Elton John “An overview of my career is usually... glasses... homosexuality... Watford Football Club... tantrums... flowers. But the music was pretty phenomenal, y'know.”

Starting out Born in 1947 “Reginald Kenneth Dwight” Began playing Piano age 4 Scholarship to Royal Academy of Music age 11 Dropped out before graduation to pursue a rock career Began playing in bands age 14 Stage name: Elton Hercules John, after two blues musicians (Elton Dean & Long John Baldry) and after the horse in British sit com “Step Toe and Son” Auditioned for Liberty Records in 1967, Met long time lyricist and friend Bernie Taupin, who he has written with on all his solo studio albums to date Wrote his debut single “Scarecrow” in 1967 Released his Debut Album “Empty Sky” in 1969 First Concert in America: Los Angeles 1970

Known for: Glasses/ Showmanship/ Songwriting/ Aids Charity/ LGBT campaigner/ Drug Addiction/ Lion King/ Candle in the Wind

Facts: Created his own record label Rocket Records in 1973 Collaborated and performed with John Lennon in Madison Square Gardens in 1974, this was Lennon’s last public performance Announced his Bisexuality in an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine in 1976 He plays Yamaha Pianos, Yamaha produced an “Elton John Limited Edition Signature Series Red Piano” after his Vegas Show: The Red Piano Set up his own Aids Charity: Elton John Aids Foundation. He pledged to donate all his royalties from his UK singles from 1992 and American singles from 1993 Was Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame with Bernie Taupin Hosts an annual post-Oscar Party every year to raise funds for his Aids charity, a high profile event Keen football fan, became chairman and director of Watford FC in Remains a life long president after their rise to the 1 st division

More Facts Has Epilepsy Has 10 Godchildren including Brooklyn and Romeo Beckham Has a health scare in Australia with nodules in 1987 Cowrote the Disney film score and musical “The Lion King” During the 80’s battled bulimia as well as drug and alcohol addiction Started wearing glasses to copy one of his idols: Buddy Holly. He later developed a dependancy for his glasses although to begin with he really didn’t need them. Has sang duets with: Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Cliff Richard, George Michael, Dionne Warwick, Luciano Pavarotti, Eminem, 2Pac, Lady Gaga and many many more. Registered a civil partnership with his long term partner David Furnish on 21/12/2005 (the day civil partnerships were made legal in England and Wales) Adopted a baby boy named Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John on 25/12/2010, Lady Gaga is one of his Godparents Has a waxworks in Madame Tussauds which took 1000hrs to create Performed for the 60 th Time in Madison Square Gardens for his 60 th Birthday, a compilation album was released and a back catalogue of almost 500 songs were made available for download.

Tributes John Lennon: Empty Garden 1982 Princess Diana: Candle in the Wind (rewritten and rereleased 1997) the original was written in 1973 about Marilyn Monroe. Alice Cooper: All the Young Girls Love Alice Freddie Mercury: The Show Must Go On (He performed this with Queen in Freddie’s tribute concert in 1992) Billie Jean King: Philadelphia Freedom Gianni Versace: You Can make History

Achievements to Date His recording career spans 4decades Has had no.#1’s in the 80’s, 90’s and 00’s Is one of the most successful artists of all time Has sold more than 250million records His 1997 Single in Honour of the death of Princess Diana “Candle in the Wind” has sold over 33million records world wide 6 Grammys, including a “Grammy Legend” award in Brit Awards: 2 Contribution to Music 1986/95 1 Academy Award for “Can you feel the love tonight” 1 Golden Globe 1 Tony Award for Best Score for Aida Disney Legend Award for “Lion King” 7 consecutive No.#1 Albums 9 UK No.#1s 49 of 100 Rolling Stone’s Greatest Artists of All Time Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame His Aids Foundation has raised over $200 million and counting Is worth £195million and is one of the 10 richest people in the UK music industry. Holds the record for selling out Madison Square Gardens for 7nights in 1976 In 1996 became a commander of the British Empire (CBE) 1998 received a knighthood for “Services to Music and Charitable Services”

Discography 31 Solo Studio Albums beginning in Live Albums 17 Compilation Albums 129 Singles spanning from 1968 to present 3 Soundtracks 3 Tribute & Cover Albums

“I've always wanted to smash a guitar over someone's head. You just can't do that with a piano” One of Britain’s Most accomplished and acclaimed musicians. Has worked in studio, live performance, world tours, concert, collaborations, in theatre and film. He does what he wants, creatively, through the media and in his personal life. “He manages to keep his finger on the pulse of modern music” his songs reach all generations and are timeless.

Elton John