ELTON JOHN BIOGRAPHY - AGE, CAREER, SONGS & FACTS

Sir Elton John — born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, 79 — the British piano legend with 300M+ records sold, an EGOT, and six decades of hits, from "Your Song" to "Cold Heart."

Image: Kevin Payravi, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Early Life

Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947 in Pinner, Middlesex, England, Elton John displayed a remarkable talent for the piano as a child and won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music at the age of 11. During the 1960s he played with the band Bluesology, and in 1967 he adopted the stage name Elton John — taken from Elton Dean and Long John Baldry. That same year he met lyricist Bernie Taupin, beginning one of pop music's greatest songwriting partnerships.

Career

His debut album, Empty Sky (1969), was followed by the breakthrough Elton John (1970), which introduced "Your Song" to the world. Across 32 studio albums — including Honky Château (1972), Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973), Rock of the Westies (1975), Sleeping with the Past (1989), The One (1992), Songs from the West Coast (2001), The Diving Board (2013) and The Lockdown Sessions (2021) — he has sold more than 300 million records, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time, with over 50 Top 40 hits.

His signature songs include "Your Song," "Rocket Man," "Tiny Dancer," "Candle in the Wind," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," "I'm Still Standing," "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me," "Sacrifice," "Nikita" and "Cold Heart," his 2021 collaboration with Dua Lipa. "Candle in the Wind 1997," his tribute to Princess Diana, became the best-selling single in UK and US chart history, with proceeds donated to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund.

He also composed scores for film and theatre, including The Lion King (1994), Aida (2000) and Billy Elliot the Musical (2005), and his own life story was dramatized in the 2019 biopic Rocketman. His Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour (2018–2023) became the highest-grossing tour of all time at around $940 million; he retired from touring in 2023.

Awards & Records

Elton John is an EGOT winner, with 5 Grammy Awards (plus the Grammy Legend Award), 2 Academy Awards — including for "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" from The Lion King — 1 Primetime Emmy Award and 1 Tony Award. His many other honors include 2 Golden Globes, an Olivier Award and the Kennedy Center Honors. He was knighted in 1998 for services to music and charity, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, and ranked #3 on Billboard's Greatest of All Time Artists list, behind the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

Personal Life & Philanthropy

He married David Furnish in 2014, after entering a civil partnership in 2005, and the couple have two sons, Zachary and Elijah, born via surrogate. His earlier marriage to Renate Blauel lasted from 1984 to 1988, and he has been sober since 1990. In 1992 he founded the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which has raised over $600 million, and his net worth has been reported at around $650 million.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Elton John?
Elton John is 79 years old, born on 25 March 1947.

What is Elton John's real name?
His real name is Reginald Kenneth Dwight.

Is Elton John an EGOT winner?
Yes — he has won 5 Grammy Awards, 2 Academy Awards, 1 Primetime Emmy and 1 Tony Award.

Is Elton John still touring?
No — he retired from touring in 2023 after completing his record-breaking Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour.

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