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Birth
March 25, 1947
Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight) was born on 25 March 1947
in Pinner, Middlesex.
Album - Empty Sky
June 3, 1969
Empty Sky is the debut album of British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1969. It was finally released in the United States in 1975, well after Elton's fame had been established internationally.
While the instrumental accompaniment in Empty Sky could be classified as mildly psychedelic rock, Elton's flair for pop melody is obvious even at this early stage. Elton adds to the unique sound of the album by playing harpsichord on several tracks, including "Skyline Pigeon", which Elton has described as being "the first song Bernie and I ever got excited about."
Album - Elton John
April 10, 1970
Elton John is the eponymous second album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1970. It was his first album, however, released in America, thus commonly assumed by many as his debut, as Empty Sky would not be released in the U.S. until 1975. It includes his breakthrough hit, "Your Song", and helped establish his career during what was considered the "singer-songwriter" era of popular music. In 1971 the album was nominated to the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. In 2003, the album was ranked number 468 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
Album - Tumbleweed Connection
October 30, 1970
Tumbleweed Connection is the third album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1970. With the exception of "Love Song," written and composed by Lesley Duncan, the albums lyrics were written by Bernie Taupin, while the music was composed by John. The album went gold in America without the release of a single. In 2003, the album was ranked number 455 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
Album - Madman Across the Water
November 5, 1971
Madman Across the Water is the fourth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1971. The title song, "Madman Across the Water", was set to be released on Elton John's previous album Tumbleweed Connection. However, it was set aside and would eventually serve as the title track of this album. Previous versions of the song (from the Tumbleweed era) can still be found, specifically on the remastered Tumbleweed Connection CD. When it was released in 'The Classic Years' collection, it was the first album not to feature any bonus tracks. One known track recorded at the time, "Rock Me When He's Gone", was released on "Rare Masters" a few years before. The song was written for and recorded by one of John's long-time friends, Long John Baldry.
Honky Château
May 19, 1972
Honky Château is the fifth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1972 (see 1972 in music). In 2003, the album was ranked number 357 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. This is the final Elton John album on the Uni label in the US and Canada before he was transferred to the MCA label. This and Elton's earlier Uni albums were reissued on the MCA label.
Album - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
October 5, 1973
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is the seventh studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1973. It is regarded by many as his magnum opus. With worldwide sales of at least 20 million it is his best selling studio album. In 2000 Q magazine placed it at number 84 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever. In 2003, the album was ranked number 91 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
May 19, 1975
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy is the ninth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1975. It debuted at number 1 on the U.S. Pop Albums chart, the first ever to do so, and stayed there for seven weeks. It has gone on to be certified as triple platinum. On the UK Albums Chart, it peaked at number 2. In 2003, the album was ranked number 158 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
Bisexual
January 1, 1976 - January 1, 1977
In a 1976 Rolling Stone interview, he announced that he was bisexual. He stated his belief that everyone is bisexual to a degree. On rigid notions of macho gender expression, he cited Shirley MacLaine: "Shirley MacLaine said the right thing to Tom Snyder on TV. She said, 'Oh c'mon, Tom. Let's stop all this stupid macho business. It really is a bit passé now.'"
Blue Moves
October 22, 1976
Blue Moves is the eleventh studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1976. It was also his second double album, and his first album recorded by his own Rocket Records Ltd. While giving a concert at Wembley Arena to promote the album, he spontaneously announced "That's it, this is the last one." He didn't say for how long, but he was serious and temporarily left the scene.
Elton John has stated that Blue Moves is one of his favourite albums he has ever recorded.
The Fox
May 20, 1981
The Fox is the fifteenth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1981. The track "Elton's Song" was banned from some countries radio play due to homosexual content. It is also one of the few albums released by John to contain a song without input from either Taupin or John.
Married Renate Blauel
Feburary 14, 1984 - November 18, 1988
John married German recording engineer Renate Blauel on Valentine's Day, 1984, in Sydney, but they divorced four years later. John later renounced his bisexuality and came out as being gay instead.
The One
June 22, 1992
The One is the twenty-third studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1992. It was recorded at Studio Guillame Tell in Paris, produced by Chris Thomas and managed by John Reid. It was dedicated to Vance Buck.
The One spent three consecutive weeks at #2 without ever reaching #1 in the UK, being knocked off the top spot by Lionel Richie's Back to Front compilation.
Olle Romo collaborated with John and Taupin on one song, "Runaway Train", on which Eric Clapton sings a duet with John. David Gilmour makes an appearance playing guitar on "Understanding Women".
This was John's first album project since his rehabilitation from drug and alcohol addictions and bulimia in 1991.
