[Music]
he is captain fantastic
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
taking a look at the life and career of
Elton John who is this Elton John anyone
Reginald Kenneth Dwight was born March
25th 1947 in a London suburb this child
prodigy began playing piano at age four
and received a Royal Academy of Music
scholarship at eleven within four years
he was covering songs at local pubs his
parents encouraged him to follow a
traditional career path but he left
school at 17 to pursue music and joined
blues ology with them he backed musical
greats like The Isley Brothers and Patti
LaBelle and the blue bells meanwhile
Dwight sought work elsewhere on an
audition in 1967 he was introduced to
lyricist Bernie Taupin and the two began
writing songs for other artists through
the mail six months later
Reggie Dwight adopted the name that
honored his idols Elton Dean and Long
John Baldry by mid 1968 Elton John was
reporting his and tokens music the 1969
album empty sky fizzled but the next
year he had a hit with his self-titled
album mainly due to the single your song
I hope you don’t mind I hope you don’t
mind that I put down
John’s music meshed influences and
styles but his vocal twang implied
inspiration by Southern American rock he
bridged the gap between traditional pop
artists and reflective singer
songwriters John Koeppen compositions
were rarely introspective in content but
they successfully blended electric
guitar with Elton John’s trademark piano
in August 1970 John introduced himself
to American audiences at Los Angeles’s
troubadour club he built momentum and
earned significant radio airplay with
the Western flavored tumbleweed
connection as well as the live gospel
and boogie-woogie inspired 11 1770 next
was 1971 s top 10 album madman across
the water
the guys
Galba the song
but the following year he really became
a household name Hongki Chateau was his
first of seven straight us chart-topping
albums
[Music]
less than a year later don’t shoot me
I’m only the piano player produced two
more popular tracks Danielle my brother
you are above that need do you still
feel the pain I remember
[Music]
1973’s rock-and-roll classic goodbye
yellow brick road eventually went seven
times platinum in the US and produced
four singles including one number one
[Music]
Elton John’s place at the top of the
rock food chain was secured John’s
success stemmed from the fact he was
considered the first original act to
emerge after the breakup of the Beatles
he even collaborated with former Beatle
John Lennon in 1974 on whatever gets you
through the night 1974 also saw the
release of the hastily produced caribou
despite shortcomings singles like don’t
let the Sun go down on me shot it to
number one in 1975 Elton John appeared
with other huge rock acts in the film
adaptation of the whose rock opera Tommy
to be a twist up and
dog sir
[Music]
he also released captain fantastic and
the brown dirt cowboy which recalled the
struggles John and Tobin suffered during
their early career someone see my love
to the bear
[Music]
you’re almost her dukes in me daddy it
was the first album ever to debut at
number one the standalone single
Philadelphia freedom about his friend
tennis great Billie Jean King also came
in 1975 when he played the song on Soul
Train that year he became one of the few
white performers to appear on the show
by this point John was established as a
preeminent and stylish showman to get
that suit brother soon his onstage
costumes became increasingly flamboyant
and wacky following Captain Fantastic
John dismantled his longtime band ahead
of his next album Rock of the Westies
also debuted at the top of billboard and
yielded the number-one Island girl
[Music]
the live record here and there arrived
in 1976 as did his eleventh studio album
blue moves that effort focused less on
rock and spawned the mature single sorry
seems to be the hardest word as well as
several concert favorites but his upbeat
duet with Kiki Dee was the year’s
biggest victory
[Music]
he kept busy by becoming involved with
the Watford football club he capped off
1976 by maintaining a relentless touring
schedule and by famously admitting his
bisexuality in a controversial rolling
stone interview however the stress of
his busy schedule and public persona
strained the naturally shy musician John
struggled with bulimia and became
increasingly dependent on drugs and
alcohol during the first part of his
career Elton John went from child
prodigy to one of the world’s biggest
entertainers of course there was much
more to come
[Music]
frazzled and burnt out from drug abuse
and a hectic touring schedule Elton John
retired from live concerts in 1977 and
began releasing only one album annually
he also turned to lyricist other than
Bernie Taupin and issued some relatively
forgettable albums but soon John made
his performing comeback by becoming one
of the first Western artists to tour the
Soviet Union he also reunited with the
original Elton John band for a huge free
concert in Central Park in September
1980 two years later he released jump up
which included the John Lennon tribute
empty garden hey hey Johnny
[Music]
1983’s too low for zero marked the
permanent return of token on lyrics and
was another hit
ciao
[Music]
John started another partnership in 1984
he married sound engineer Renata blow of
the album’s released during his
four-year long marriage all had charting
singles most notably 1985 Nikita
Oh
[Music]
Nikita
[Music]
that year also had John team up with
other stars to raise funds for the
American Foundation for AIDS research
with the hit single that’s what friends
are for and he won a Grammy for his
trouble however he soon got a wake-up
call his ongoing smoking and drug abuse
