Sir Elton Hercules John CBE (born Reginald Dwight in London, 1947) is an English singer/pianist who achieved prominence in the early 1970s. He was made a CBE in 1996 and a Knight Bachelor in 1998. In 2005 he married his long-term partner David Furnish in a Civil Partnership Ceremony.
Musical Style and Voice
In his early years, his classical-influenced piano melodies, combined with lyrics by Bernie Taupin and a set of orchestral arrangements by Paul Buckmaster, and his rich tenor voice set him apart from the other singer-songwriters of the time. For many years, John would switch from his normal tenor to a falsetto in most of his songs. In most cases, soft rock is his main genre, but he often sings songs in the genre of country rock, hard rock, and emotional, moving ballads.
In 1986, John received surgery to remove polyps from his vocal cords, which was brought upon by heavy marijuana abuse, which started while he was living in Australia with then-wife Renate Blauel.[1] After the surgery, he discovered that he could not sing falsetto anymore, and he now has a lower vocal register.
Offensive Views on Religion
Civil partnership and adoption
Elton John is an outspoken liberal and homosexual activist. In 2005 he entered into a civil partnership with his partner David Furnish in a ceremony in Windsor, United Kingdom.
Worrying news followed in December 2011 when the singer and Furnish welcomed into their family a son born to a surrogate mother. Another son followed in early 2013. The high-profile status of the couple means that the child will be under intense media scrutiny and will likely serve to raise awareness of the inevitable damage done being raised in a single-sex household.
Rush Limbaugh's wedding
In June 2010, John was criticized by homosexual rights activists for performing at the wedding of conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh. John reportedly received $1 million for his participation.[2]
Discography
- 1969 - Empty Sky
- 1970 - Elton John
- 1971 - Tumbleweed Connection
- 1971 - Friends Soundtrack
- 1971 - 11-17-10 (17-11-70 in Britain)
- 1972 - Madman Across the Water
- 1972 - Honky Chateau
- 1973 - Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player
- 1973 - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
- 1974 - Caribou
- 1974 - Greatest Hits
- 1975 - Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
- 1975 - Rock of the Westies
- 1975 - Here and There
- 1976 - Blue Moves
- 1977 - Greatest Hits Vol. 2
- 1978 - A Single Man
- 1979 - Victim of Love
- 1980 - 21 at 33
- 1981 - The Fox
- 1982 - Jump Up!
- 1983 - Too Low For Zero
- 1984 - Breaking Hearts
- 1985 - Ice on Fire
- 1986 - Leather Jackets
- 1987 - Live in Australia With the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
- 1988 - Reg Strikes Back
- 1989 - Sleeping With the Past
- 1990 - The Very Best of Elton John
- 1992 - The One
- 1993 - Rare Masters
- 1993 - Duets
- 1994 - The Lion King Soundtrack
- 1995 - Made in England
- 1995 - Love Songs
- 1997 - The Big Picture
- 1999 - Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida
- 1999 - The Muse Soundtrack
- 2000 - The Road to El Dorado Soundtrack
- 2000 - One Night Only
- 2001 - Songs From the West Coast
- 2004 - Peachtree Road
- 2006 - The Captain and the Kid
- 2010 - The Union
- 2012 - Good Morning to the Night
- 2013 - The Diving Board
Track listing of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is widely regarded as his best album. All songs written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin.
- 1. Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding (11.08)
- 2. Candle in the Wind (3.50)
- 3. Bennie and the Jets (5.23)
- 4. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (3.34)
- 5. This Song Has no Title (2.23)
- 6. Grey Seal (3.58)
- 7. Jamaica Jerk-Off (3.39)
- 8. I've Seen That Movie Too (5.59)
- 9. Sweet Painted Lady (3.52)
- 10. The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909–34) (4.24)
- 11. Dirty Little Girl (5.01)
- 12. All the Girls Love Alice (5.08)
- 13. Your Sister Can't Twist (But she Can Rock 'n Roll) (2.42)
- 14. Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting (4.54)
- 15. Roy Rogers (4.08)
- 16. Social Disease (3.44)
- 17. Harmony (2.45)
Elton John Band
- Elton John - piano/keyboards, vocals
- Bernie Taupin - lyrics
- Davey Johnstone - electric guitars, acoustic guitars, mandolins, banjos, backing vocals
- Bob Birch - bass guitar, backing vocals
- Nigel Olsson - drums, backing vocals
- John Mahon - percussion, backing vocals
- Guy Babylon - keyboards
Past members
- Dee Murray - bass guitar, backing vocals
- Caleb Quaye - guitars, backing vocals
- Ray Cooper - percussion
- Roger Pope - drums
- Kenny Passarelli - bass, backing vocals
- James Newton-Howard - keyboards