Elton John: Biography

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• Phil Collins
• George Michael
• John Lennon
• Rod Stewart
• Billy Joel
• George Harrison
• Ringo Starr

• The Rolling Stones
• The Beatles
• The Beach Boys
• Little Richard
• Neil Sedaka
• Long John Baldry
• The Hollies

• Phil Collins
• Christopher Cross
• George Michael
• Richard Marx
• Marc Cohn
• Wham!
• Guns N' Roses

• Bernie Taupin
• Kiki Dee
• Argosy
• Larry Adler

Birth Name:

Reginald Kenneth Dwight

Born:

Mar 25, 1947 in Pinner, Middlesex, England

Genres:

Rock Music, Singer/Songwriter Rock Music, Classical Music, Adult Contemporary Rock Music

Decades Active:

1960's|1970's|1980's|1990's|2000's

Artistic Quality

High

Cultural Impact

High

Popularity

High

Ratings Guide

In terms of sales and lasting popularity, Elton John was the biggest pop superstar of the early '70s. Initially marketed as a singer/songwriter, John soon revealed he could craft Beatlesque pop and pound out rockers with equal aplomb. He could dip into soul, disco, and country, as well as classic pop balladry and even progressive rock. His versatility, combined with his effortless melodic skills, dynamic charisma, and flamboyant stage shows made him the most popular recording artist of the '70s. Unlike many pop stars, John was able to sustain his popularity, charting a Top 40 single every single year from 1970 to 1996. During that time, he had temporary slumps in creativity and sales, as he fell out of favor with critics, had fights with his lyricist Bernie Taupin, and battled various addictions and public scandals. But through it all, John remained a remarkably popular artist and many of his songs -- including "Your Song," "Rocket Man," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," and "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" -- became contemporary pop standards.

- Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide