Biography of Elton John

Although Elton's first album, Empty Sky, (released in 1969) was a flop, his self titled album Elton John (1970) was more successful, with Your Song, making it to the US Top Ten.

From 1972 Elton and Bernie's hit-making collaboration - and Elton's career - really took off, producing 16 Top 20 hits (15 of which went to the Top Ten) - Rocket Man, Daniel, Candle In The Wind, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Saturday Nights Alright, Crocodile Rock.

In 1976, his duet with Kiki Dee, Don't Go Breaking My Heart, went straight to number one; later that year John's concerts at Madison Square Garden sold out for seven nights, a record that still holds today.

Biography of Elton John - 80s Music

John continued to write in the 1980s, producing one album a year, with hits like I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues, Sad Songs (Say So Much), I'm Still Standing and Nikita..

Elton John Nikita

In 1994 John moved into film, where he collaborated with lyricist Tim Rice, writing songs for the Lion King, for which they won an Academy Award in 1995. Soundtrack sales were over 100 million, and the movie was turned into a Broadway Show in 1997.

John's contribution to music has been enormous. He has had over 50 Top Forties, including seven consecutive No. 1 U.S. albums and nine No. 1 hits.

He has won Grammy, Academy, Golden Globe, and Tony Awards. He was added to the Songwriters Hall Of Fame in 1992, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994; Billboard magazine has ranked him as the most successful male solo artist on "The Billboard Hot 100 Top All-Time Artists.

John's personal life has received as much attention. Known for his charisma and flamboyent stage costumes, John has suffered from bulimia, and drug and alcohol addiction. He is dedicated to raising AIDS awareness; he formed an AIDS charity in 1992, The Elton John Aids Foundation, and donates all royalties from his singles to AIDS research.

In 2005, John registered his civil partnership with long-term partner David Furnish at Windsor Town Hall on December 21, 2005, the first day that civil unions were legal in England and Wales.

Biography of Elton John - Fun Facts & Trivia

• Net worth estimated to be $287 million (Sunday Times)



• Knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1998



• Keen art collector, with reputedly the largest private photographic collection in the world



• Godfather to John Lennon's son, Sean Lennon, Elizabeth Hurley's son Damian and David Beckham and Victoria Beckham's sons Brooklyn and Romeo


He has had at least one charted Billboard hit every year from 1970-2009.
• Plays Yamaha concert grand pianos. Yamaha have also produced the Elton John Limited Edition Signature Series Red Piano, based on his Vegas show, The Red Piano.