Elton John

Reginald Kenneth Dwight was born in Pinner, Middlesex, in 1947. He was a piano prodigy — playing by ear at age four, Royal Academy of Music scholarship at eleven. He was answering a music magazine ad for songwriters when he met a lyricist from Lincolnshire named Bernie Taupin.

They started writing together in 1967. They have never stopped.

"Your Song" (1970) was the breakthrough — a hushed piano ballad from the Elton John album that made radio listeners cry. Tumbleweed Connection (1970) was the American-influenced country-rock follow-up. Madman Across the Water (1971) had "Tiny Dancer" and "Levon.

" Honky Château (1972) had "Rocket Man." Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player (1973) had "Crocodile Rock" and "Daniel.

Then came Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (October 1973) — the double album that defined his career. 30 million copies sold. Seven hit singles including "Candle in the Wind," "Bennie and the Jets," "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting," and the title track.

Elton John was the biggest artist in the world in 1974.

He's 78 years old now. He married David Furnish in 2014. He raised $600 million through the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

He played his farewell tour in 2023. He's never stopped writing with Bernie.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (October 1973) is the masterpiece — a double album recorded in two weeks at Château d'Hérouville in France. "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" opens the album with an 11-minute instrumental-to-rocker sequence. "Candle in the Wind" is the Marilyn Monroe tribute.

"Bennie and the Jets" is the glam-rock radio hit. "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" is the title-track ballad. "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" is the pub-rock stomper.

Seven top-40 singles from one album.

Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (May 1975) was the autobiographical concept album — it debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, the first album to do so in chart history. "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" is the centerpiece ballad.

Too Low for Zero (1983) was the 80s comeback after a decade of declining commercial fortunes. "I'm Still Standing" is the defiant comeback single. "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" has the Stevie Wonder harmonica.

Reunited with Bernie Taupin after they'd worked separately for a few years.

The Lion King (1994) added the "Circle of Life" / "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" / "Hakuna Matata" trifecta that made him a household name for an entire new generation of kids. Songs from the West Coast (2001) was the return-to-form rock album. The Lockdown Sessions (2021) saw him collaborate with Dua Lipa, The Weeknd, Gorillaz, and others.

Elton John is the best-selling solo male recording artist in Billboard history. Over 300 million records sold. He and Bernie Taupin have a songwriting partnership that has lasted 57 years — only Lennon/McCartney and Jagger/Richards come close in longevity, and both of those partnerships ended decades ago.

He has 5 Grammy Awards, an Oscar (for "Can You Feel the Love Tonight"), a Tony (for Aida), and is one of 17 EGOT winners. He was knighted in 1998. He raised $600 million through the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

He's one of the top 20 best-selling artists of all time, across any genre.

His influence is everywhere — every piano-pop artist since (from Billy Joel to Ben Folds to Lady Gaga) references Elton. "Tiny Dancer" became an Almost Famous sing-along moment for a new generation. "Rocket Man" became the song Kim Jong-un was called by Donald Trump.

"Candle in the Wind 1997" (for Princess Diana) is the best-selling single since charts began.