Elton John, who was actually born as Reginald Dwight, was talented and interested in music from a young age. He started playing the piano when he was just three years of age and took up formal lessons when he was seven. By age eleven, he had won a junior scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music, where he showed an enormous aptitude for composing music.

At fifteen, Elton became the pianist at the local nearby pub and played on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings. Throughout the 1960s, Elton continued to work within the music industry, writing music to go with the lyrics of Bernie Taupin. In 1969, Elton released an album that went largely unnoticed. Then in 1970, he released another album, Elton John, which included a single that reached the US Top Ten, after which the album followed suit.

A follow up album was released in October 1970. It was entitled Tumbleweed Connection and reached Top Ten on the Billboard 200. In 1972, the Elton John Band fell into place and group started to produce great music. They produced hit singles such as Honky Chateau, Rocket Man, Crocodile Rock, and Daniel.

Their next album, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, achieved critical acclaim. It consisted of popular tunes to the likes of Bennie and the Jets, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Candle in the Wind, Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting, Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding and "Grey Seal.

Elton experienced years of success, taking a brief break from singing in 1977 but returning to the music scene in 1979. In 1986 he had an operation on his throat, which resulted in him losing his famous falsetto. Years of alcohol and drug abuse had taken its toll on the singer. In 1990, Elton checked into rehab to combat his addictions – alcoholism, drug abuse, and bulimia.

Throughout his career, Elton has sold over 200 million records. He has won five Grammy awards and one Academy Award, making him one of the most successful artists of all time.