivy Harris.
He began playing piano at the age of four and when he was
11, won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music. At the
start of his pop career, he opted for a catchier moniker,
taking his inspiration from singer Long John Baldry and sax
player Elton Dean, in homage to his Bluesology mates.
Elton met lyricist Bernie Taupin when they both answered
an ad for songwriters in New Musical Express (NME). It was
the start of a beautiful and lucrative partnership. In 1969
he released his debut album Empty Sky, which received fair
reviews, but no sales - so no outrageous spending sprees for
Elton just yet. Success would come the following year with
the Gus Dudgeon produced single, Your Song, taken from the
album, Elton John. It was the singer's first UK hit reaching
number seven in the charts.
By 1973, Elton had launched his own label, Rocket Records
and in 1974, he became director of Watford Football Club beginning
a successful working partnership with Watford manager Graham
Taylor. He has the rare accolade of charting a Top 40 single
every year from 1970 to 1996. Success brought enormous wealth
coupled with a rather nasty drug habit and several well-publicised
tantrums.
After Princess Diana's tragic death in Paris in 1997, Elton
put the thoughts of a grieving nation into song with the help
of his faithful lyricist Bernie Taupin. Sales of "Candle
In The Wind '97" broke all records. The proceeds went
to the charities Diana had worked with so closely. |
