Elton John

Looking for Elton John chords? We got them all! The British pop singer Elton John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in 1947 in Pinner, located in the Greater London area. He started playing his grandmother’s piano when he was only four years old and it would not take long before his immense musical talent manifested itself. By the time he was 11, the later Elton John won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London. Not really enjoying the classical education bestowed upon him, he left the institution after five years, never taking the final exams. Instead, the teenager strived towards a career in pop music, following the example of artists like Ray Charles and Little Richard. In 1962, Elton John formed his first band, Bluesology, which by the mid-60s was backing several soul and R&B artists. However this did not suffice to fulfill his aspirations and he decided to reply to an advertisement placed by Liberty Records. Though failing the audition, he was given lyrics written by another replicant to the ad, Bernie Taupin. Elton decided to write music for the lyrics and the two met for the first time a few months later. It was to be the beginning of a very successful collaboration.

Hit machine

It was around this time the young musician adopted the name Elton John, which was formed by putting together the first names of two fellow Bluesology members. Together with Taubin, the pianist and composer was hired by DJM Records and the pair wrote multiple songs for other artists. By 1968 however, Elton John started to release singles under his own name, followed by his debut album, Empty Sky, issued in 1969. The record failed to sell, but soon his fortunes turned around with the release of a second album, Elton John, in 1970. Showcasing his original sound of pop-rock songs occupied by gospel-inspired chords, Elton John got his first hit single with “Your Song”. It marked the beginning of him dominating the pop charts in the years to come. Besides being successful, John and Taubin were extraordinarily productive. Between 1972 and 1976, seven consecutive number one albums were released. Moreover, they managed to obtain a streak of 16 Top 20 hits in a row, with 15 of them reaching the Top 10 as well, including songs like “Rocket Man”, “Crocodile Rock” and “Philadelphia Freedom”. Interested to learn which chords Elton John used on these famous tracks? You will find them below!

Even more successes

Besides his studio work, Elton John became famous for his extravagant live performances, which saw him wearing several over-the-top costumes. In 1976, he revealed he was bisexual, it was only in the late eighties he would acknowledge he was in fact gay, costing him part of his popularity. Combined with being exhausted, Elton John took things a bit slower during the latter half of the 70s. Also, he got addicted to cocaine and alcohol, a habit he would not manage to kick until 1991. Nevertheless, the 80s proved to be another successful decade for the pop star and it was not to be his last. Elton John would sell more than 300 million records and win five Grammy Awards, amongst a host of other decorations. Furthermore, he composed music for successful films and musicals like “The Lion King” and “Aida”. Also, being socially aware, Elton John launched his AIDS Foundation in 1992, after the disease caused the death of Queen’s Freddie Mercury, who was a good friend of his. In 2018, Elton John began his three-year farewell tour.