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Legendary British musician Elton John has sold more than 300 million records and won five Grammy Awards on his way to becoming an EGOT recipient.
Elton John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25, 1947, in Pinner, England, in the United Kingdom. He discovered his passion for music at an early age and taught himself how to play the piano when he was only 4 years old. Proving to be a great talent, he won a scholarship to a youth program at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
John had a difficult relationship with his father, Stanley Dwight, a member of the Royal Air Force. His parents divorced when he was a teenager, and he and his father clashed over his future. John, captivated by the sounds of early rock ’n’ roll, wanted to pursue a career in pop music. And much to his father’s dismay, John dropped out of school at 17 to follow his dream. He started playing with a group called Bluesology, and he cobbled together his stage moniker from the names of two members of the group.
In 1967, John answered an ad for a songwriter for Liberty Records. He got the job and soon teamed up with lyricist Bernie Taupin. The duo switched to the DJM label the following year, writing songs for other artists.
Elton John News: Pop Icon Achieves EGOT Status with Emmy Win
Elton John secured his place as a music legend long ago, but the enduring pop star continues to add his name to the history books. On January 15, he become an EGOT—as the winner of an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony—as his live-streamed concert Elton John: Farewell from Dodger Stadium captured an Emmy Award.
The trophy for Outstanding Live Variety Special adds yet another bow on the 76-year-old’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, which concluded in July 2023 and marked his last as a touring artist. Farewell from Dodger Stadium broadcast his final concert in the United States on Disney+. It captured his Los Angeles show on November 20, 2022, and featured Dua Lipa, Brandi Carlile, and Kiki Dee.
Between 1987 and 2020, John earned five Grammy Awards, two Academy Awards, and one Tony Award. His Oscars, both for Best Original Song, recognized “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King (1994) and “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from Rocketman, the 2019 biopic about the “Bennie and the Jets” singer. John’s work on the musical Aida with lyricist Tim Rice won the pair a Tony for Best Original Musical Score. Among his Grammys are two for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. The new EGOT recipient joins rarified air with only 18 other performers to have achieved the feat.
More From Biography
Who Is Elton John?
Elton John’s unique blend of pop and rock styles turned him into one of the 20th century’s biggest music icons. He was musically gifted from a young age and released his first self-titled American album in 1970, making him a huge international star. Some of his chart-topping hits include “Crocodile Rock,” “Philadelphia Freedom,” and “Candle in the Wind.” The five-time Grammy winner also found success on Broadway, composing the score for Billy Elliot (2008), which went on to win 10 Tony Awards. John was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, knighted in 1998, and achieved EGOT status in 2024.
John got his first break as a singer with his 1969 album Empty Sky, featuring songs by John and Taupin. While that recording failed to catch on, his 1970 self-titled effort featured his first hit, “Your Song.” More hits soon followed, including No. 1 smashes such as “Crocodile Rock,” “Bennie and the Jets,” and “Island Girl.” John enjoyed a series of top-selling albums during this time, including Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) and Rock of the Westies (1975).
Songs
One of the top acts of the 1970s, John became equally famous for his live shows. He dressed in fabulous, over-the-top costumes and glasses for his elaborate concerts. In an interview with W, John explained that “I wasn’t a sex symbol like Bowie, Marc Bolan, or Freddie Mercury, so I dressed more on the humorous side, because if I was going to be stuck at the piano for two hours, I was going to make people look at me.”
“Don’t Go Breaking My Heart
”
In 1976, John hit the top of the charts again with “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” his duet with Kiki Dee. He soon decided to take a break from music, focusing his energies on his soccer team that he co-owned in England.
Around this time, John also publicly announced that he was bisexual (he later came out as a gay man). At the time, John was ridiculed and taunted for his sexuality. The controversy died down, and he made a triumphant return to music in 1979 with the album A Single Man.
“Little Jeannie” and “Empty Garden”
While not producing smash hits in the 1980s, John still did well on the charts. Some of the most memorable songs from this period include the ballads “Little Jeannie” and “Empty Garden (Hey, Hey Johnny),” the latter written as a tribute to his friend John Lennon of the Beatles, who had been killed in 1980.
“Can You Feel the Love Tonight”
Branching out in different directions, John teamed up with lyricist Tim Rice for several projects. They worked together on the soundtrack for the 1994 animated hit The Lion King, and one of the movie’s songs, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” brought John his first Academy Award win for Best Original Song as well as a Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. John and Rice pair later netted a Tony Award for Best Original Score in 2000 for their musical Aida.
John received a number of honors around this time. In 1994, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Queen Elizabeth II made John a Commander of the Order of the British Empire the following year. The queen knighted him several years later, making him officially Sir Elton John.
“Candle in the Wind 1997”
While he enjoyed all of the recognition and praise, he soon found himself rocked by grief. During the summer of 1997, John lost two good friends: fashion designer Gianni Versace and Princess Diana. He reworked one of his classic songs “Candle in the Wind” as a tribute to Princess Diana, with the song’s proceeds going to a charitable trust established in her honor. “Candle in the Wind 1997” proved to be a tremendous success, selling more than 30 million copies that year and earning the pop icon another Grammy.
Rocketman
Around this time, it was revealed that John and his husband were working on a biopic about the legendary musician titled Rocketman. Starring Taron Egerton, the movie finally reached the finish line with its premiere at the May 2019 Cannes Film Festival, drawing attention for its whimsical musical scenes as well as its unflinching portrayal of John’s sexuality. The artist followed with the publication of his autobiography, Me, later that year.
In January 2020, John and Taupin claimed the Best Original Song – Motion Picture at the Golden Globe for Rocketman’s “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again.” Amazingly, it was their first shared award after more than a half-century of creating some of popular music’s biggest hits together. The duo then picked up their second joint honor, also for Best Original Song, at the Academy Awards the following month.
Substance Abuse Issues & Elton John AIDS Foundation
In 1990, after years of battling substance abuse issues, particularly cocaine, which may have triggered severe epileptic seizures, John went into rehabilitation. The newly sober musical star, delighted at his second chance at life, soon founded his own charitable organization to help in the fight against AIDS. Established in the United States in 1992, the Elton John AIDS Foundation has brought in more than $565 million to support HIV/AIDS programs around the world.
In addition to his own foundation, John supports a number of different charities and arts organizations, including the Globe Theatre and the Royal Academy of Music.
In March 2020, John hosted the iHeart Living Room Concert for America to raise funds for coronavirus relief efforts. Alicia Keys, Dave Grohl, and Sam Smith were among the artists who performed from their homes for the benefit.
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