![]() John continued to record new music later in his extensive career. "Candle in the Wind 1997" proved to be a tremendous success, selling more than 30 million copies that year.Įlton John performing at an open-air concert in May 1974 in Watford, England. He reworked one of his classic songs, "Candle in the Wind," as a tribute to Princess Diana, with the song's proceeds going to a charitable trust established in her honor. During the summer of 1997, John lost two good friends - fashion designer Gianni Versace and Princess Diana. While he enjoyed all of the recognition and praise, he soon found himself rocked by grief. Queen Elizabeth II made John a Commander of the Order of the British Empire the following year (The queen knighted him several years later, making him officially "Sir Elton John"). In 1994 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. John received a number of honors around this time. The pair later netted a Tony Award for Best Original Score in 2000 for their musical Aida. They worked together on the soundtrack for the 1994 animated hit The Lion King, and one of the movie's songs, "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," brought John his first Academy Award win for Best Original Song. 'Can You Feel the Love Tonight'īranching out in different directions, John teamed up with lyricist Tim Rice for several projects. Some of the most memorable songs from this period include the ballads "Little Jeannie" and "Empty Garden (Hey, Hey Johnny)," the latter written as a tribute to his friend John Lennon of the Beatles, who had been killed in 1980. While not producing smash hits in the 1980s, John still did well on the charts. The controversy died down, and he made a triumphant return to music in 1979 with the album A Single Man. At the time, John was ridiculed and taunted for his sexuality. Around this time, John also publicly announced that he was bisexual (he later came out as a gay man). He soon decided to take a break from music, focusing his energies on his soccer team that he co-owned in England. ![]() In 1976 John hit the top of the charts again with "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," his duet with Kiki Dee. In an interview with W, John explained that "I wasn't a sex symbol like Bowie, Marc Bolan or Freddie Mercury, so I dressed more on the humorous side, because if I was going to be stuck at the piano for two hours, I was going to make people look at me." 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' He dressed in fabulous, over-the-top costumes and glasses for his elaborate concerts. One of the top acts of the 1970s, John became equally famous for his live shows. Memorable Songs & Energetic Live Performances 1 smashes such as "Crocodile Rock," "Bennie and the Jets" and "Island Girl." John enjoyed a series of top-selling albums during this time, including Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) and Rock of the Westies (1975).Įlton John and his long-term songwriting partner, lyricist Bernie Taupin, in 1985. While that recording failed to catch on, his 1970 self-titled effort featured John's first hit, "Your Song." More hits soon followed, including No. John got his first break as a singer with his 1969 album Empty Sky, featuring songs by John and Taupin. The duo switched to the DJM label the following year, writing songs for other artists. He got the job and soon teamed up with lyricist Bernie Taupin. In 1967 John answered an ad for a songwriter for Liberty Records. He started playing with a group called Bluesology, and he cobbled together his stage moniker from the names of two members of the group. And much to his father's dismay, John dropped out of school at 17 to follow his dream. John, captivated by the sounds of early rock and roll, wanted to pursue a career in pop music. His parents divorced when he was a teenager, and he and his father clashed over his future. John had a difficult relationship with his father, Stanley Dwight, a member of the Royal Air Force. Proving to be a great talent, he won a scholarship to a youth program at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He discovered his passion for music at an early age and taught himself how to play the piano when he was only four years old. Singer, songwriter, composer and icon Elton John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25, 1947, in Pinner, Middlesex, England. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and knighted in 1998. Some of his chart-topping hits include "Crocodile Rock," "Philadelphia Freedom" and "Candle in the Wind." He also found success on Broadway, composing the score for Billy Elliot (2008), which went on to win 10 Tony Awards. He was musically gifted from a young age, and released his first self-titled American album in 1970, making him a huge international star. Elton John's unique blend of pop and rock styles turned him into one of the 20th century's biggest music icons.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |