biography
| name: |
John, Sir Elton
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originally Reginald Kenneth Dwight
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| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1947– )
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| biography:
| Rock singer and pianist, born in Pinner, NW Greater London, UK. He played the piano by ear from age four, and studied at the Royal Academy of Music at 11. From 1967, he and Bernie Taupin began writing songs such as ‘Rocket Man’ (1972), ‘Honky Cat’ (1972), and ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ (1973). Their publisher pressed John to perform them, for which he obscured his short, plump, myopic physique in a clownish garb that included huge glasses, sequinned and fringed jump suits, and ermine boots. A top pop star of the 1970s, he later became chairman (1976–90) and then honorary life president (from 1990) of the Watford Football Club and a stock-market speculator. Despite health problems in 1993 brought about by his stressful lifestyle he continues to perform live across the world. His recording of ‘Candle in the Wind ’97’, sung at the funeral of Princess Diana, became the largest-selling single in history within a month of its release. He was knighted in 1998. |
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