caused so much damage he required throat
surgery in early 1987 that left his
voice forever changed the last few
albums of the 80s pleased fans but only
1988 reg strikes back charted in the
u.s. top 20
to support that record he filled Madison
Square Garden for five shows 1988
included another defining moment for
John he symbolically sold all his old
costumes at auction and began combatting
his demons by 1990 he quit drugs and
alcohol meanwhile 1989 sleeping with the
Past kept the singles coming
[Music]
in 1991 alive duet with George Michael
of his already huge song don’t let the
Sun go down on me came out and was
eventually featured on the album duets
along with other Elton John musical
matchups
[Music]
1992’s the one proof Elton John was
still relevant that year he also
established the Elton John AIDS
Foundation after losing friends Freddie
Mercury and Ryan White to the disease
and began donating all proceeds from his
single sales to the cause however 1994
marked his true comeback he was inducted
into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and
teamed up with Tim Rice to pen the
soundtrack to Disney’s The Lion King
[Music]
of the film several hit songs can you
feel the love tonight earn John both a
Grammy and an Oscar in 1995 he paid
tribute to his roots with made in
England and released love songs the next
year the big picture hits doors in 1997
just months after John lost his friends
Gianni Versace and Princess Diana he
performed a reworked version of candle
in the wind in moving tribute to Lady
died at her funeral and this song became
his biggest hit ever it also won him
another Grammy and you footsteps with a
blue-screen steers you candles burned
out before
let never win Elton John then
transitioned to theater by adapting the
Lion King into a stage show in 1997 and
by penning the Tony and Grammy
award-winning Aida with Tim Rice the
following year 1998 also saw John
knighted by Queen Elizabeth the second
between releasing albums pioneering
Billy Elliot the Musical and tackling
Las Vegas stage shows Elton John stayed
busy in 2005 he entered a civil union
with his longtime partner David Furnish
and the couple later had baby Zachary
Jackson Levon furnished John via a
surrogate John also toured with fellow
piano man Billy Joel performed with Lady
gaga
lent his music to the soundtrack of
Gnomeo and Juliet and collaborated with
Leon Russell on 2010’s the Union Elton
John has boasted over 50 hit songs
through his career and has sold over 250
million albums making him one of
history’s most successful musicians he’s
known for his outspoken diva personality
eccentric costumes and blend of varied
influences but it’s his genius as a
pianist songwriter and vocalist that
keeps this bitch coming back
for more musical biles and top 10s
published every day be sure to subscribe
to watchmojo.com
[Music]
he is captain fantastic
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
taking a look at the life and career of
Elton John who is this Elton John anyone
Reginald Kenneth Dwight was born March
25th 1947 in a London suburb this child
prodigy began playing piano at age four
and received a Royal Academy of Music
scholarship at eleven within four years
he was covering songs at local pubs his
parents encouraged him to follow a
traditional career path but he left
school at 17 to pursue music and joined
blues ology with them he backed musical
greats like The Isley Brothers and Patti
LaBelle and the blue bells meanwhile
Dwight sought work elsewhere on an
audition in 1967 he was introduced to
lyricist Bernie Taupin and the two began
writing songs for other artists through
the mail six months later
Reggie Dwight adopted the name that
honored his idols Elton Dean and Long
John Baldry by mid 1968 Elton John was
reporting his and tokens music the 1969
album empty sky fizzled but the next
year he had a hit with his self-titled
album mainly due to the single your song
I hope you don’t mind I hope you don’t
mind that I put down
John’s music meshed influences and
styles but his vocal twang implied
inspiration by Southern American rock he
bridged the gap between traditional pop
artists and reflective singer
songwriters John Koeppen compositions
were rarely introspective in content but
they successfully blended electric
guitar with Elton John’s trademark piano
in August 1970 John introduced himself
to American audiences at Los Angeles’s
troubadour club he built momentum and
earned significant radio airplay with
the Western flavored tumbleweed
connection as well as the live gospel
and boogie-woogie inspired 11 1770 next
was 1971 s top 10 album madman across
the water
the guys
Galba the song
but the following year he really became
a household name Hongki Chateau was his
first of seven straight us chart-topping
albums
[Music]
less than a year later don’t shoot me
I’m only the piano player produced two
more popular tracks Danielle my brother
you are above that need do you still
feel the pain I remember
[Music]
1973’s rock-and-roll classic goodbye
yellow brick road eventually went seven
times platinum in the US and produced
four singles including one number one
[Music]
Elton John’s place at the top of the
rock food chain was secured John’s
success stemmed from the fact he was
considered the first original act to
emerge after the breakup of the Beatles
he even collaborated with former Beatle
John Lennon in 1974 on whatever gets you
through the night 1974 also saw the
release of the hastily produced caribou
despite shortcomings singles like don’t
let the Sun go down on me shot it to
number one in 1975 Elton John appeared
with other huge rock acts in the film
adaptation of the whose rock opera Tommy
to be a twist up and
dog sir
[Music]
he also released captain fantastic and
