Sir Elton John, CBE's Biography

Sir Elton John, CBE's Professional Career

Career

pop singer, pianist and songwriter; keyboard player with R&B band Bluesology 1965, first album Empty Sky released 1969, US debut at Troubadour Club 1970, single Your Song first UK and US Top 10 record 1971, renowned during 1970s for outlandish costumes and ludicrous spectacles, albums Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Captain Fantastic and The Brown Dirt Cowboy and Blue Moves confirmed worldwide stardom, toured Communist Bloc (played eight sell-out dates in Leningrad), album A Single Man 1978 and subsequent tour stripped away razzmatazz of early 1970s shows, album Two Low for Zero 1983 provided four worldwide hits, broadcast of Live in Australia album viewed by record Australian TV audience of six million 1987, stage costumes and memorabilia sold by Sotheby's 1988, 34th album Sleeping with the Past released 1989, No 1 in UK Album Charts July 1990, over 3 million copies sold worldwide, double A-Sided single Sacrifice/Healing Hands No 1 five weeks in UK (first UK No 1, all proceeds donated to AIDS related charities), No 1 double album The Very Best of Elton John released 1990 (over 9.5 million copies sold worldwide), album The One released 1992, album Duets released 1993, wrote music for film The Lion King (lyrics by Sir Tim Rice) 1994, album Made In England released 1995, album The Big Picture released 1997, single Candle in the Wind adapted as Candle in the Wind '97 (in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, proceeds going to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund) 1997, album Aida released 1999, album El Dorado released 2000, live album One Night Only released 2000, stage musical The Lion King playing at seven theatres worldwide and on tour in the USA 2010, two US productions of Aida 2001, album Songs from the West Coast released 2001, album Greatest Hits 1970-2002 released 2002, single Are You Ready for Love? UK No 1 2003, album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road re-released 2003, residency The Red Piano (241 shows) The Colosseum Las Vegas 2004-09, album Peachtree Road released 2004, composer Billy Elliot the Musical 2005; as actor cameo role in Spiceworld The Movie 1997; significant achievements: record number of shows (60) at Madison Square Garden, first artist to enter Billboard US Album chart at No 1, seven consecutive No 1 US albums, writer of over 600 songs and has released over 30 albums, more weeks spent in UK chart than any other recording artist during 1970s, biggest selling single of all time (Candle In The Wind 97, over 37,000,000 copies sold), 11 Ivor Novello Awards 1973-2000, five Grammy Awards 1986-2000 (incl Lifetime Achievement Award 2000), winner Best Male Artist BRIT Awards 1991, Lifetime Achievement award BRIT Awards 1995, Oscar for Can You Feel The Love Tonight? (from The Lion King) 1995, Polar Music Prize 1995, Freddie Mercury Award BRIT Awards 1998, Tony Award Best Original Score for Aida 2000, Kennedy Center Honor 2004; chm Watford FC 1979-90; tstee The Wallace Collection 1999; fndr The Elton John Aids Fndn 1992; involved in many charities incl: Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy, Terrence Higgins Tst, London Lighthouse; hon doctorate RAM 2002; fell Br Acad of Songwriters and Composers 2004

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