Mr Nice GuyThe Elton Factor - Are You A Fan?
June 25th 2009 01:55
Born Reggie Dwight, Elton was raised by his mother having fortunately be saved the trauma of his parents divorce, and was playing the piano by the time he was four.
Having won a scholarship to the prestigious Royal Academy of Music at 11, he studied for several years, before leaving to pursue his career in music and forming his first band Bluesology, in 1961, when he was 14.
By 1965, the band was getting paying gigs. In 1966, Dwight tried out as a singer for both King Crimson and Gentle Giant -- neither band wanted him -- and auditioned for Liberty Records -- which didn't want him either.
It wasn't until a record company gave Dwight some throw away lyrics penned by the then unheralded Bernie Taupin that it all started to come together.
While his first album is best left for collectors - his second included "Your Song", which shot into the top ten in both the U.S. and U.K. and the legend was born.
Pegging 30 top 40 hits between 1970 and 1982, with at least one top 40 single every year until 1996, Elton John has had seven consecutive #1 albums.
In and out of rehab, fighting drug addiction and alcoholism for most of the 80's John was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat in the latter part of the 90s, and had a pacemaker installed.
And while both his lifestyle and the hit facotry has slowed over the past decade - John is still undeniably an icon of his era.
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Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
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Artist Quirk
and good choice with Rocket Man, i think its my all time fave of his
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
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Pop Rock Factory
Stay well