Elton John

One of pop’s most talented performers, Elton John has been rocking massive audiences for nearly forty years. What sets him apart from many other excellent stage presences in the music business is his commitment to song craft, which has yielded some of pop and rock’s most memorable and poignant tunes. Beyond sculpting original and touching melodies, he has had excellent taste in his collaborations, employing several types of instrumentation to suit songs as diverse as “Daniel” and “Crocodile Rock.”

Entering the public eye in the 1970’s, Elton John followed on the heels of acts that had established high expectations for artists. Like many 60’s bands, Elton John drew on many talents to set himself apart from other artists. He benefited from an early start in his study and practice of the piano (age 4!), which gave him ample opportunity in his teens to gain practice working an audience and balancing his work against those of his fellow musicians in an ensemble.

When he pursued his musical career in earnest, he was anxious to put his vocal talents out front, and like most music success stories, he faced what seems now as surprising rejection from many sources. His fortunes improved following one such rejection that led to an extremely successful collaboration with lyricist Bernie Taupin. Personal conflicts and professional pressures have frayed the relationship somewhat, but the two have continued working with one another throughout the years.

Starting about a decade into his career, Elton John began to face scandals that distracted audiences from his work—such as his admission that he was a homosexual and his increasingly volatile use of cocaine and alcohol. However when the focus is on his music, Elton John continues to enthrall audiences and listeners. He recorded an updated version of “Candle in the Wind” in 1997 in honor of Princess Di that went on to be a smash hit, and his most recent studio albums have met with considerable success.