Academy Award
March 27, 1995
Elton John won an Academy Award in 1995 for Best Original Song ("Can You Feel The Love Tonight".)
The Big Picture
September 22, 1997
The Big Picture is the twenty-sixth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1997. It includes three worldwide singles: "Something About The Way You Look Tonight" (released later as a double A-side with "Candle in the Wind 1997"), "Recover Your Soul", and "If The River Can Bend". Although the album has a strong orchestral emphasis, it would be the following studio album, Songs From The West Coast, released in 2001, that would see a solid return to John's piano base juxtaposed against the orchestral arrangements of Paul Buckmaster who was long associated with John’s records especially in the early 1970s. In 2006, John revealed in an interview that Bernie Taupin, John's longtime friend and lyricist, considers this his least favourite album they have created, while John believes that to be Leather Jackets from 1986.
The album was dedicated to Elton John’s friend, popular fashion designer Gianni Versace, who was murdered a few months before the album's release.
Knighted by the queen
Feburary 24, 1998
John was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II on 24 February 1998, granting him the title of "Sir". The honour was for his charitable work.
Songs From the West Coast
October 2, 2001
Songs from the West Coast is the twenty-seventh studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released worldwide on October 1, 2001. Many critics[weasel words] have said that this album brought John back to his piano-based musical roots. He once again collaborated with long-time lyricist Bernie Taupin. John also brought back former band members including drummer Nigel Olsson. This album marks the first time Elton John and collaborator Bernie Taupin wrote together in person. From the album, "I Want Love" was a single and a Grammy nominated song, and "Original Sin" and "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore" also became hits.
The Red Piano Ongoing Concert
Feburary 13, 2004
In October 2003, John announced that he had signed an exclusive agreement to perform 75 shows over three years at Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip. The show, entitled The Red Piano, was a multimedia concert featuring massive props and video montages created by David LaChapelle. Effectively, he and Celine Dion share performances at Caesar's Palace throughout the year - while one performs, one rests. The first of these shows took place on 13 February 2004.
Peachtree Road
November 9, 2004
Peachtree Road is the twenty-eighth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 2004. It was named after Peachtree Road, the northern part of Peachtree Street and the major street in Atlanta, one of the singer's four homes.
Wax Statue Made
July 1, 2005
Another measure of fame came back in July 2005 when Madame Tussauds made a statue of John to his measurements; it took more than 1,000 hours to complete.
Married - David Furnish
December 21, 2005 - Now
He met his Canadian-born partner David Furnish, a former advertising executive and now film maker, in 1993. On 21 December 2005, they entered into a civil partnership.
The Captain & the Kid
September 18, 2006
The Captain & the Kid is the twenty-ninth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 2006. It is his second autobiographical album with lyricist Bernie Taupin, picking up where 1975's Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy left off. The Captain & The Kid chronicles the events in their lives since they started working together nearly 40 years ago.
Interscope Records announced that there would be no physical single released from this album as the emphasis is on presenting the album as a body of work. However, a radio single would be found in "The Bridge." The album's booklet has photos of Elton John and Bernie Taupin all throughout their career, and on the lyrics section, two songs are included, "Across the River Thames" and "12," which do not appear on the music album. "Across the River Thames" was available as a free download to anyone inserting the CD into their computer. This is the first album created by Elton John and Bernie Taupin to have Taupin on the cover with John.
The Captain & the Kid reached UK #6, a considerable improvement over the performance of John's preceding Peachtree Road in 2004, which peaked at #21. It has already sold around 3.5 Million worldwide and reached #18 in the US, before quickly falling off the charts. John has made clear his dissatisfaction at Interscope's promotion for the album at concerts in early 2007, having threatened to nix his contract with the label.
Named a Disney Legend
October 9, 2006
Among his many honors, John was named a Disney Legend for his numerous outstanding contributions to Disney's films and theatrical works on October 9, 2006, by The Walt Disney Company.
Concert for Diana Performance
July 1, 2007
On July 1, 2007, John performed at the Concert For Diana. He started the concert with Your Song and finished the concert with three songs; Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting), Tiny Dancer, and Are You Ready For Love. He then commenced a European Tour and played at Live at the Marquee (festival) in Cork on July 9th 2007 to a rapturous reception.
Concert for Diana was a concert held at the new Wembley Stadium in London, England, United Kingdom in honour of the late Diana, Princess of Wales on 1 July 2007, which would have been her 46th birthday; 31 August that year brought the 10th anniversary of her death. The concert was hosted by Diana's sons, Prince William and Prince Harry who helped to organize for many of the world's most famous entertainers and singers to perform at the concert.
