Elton John

Sir Elton Hercules John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25, 1947. The monumental career of this international singer/songwriter, composer, pianist and performer has spanned more than three decades. He is one of the top-selling solo artists of all time, with more than 200 million records sold worldwide. Elton John has won an array of industry awards including Grammys, Tonys and an Oscar. He continues to add innovative work to his personal repertoire of 35 gold and 25 platinum albums.

He has been one of the dominant forces in rock and popular music, especially in the 1970s. His theatrical stage appearances, changing into a succession of elaborate costumes and outlandish spectacles, helped make him a pop megastar. He has had a profound impact on popular music and has contributed to the continued popularity of the piano in rock and roll.

His greatest hit tunes included Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road, Your Song, Bennie, and Rocket Man. All were written with his long-time lyricist, Bernie Taupin. Disney’s The Lion King saw a whole new generation of Elton John fans ñ the children. He got numerous awards for Circle of Life, Hakuna Matata, and Can You Feel the Love Tonight. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. He has been heavily involved in the fight against AIDS since the late 1980s and was knighted in 1998. Elton John continues to be a champion for the gay rights movement.