7 Fun Facts About Elton John
Elton John is a British singer, songwriter, and pianist whose music has touched the hearts of millions around the world. With an impressive catalog of hit songs spanning over five decades, Elton John has become one of the most successful and influential musicians of all time. From the infectious pop hooks of Crocodile Rock, Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, Bennie and the Jets, The Bitch Is Back, Island Girl, Philadelphia Freedom, Cold Heart, Hold Me Closer and Rocket Man to the timeless ballads of Your Song, Daniel, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Candle in the Wind, Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me, Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word, I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues, Sad Songs (Say So Much), That’s What Friends Are For, Something About The Way You Look Tonight, Can You Feel The Love Tonight, Believe and Tiny Dancer, his music has transcended generations and continues to inspire new fans to this day. Over the course of his career, Elton John has received numerous awards and honors, including five Grammy Awards, five Brit Awards, a Tony Award, and two Academy Awards and the Kennedy Center Honor. Elton John’s music and showmanship have had a significant impact on popular music. His songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin is one of the most successful in history.
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Here are seven fun facts about Elton John that you may not know.
1. He was a Natural-Born Musician.
A musical prodigy, Elton John was teaching himself to play songs by ear from a very early age. In fact, he reportedly learned to play “The Skater’s Waltz” by Emile Waldteufel, when he was just 3 years old. By the time he was eleven years old, he won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London. His teacher, Helen Piena, said he couldn’t read music, but played music back like a gramophone.
2. Elton’s signature glass.
Elton John is known for his outlandish eyeglasses; however, he did not even need them for corrective vision when he first began wearing them. The glasses were merely a prop, becoming a part of his iconic presence on stage.
3. Record-breaker!
Elton John broke UK music chart records for the best-selling single with his song, Candle in the Wind in 1997 when he rewrote and performed the song at the funeral of Princess Diana of Wales. Interestingly enough, the song was originally written for Marilyn Monroe and Elton rewrote it just before the funeral to honor the princess.
4. His pianos have names.
As his trademark musical instrument, it is no surprise that Elton John loves his pianos. He names most of these beauties after famous female musicians, including Aretha Franklin and Diana Krall.
5. What is Elton John’s real name?
At birth, his name was Reginald Kenneth Dwight. His family called him Reggie or Reg, but in 1972, he legally changed his name to Elton John, which everyone — including his mother — called him, because he associates Reginald with a sad time in his life. He took his new moniker from two ensemble members from his soul group, Bluesology — Elton Dean and Long John Baldry. The two gave Elton their approval before he legally changed his name.
6. Elton once released four albums in a year!
At the start of his career, Elton John came in hot, releasing four albums between October 1970 and November 1971. His fourth album that year, “Madman Across the Water,” is known for the hit single, “Tiny Dancer.” Not only did he release four albums in one year, he went on to release 17 albums in the 1970s alone, more than most artists release in their entire careers.
8. A certified hit-maker!
In the mid-1970s Elton John recorded 15 hit singles with his musical partner Bernie Taupin — nine of which took the top two spots. His albums were also wildly successful on the charts, as they hit number one nearly once per month from 1973-1976.
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