Elton John Tour Overview
Sir Elton Hercules John CH CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, pianist and composer. Acclaimed by critics and musicians, particularly for his work during the 1970s and for his lasting impact on the music industry, his music and showmanship have had a significant impact on popular music. His songwriting partnership with lyricist Bernie Taupin is one of the most successful in history.
John was raised in the Pinner suburb of London and learned to play piano at an early age, winning a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music, where he studied for five years. He formed the blues band Bluesology in 1962, but left it in 1967 to embark on a solo career. John met Taupin after they both answered an advert for songwriters. For two years, they wrote songs for other artists, and John worked as a session musician. John released his debut album Empty Sky in 1969, and a year later formed the Elton John Band and released his first hit single, "Your Song". John's critical success was at its peak in the 1970s, when he released a streak of chart-topping albums in the US and UK, which began with Honky Château (1972) and culminated with Rock of the Westies (1975). John continued his success in the 1980s and 1990s, having several hit singles and albums in both decades, and has continued to record new music since then. He has also had success in musical films and theatre, composing music for The Lion King, Aida, and Billy Elliot the Musical. John's farewell tour Farewell Yellow Brick Road (2018–2023) became the highest-grossing tour of all-time. His life and career were dramatised in the 2019 biopic Rocketman.
About Elton John
Elton John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947 in Pinner, Middlesex, the eldest child of Stanley Dwight (1925–1991) and only child of Sheila Eileen (née Harris; 1925–2017). He was raised in a council house in Pinner by his maternal grandparents. His parents married in 1945, when the family moved to a nearby semi-detached house. He was educated at Pinner Wood Junior School, Reddiford School and Pinner County Grammar School, until he was 17, when he left just before his A-Level examinations to pursue a career in music.
When John began to consider a career in music seriously, his father, who served in the Royal Air Force, tried to steer him toward a more conventional career, such as banking. John has said that his wild stage costumes and performances were his way of letting go after a restrictive childhood. Both his parents were musically inclined, his father having been a trumpet player with the Bob Millar Band, a semi-professional big band that played at military dances. The Dwights were keen record buyers, exposing John to the popular singers and musicians of the day.
Elton John Facts
- Elton John’s real name is Reginald Kenneth Dwight. He was born March 25, 1947 in Pinner, Middlesex, England to Stanley and Sheila Dwight. Elton John legally changed his name in 1972 after not wanting to associate with the nickname Reggie any longer.
- Elton’s name came from two members of his 1960s soul group called Bluesology. The new stage moniker was a combination of the names of saxophonist Elton Dean and vocalist Long John Baldry.
- Elton John is known for his outlandish eyeglasses; however, he did not even need them for corrective vision when he first began wearing them. The glasses were merely a prop, becoming a part of his iconic presence on stage.
- Elton John is a true workhorse. Showing an amazing resolve, he has performed more than 3,500 concerts spanning over five decades.
