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Elton John Biography

Birth Name:Reginald Kenneth Dwight

Birth Place:Pinner, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom

Profession Soundtrack, Actor, Music department, Producer

Fast Facts

Became a fellow of the British Academy of Songwriters and Composers in 2004
Received the Harvard Foundation Peter J․ Gomes Humanitarian Award in 2017
Established the Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1992 to raise money to help fight against HIV
In 1995, Queen Elizabeth II also honored him with the title CBE, which stands for Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998
His "Candle in the Wind" became the biggest selling single of all time in 1997
Nominated for four Academy Awards and has won twice
Attended the Royal Academy of Music, where he honored with an honorary doctorate in 2002
Got married to filmmaker David Furnish in 2014
Trained in piano at the Royal Academy of Music after winning a scholarship to the conservatory at the age of 11
Started out with the group Bluesology
Quote: "It wasn't something I'd yearned for at school, to be Elton John․ If I hadn't gone to Liberty Records, I wouldn't be sitting here now․ I'd probably be living in a semi-detached, working in a record store․"
Quote: "[on music] "I love it as much now as I did․ I don't like the fame part of it, and I don't like the technology part of it so much․ But, the thrill of the music will never die for me․""
Often invokes shades of classical and gospel music in his work
Popularly known for his flamboyant stage costumes and colored glasses
Elton John came in third on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the greatest artists in history
Originally wrote "Candle in the Wind" for actress Marilyn Monroe, but retooled the song for Princess Diana after her death in 1997
Auditioned for the Spencer Davis Group to take Steve Winwood's place, but was turned down
In 1979, Elton John becomes the first rock or pop star from the West to perform in the Soviet Union
Took his stage name from blues singers Elton Dean and Long John Baldry
Was joined on-stage in 1974 by John Lennon in what proved to be the singer's last on-stage performance

Awards

1972Grammy-Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special: nominated
1995Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
1995Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: winner
1995Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
1995Most Performed Song from a Film-: winner
1995Golden Globe-Best Original Song - Motion Picture: winner
1995Golden Globe-Best Original Song - Motion Picture: nominated
1995Grammy-Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television: nominated
1995Grammy-Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: winner
1995Grammy-Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television: nominated
1995MTV Movie Award-Best Movie Song: nominated
2000Annie-Outstanding Individual Achievement for Music in an Animated Feature Production: nominated
2001OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Adapted Song: winner
2002OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Adapted Song: nominated
2002Stinker Award-Most Distracting Celebrity Cameo Appearance: nominated
2004Critics Choice Award-Best Song: nominated
2004Golden Globe-Best Original Song - Motion Picture: nominated
2004Golden Satellite Award-Best Original Song: nominated
2005DVDX Award-Best Original Song (in a DVD Premiere Movie): nominated
2005DVDX Award-Best Original Song (in a DVD Premiere Movie): nominated
2010Gemini-Best Talk Series: winner
2011Satellite Award-Best Original Song: nominated
2012Critics Choice Award-Best Song: nominated
2012Golden Globe-Best Original Song - Motion Picture: nominated
2015IFMCA Award-Best Archival Release of an Existing Score - Re-Release or Re-Recording: nominated
2017Hollywood Music In Media Awards (HMMA)-Best Original Song - Documentary: nominated
2018HMMA Award-Best Original Song - Animated Film: winner
2018National Film Award-Breakthrough Performance: nominated
2019DFCA Award-Best Original Song: nominated
2019HMMA Award-Best Original Song - Feature Film: nominated
2019NYFCO Award-Best Use of Music: winner
2019Odyssey Award-Best Score/Soundtrack: nominated
2019Satellite Award-Best Original Song: winner
2019VHS Award-Best Original Song: nominated
2020Oscar-Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song): winner
2020BOFA-Best Original Song: nominated
2020DFCS Award-Best Original Song: nominated
2020GAFCA Award-Best Original Song: nominated
2020Gold Derby Film Award-Original Song: winner
2020Golden Globe-Best Original Song - Motion Picture: winner
2020HFCS Award-Best Song: winner
2020HCA Award-Best Original Song: nominated
2020HFCS Award-Best Original Song: nominated
2020Huading Award-Best Global Original Song: nominated
2020IFC Award-Best Song: nominated
2020LEJA Award-Best Song Written for a Motion Picture: winner
2020MCFCA Award-Best Song: winner
2020NDFS Award-Best Original Song: nominated
2020OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Adapted Song: nominated
2020OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Adapted Song: nominated
2020OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Original Song: winner
2023OFTA Television Award-Best Host or Individual Performance in A Variety, Nonfiction, or Reality Program: nominated
2023Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Special (Live): winner
2024HMMA Award-Best Original Song - Documentary Film: winner
2025Oscar-Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song): nominated
2025Satellite Award-Best Original Song: nominated
2025SCL Award-Outstanding Original Song for a Dramatic or Documentary Visual Media Production: nominated
2025World Soundtrack Award-Best Original Song: nominated