Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in Pinner, Middlesex, England, he started taking piano lessons at four years of age and won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music when he was eleven. In the early sixties he formed "Bluesology", his first band. In 1965 they turned professional. The following year, Long John Baldry joined them, and soon it appeared to become 'his' band. Disillusioned, Reg started to pursue music publishing contracts; changing his name at the same time to Elton John (Hercules was inserted later), but recognition was slow to come.

Fitting music to the lyrics of Bernie Taupin, and recording budget versions of current hits, paid the bills; but it wasn't until Gus Dudgeon produced the album Elton John, with the classic Your Song as one of the tracks, that Elton 'arrived'. Your Song took the album in to the American Top Ten and gave Elton John his first UK hit, reaching No.2. Within the next few years Elton had become a Superstar. Between 1972 - 1975 he had seven consecutive No.1 albums, and he was filling stadiums around the world. He was the first Rock artist to tour the USSR (in 1979).

In 1984 he married Renate Blauel and the marriage lasted 5 years. In 1990 Elton booked into a re-hab clinic in Chicago and successfully beat his cocaine and alcohol habit. Two years later he formed the Elton John AIDS Foundation, following the death of his friend, Ryan White, from an AIDS related illness. All the profits from Elton's singles are donated to this charity.

1997 saw the tragic death of a personal friend, Princess Diana. He, and Bernie Taupin, hastily rewrote Candle In The Wind and he sang it at the funeral. Who can ever forget that performance? In 1998 Elton was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, for his service to music and charity, becoming, Sir Elton John,C.B.E. Candle in the wind is the best selling single of all times (33 million).

Together with lyricist Tim Rice, Elton John has written the lyrics and music for the musicals Aida, The Lion King and the movie The Road to Eldorado. An irregular heartbeat in 1999 forced him to have a pacemaker fitted. This has not, it appears, impeded his way of life at all, and he still enjoys a tough game of tennis. His lover from 1993 is David Furnish, a film producer.

Hits:

• Border Song (1970)

• Your Song (1971)
• Crocodile Rock (1972)
• Daniel (1973)
• Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)
• Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me (1974)
• The Bitch Is Back (1974)
• Somebody Saved My Life Tonight (1975)
• Don't Go Breaking My Heart (with Kiki Dee) (1976)
• Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word (1976)
• Song for Guy (1979)
• Blue Eyes (1982)
• I Guess that's Why They Call It the Blues (1983)
• I'm Still Standing (1983)
• Nikita (1985)
• Cry to Heaven (1986)
• Sacrifice (1990)
• Club at the End of the Street (1990)
• You've Got to Love Someone (1990)
• Don't let the sun go down on me (live with George Michael) (1991)
• The One (1992)
• Runaway Train (1992)
• The Last Song (1992)
• True Love (1993, duet with Kiki Dee)
• Can You Feel the Love Tonight (1994)
• Circle of Life (1994)
• Candle in the wind (1997)
• I Want Love (2001)
• This Train Don't Stop Here Anymore (2002)

CDs:

• Empty Sky (1969)
• Tumbleweed Connection (1971)
• Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only the Piano Player (1972)
• Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)
• A Single Man (1978)
• Love Songs (1983)
  
• Ice on Fire (1985)
  
• The Very Best of...(1990)
• Made in England (1995)
• The Big Picture (1997)
• Chartbusters Go Pop
• One Night Only (2001)
• Songs From the West Coast (2001)