Whether you’re a lifelong fan of the Rocket Man or introduced to him by your parents’ record collection, here are 9 things you probably didn’t know about Elton John.
His real name is Reginald Dwight. Elton John comes from the first names of two former bandmates. He legally chanced his name to Elton Hercules John in 1972.
Long-time collaborator Bernie Taupin has been by his side since Taupin answered an advertisement in 1967. They are credited as two of the most successful songwriters in history, producing 56 top-40 singles, second to Elvis.
Elton John came out in 1988. He married David Furnish in 2014 and have two sons together, Zachary and Elijah. Their godmother is Lady Gaga.
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The English Singer Elton John in the delivery of a prize, 1973, Madrid, Spain. (Gianni Ferrari/Cover/Getty Images)
7th November 1973: British singer-songwriter and vice-president of Watford FC Elton John and Rod Stewart wearing Watford strip at Vicarage Road. (Sydney O'Meara/Evening Standard/Getty Images)
12th September 1974: English pop star Elton John relaxes on a sofa and listens to some music. (D. Morrison/Express/Getty Images)
5th May 1974: British pop singer and pianist Elton John on stage before a vast crowd at an open-air concert. (Jack Kay/Express/Getty Images)
12th September 1974: English pop star Elton John with a suitcase of his trademark sunglasses. (D. Morrison/Express/Getty Images)
Pop singer, pianist and football club chairman Elton John leads Watford Football Club team out onto the pitch. (Tim Graham/Getty Images)
26th March 1974: 27 year old Elton John, born Reginald Dwight, performing at the Room At The Top, Ilford, London. (David Ashdown/Keystone/Getty Images)
British pop singer and pianist Elton John pulls a face while playing the piano during a concert at the Rainbow Theatre, London. (Robin Jones/Getty Images)
April 1978: English singer-songwriter Elton John, born Reginald Dwight in 1947, making his acceptance speech at the 1978 NME Awards. (Fox Photos/Getty Images)
October 1978: Pop singer and pianist Elton John (formerly Reg Dwight) embraces pop singer Kiki Dee, as a group of fans look on. (Evening Standard/Getty Images)
16th December 1982: English pop star, Elton John, performing in a colourful costume at the Hammersmith Odeon. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
English pop star Elton John performs in a military-style costume with gold epaulettes at the Hammersmith Odeon, 16th December 1982. (Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Elton John pictured wearing a typically flamboyant costume 3rd December 1984. (McCarthy/Express Newspapers/Getty Images)
Elton John pictured wearing a typically flamboyant costume 3rd December 1984. (McCarthy/Express Newspapers/Getty Images)
FEBRUARY 14 1984 : ELTON JOHN AND RENATE BLAUEL AT ST MARK'S CHURCH .(Patrick Riviere/Getty Images)
FEBRUARY 14 1984 : ELTON JOHN AND RENATE BLAUEL AT ST MARK'S CHURCH .(Patrick Riviere/Getty Images)
4th December 1987: British actor and comedian Griff Rhys-Jones and Mel Smith, stars of the new TV comedy series 'The World According To Smith and Jones' with singer-songwriter Elton John at the Paladium. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
English singer Elton John performing at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, Paris, 23rd March 1989. (Douglas Doig/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Elton John and Tony Bennett at the Rainforest Foundation Benefit at Carnegie Hall in New York City, NY April 17, 1999 (Scott Gries/ImageDirect)
Elton John and Sandra Bernhard at the Rainforest Foundation Benefit at Carnegie Hall in New York City, NY April 17, 1999 (Scott Gries/ImageDirect)
Elton John and Billy Joel at the Rainforest Foundation Benefit at Carnegie Hall in New York City, NY April 17, 1999 (Scott Gries/ImageDirect)
MAIDENHEAD, UNITED KINGDOM - DECEMBER 05: A notice of Civil Partnership for Sir Elton John and David Furnish is pinned to a notice board in Maidenhead Town Hall on December 5, 2005 in Maidenhead, England. (Bruno Vincent/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 04: Queen Elizabeth II is introduced to Sir Elton John (L) backstage by Gary Barlow (R) after the Diamond Jubilee, Buckingham Palace Concert June 04, 2012 in London, England. (Dave Thompson - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 03: Elton John performs at Madison Square Garden on December 3, 2013 in New York City. (Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)
Musician Elton John performs at the Barclays Center on December 31, 2014 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. This was the first time he has performed in New York City on a New Year's Eve. (Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)
(L-R) Sir Elton John, recording artist Ed Sheeran and David Furnish attend the 22nd Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at The City of West Hollywood Park. (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for EJAF)
Recording artists Lady Gaga (L) and Elton John attend the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Graydon Carter at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California. (Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Recording artist Sir Elton John smiles as he competes in the World TeamTennis Smash Hits charity tennis event benefiting the Elton John AIDS Foundation at Caesars Palace on October 10, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 03: Elton John performs live at Twickenham Stoop on June 3, 2017 in London, England. (Ian Gavan/Getty Images for Harlequins)
President Bill Clinton and Sir Elton John attend the Elton John AIDS Foundation Commemorates Its 25th Year And Honors Founder Sir Elton John During New York Fall Gala at Cathedral of St. John the Divine. (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
(L-R) David Furnish, Elton John, and Bernie Taupin attend the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards - I'm Still Standing: A GRAMMY Salute To Elton John at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Michael Kovac/Getty Images for NARAS)
David Furnish (L) and Elton John with sons Elijah and Zachary attending the 'Sherlock Gnomes' London Family Gala hosted by Sir Elton John and David Furnish at Cineworld Leicester Square. (Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 08: Sir Elton John smiles during a lecture on 'The Diana, Princess of Wales Lecture on HIV' at French Institute South Kensington on June 8, 2018 in London, England. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - SEPTEMBER 28: Elton John performs onstage during his 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road' tour at Canadian Tire Centre on September 28, 2018 in Ottawa, Canada. (Mark Horton/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 05: Sir Elton John performs onstage at Madison Square Garden on March 05, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Elton has been a longtime advocate of HIV and AIDS research and education. In 1992, he started the Elton John AIDS Foundation following the death of his friend Freddie Mercury.
Elton’s song “Candle in the Wind” is among the top-selling songs of all time. It was originally written in 1973 but he famously recorded it again in 1997. He performed it at Princess Diana’s funeral.
Elton has an extensive filmography. He famously wrote the music for the animated classic “The Lion King” including “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” which won best original song at the 67th Academy Awards in 1995. He has also appeared as versions of himself in “Spice World” and “Kingsman: The Golden Circle,” and voiced cameos on “Bob the Builder,” “The Simpsons” and “South Park.” A film about his life, “Rocketman,” with Taron Egerton playing the famous singer, came out in summer 2019. Edgerton and Elton performed an original track together for the film, titled “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again.”
Elton famously, and controversially, performed with rapper Eminem at the Grammys in 2001. According to the Los Angeles Times, viewership spiked to about 26 million people around 10 p.m. when the two were set to take stage and perform a rendition of “Stan.”
If you’re looking to pre-game before the concert, Hamburger Mary’s on W. Church Street will be hosting an Elton John pre-concert party beginning at 4 p.m. The restaurant will have Elton John music and videos playing throughout. Click here for more information.
Latin American Music Awards 2022: Top winners Karol G, Bad Bunny and Christian Nodal won big on April 21 at the 2022 Latin American Music Awards in Las Vegas. (NCD)
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