the brown dirt cowboy which recalled the
struggles John and Tobin suffered during
their early career someone see my love
to the bear
[Music]
you’re almost her dukes in me daddy it
was the first album ever to debut at
number one the standalone single
Philadelphia freedom about his friend
tennis great Billie Jean King also came
in 1975 when he played the song on Soul
Train that year he became one of the few
white performers to appear on the show
by this point John was established as a
preeminent and stylish showman to get
that suit brother soon his onstage
costumes became increasingly flamboyant
and wacky following Captain Fantastic
John dismantled his longtime band ahead
of his next album Rock of the Westies
also debuted at the top of billboard and
yielded the number-one Island girl
[Music]
the live record here and there arrived
in 1976 as did his eleventh studio album
blue moves that effort focused less on
rock and spawned the mature single sorry
seems to be the hardest word as well as
several concert favorites but his upbeat
duet with Kiki Dee was the year’s
biggest victory
[Music]
he kept busy by becoming involved with
the Watford football club he capped off
1976 by maintaining a relentless touring
schedule and by famously admitting his
bisexuality in a controversial rolling
stone interview however the stress of
his busy schedule and public persona
strained the naturally shy musician John
struggled with bulimia and became
increasingly dependent on drugs and
alcohol during the first part of his
career Elton John went from child
prodigy to one of the world’s biggest
entertainers of course there was much
more to come
[Music]
frazzled and burnt out from drug abuse
and a hectic touring schedule Elton John
retired from live concerts in 1977 and
began releasing only one album annually
he also turned to lyricist other than
Bernie Taupin and issued some relatively
forgettable albums but soon John made
his performing comeback by becoming one
of the first Western artists to tour the
Soviet Union he also reunited with the
original Elton John band for a huge free
concert in Central Park in September
1980 two years later he released jump up
which included the John Lennon tribute
empty garden hey hey Johnny
[Music]
1983’s too low for zero marked the
permanent return of token on lyrics and
was another hit
ciao
[Music]
John started another partnership in 1984
he married sound engineer Renata blow of
the album’s released during his
four-year long marriage all had charting
singles most notably 1985 Nikita
Oh
[Music]
Nikita
[Music]
that year also had John team up with
other stars to raise funds for the
American Foundation for AIDS research
with the hit single that’s what friends
are for and he won a Grammy for his
trouble however he soon got a wake-up
call his ongoing smoking and drug abuse
caused so much damage he required throat
surgery in early 1987 that left his
voice forever changed the last few
albums of the 80s pleased fans but only
1988 reg strikes back charted in the
u.s. top 20
to support that record he filled Madison
Square Garden for five shows 1988
included another defining moment for
John he symbolically sold all his old
costumes at auction and began combatting
his demons by 1990 he quit drugs and
alcohol meanwhile 1989 sleeping with the
Past kept the singles coming
[Music]
in 1991 alive duet with George Michael
of his already huge song don’t let the
Sun go down on me came out and was
eventually featured on the album duets
along with other Elton John musical
matchups
[Music]
1992’s the one proof Elton John was
still relevant that year he also
established the Elton John AIDS
Foundation after losing friends Freddie
Mercury and Ryan White to the disease
and began donating all proceeds from his
single sales to the cause however 1994
marked his true comeback he was inducted
into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and
teamed up with Tim Rice to pen the
soundtrack to Disney’s The Lion King
[Music]
of the film several hit songs can you
feel the love tonight earn John both a
Grammy and an Oscar in 1995 he paid
tribute to his roots with made in
England and released love songs the next
year the big picture hits doors in 1997
just months after John lost his friends
Gianni Versace and Princess Diana he
performed a reworked version of candle
in the wind in moving tribute to Lady
died at her funeral and this song became
his biggest hit ever it also won him
another Grammy and you footsteps with a
blue-screen steers you candles burned
out before
let never win Elton John then
transitioned to theater by adapting the
Lion King into a stage show in 1997 and
by penning the Tony and Grammy
award-winning Aida with Tim Rice the
following year 1998 also saw John
knighted by Queen Elizabeth the second
between releasing albums pioneering
Billy Elliot the Musical and tackling
Las Vegas stage shows Elton John stayed
busy in 2005 he entered a civil union
with his longtime partner David Furnish
and the couple later had baby Zachary
Jackson Levon furnished John via a
surrogate John also toured with fellow
piano man Billy Joel performed with Lady
gaga
lent his music to the soundtrack of
Gnomeo and Juliet and collaborated with
Leon Russell on 2010’s the Union Elton
John has boasted over 50 hit songs
through his career and has sold over 250
million albums making him one of
history’s most successful musicians he’s
known for his outspoken diva personality
eccentric costumes and blend of varied
influences but it’s his genius as a
pianist songwriter and vocalist that
keeps this bitch coming back
for more musical biles and top 10s
published every day be sure to subscribe
to watchmojo.com
[Music]
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