March 25, 2022 – Elton John

Happy Birthday to the one and only Sir Elton John! He turns 75 today! Elton John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight) is one of the most successful artists of all time, with 300 million records sold worldwide over the past 6 decades. He was somewhat of a musical prodigy as a child, earning a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London at 11 years old. He formed a blues band called Bluesology in 1962, which he was a member of until 1967. He legally changed his name to Elton Hercules John in 1972 – taking it from 2 members of Bluesology: Elton Dean, the saxophonist, and Long John Baldry, the singer.
He has collaborated with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967, when they met after both answering an advertisement for songwriters. Initially, they wrote songs for other artists and John was a session musician. He released his first album, Empty Sky, in 1969. He’d release 4 more albums between October 1970 and November 1971. He recorded 15 hit singles between 1973 and 1976.
A noted piano player, John has named most of his pianos after female singers. He has instruments named for Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, and Diana Krall, among others. He’s also had major success in musical theater, composing music for The Lion King, Aida, and Billy Elliot the Musical. He started the Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1992, and every year hosts one of the biggest Oscar parties in Hollywood. Learn more here.