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 , making him a huge international star. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in and knighted in He discovered his passion for music at an early age and taught himself how to play the piano when he was only four years old. Proving to be a great talent, he won a scholarship to a youth program at the Royal Academy of Music in London. 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 and roll, wanted to pursue a career in pop music.

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He was musically gifted from a young age, and released his first self-titled American album in , making him a huge international star. In the s, Elton John was not just big. He was enormous! Newer Post Older Post Home.
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John owned Watford F. He is an honorary life president of the club. He met his longtime musical partner Taupin in , after they both answered an advert for songwriters. For two years, they wrote songs for artists including Lulu , and John worked as a session musician for artists including the Hollies and the Scaffold. In , John's debut album, Empty Sky , was released. John has also had success in musical films and theatre, composing for The Lion King and its stage adaptation , Aida and Billy Elliot the Musical. In , Rolling Stone ranked him 49th on its list of influential musicians of the rock and roll era. He was knighted by Elizabeth II for "services to music and charitable services" in John has been involved in the fight against AIDS since the late s. Presenting John with France's highest civilian award, the Legion d'honneur , in , French President Emmanuel Macron called him a "melodic genius" and praised his work on behalf of the LGBT community.
For more than 50 years, Sir Elton John has enchanted the hearts and ears of music lovers worldwide. With his boisterous ballads, emotional love songs, and endlessly quotable lyrics, John has continuously proven himself to his audiences, gaining fans of all ages and backgrounds — including tons of celebs. In honor of his 68th birthday this year, let's reminisce about the English singer's incredible life. Can somebody cue up "Your Love," please? Long before he rocked magenta sunglasses and sequined suits, Elton John was a young up-and-comer from Middlesex, England. In this picture, John was just 21, still wearing a simple '60s mod-style outfit with plain glasses, but he was already an accomplished musician. That year, he signed with DJM Records as a songwriter alongside lyricist Bernie Taupin, with whom John has continued to work throughout his career.