Elton John - A Musical Icon

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This article will discuss the life and musical career of Sir Elton John, one of the greatest artists ever.

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Elton John was born on March 25, 1947, in Middlesex, England. He demonstrated a high level of musical ability throughout his youth, and figured out how to play the piano only by ear. At age 15, John acquired his first musical gig, playing the piano at his local pub, and he was also a part of a few small bands while he was growing up.  His talent was recognized by the Royal Academy of Music, which offered him a scholarship to study music. In 1962, John formed a band with some of his friends known as ‘Bluesology. He worked as the errand boy for a record company during the day, and divided his nights between playing with Bluesology and playing solo shows at a hotel bar in London. 

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In 1967, Elton John responded to an advertisement put out by Liberty Records and was asked to compose a song for a set of lyrics written by Bernie Taupin, another young musician who had answered the ad. This marked the beginning of the legendary partnership between the two artists, which exists to this day. For the next two years, the duo worked as songwriters at DJM Records, with Taupin writing lyrics and Elton John creating the music for it. His breakthrough into commercial success occurred in 1970 after the release of his debut album called ‘Elton John’, with the top song on the album, ‘Your Song’, reaching number 7 on the British charts and number 8 in the United States. 

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The early 1970s were a time of impressive growth for Elton John with the release of a number of popular albums, including ‘Tumbleweed’ in 1970, ‘Madman Across the Water’ in 1971, ‘The Honky Chateau’ in 1972, and ‘Don’t Shoot me I’m Only the Piano Player’ in 1973. With his unique fusion of piano and pop music, his eye-popping outfits, and his enthusiastic theatrical live performances, Elton John became a big deal in the world of music. Some of his greatest songs from this era were ‘Crocodile Rock’, ‘Rocket Man’, and ‘Tiny Dancer’. The release of John’s seventh album ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ in 1973 resulted in his popularity soaring higher than it previously had been. With songs like “Bennie and the Jets’ and ‘Candle in the Wind’, the album topped the charts in both the US and UK, and remained at the top for two whole months. 

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During the mid to late 1970s, Elton John played around with a number of new musical styles, such as concept albums and operatic rock music. Albums such as 'Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy' and 'Rock of the Westies’ in 1975 and ‘Blue Moves’ in 1976, displayed John’s wide range of musical ability and talent. Also during this time, Elton John worked together with several other popular artists, including Kiki Dee, George Michael, and John Lennon, with some of these collaborations becoming very popular. For instance, his 1974 duet with Lennon in the song “Whatever Gets you Through the Night” appeared on Lennon’s ‘Walls and Bridges’ album and ended up being the first Elton John song to become a number 1 single in the US. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, John struggled with a number of problems in his life, including addiction, but turned himself around, releasing his ‘Too Low for Zero’ album in 1983. With hits like ‘I’m Still Standing’ and ‘I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues’, this album displayed how Elton John was still relevant almost 15 years after his debut album. 

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Throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, Elton John frequently toured and created a number of new albums. In addition, his contributions to Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ soundtrack earned him acclaim, with the song ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight’ winning him an Academy Award. By the late 2010s, John was getting quite old, and announced his final tour, ‘Farwell Yellow Brick Road’, in 2018. This was a massive tour, with 300 shows in many different countries, which lasted until 2023. 

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In conclusion, Elton John’s impact on the music industry has been tremendous. In addition to his musical legacy, John’s contributions to charity and social work have left a profound impact on the world.