Happy Birthday to Elton John, who turns 72 today (March 25th)!!! Elton remains busier than ever; he's currently in the midst of his three-year "Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour" and his biopic, Rocketman, which was written by Lee Hall and directed by Dexter Fletcher, opens on May 31st. According to multiple sources, the film's director and producers are in a battle with Paramount Pictures over the movie's final rating due to the supposed graphic depictions of Elton's sex life and drug use portrayed in the film.
Elton John's still-untitled autobiography, co-written by with music journalist Alexis Petridis, will be published on October 15th.
Elton John says he's winding down his performing career because his family needs to come first in his life. Elton and David Furnish have been together since 1993, entered into a civil partnership in 2005, and married in 2014. They are the parents of two sons, eight-year-old Zachary and five-and-a-half-year-old Elijah.
On April 13th, Elton John's legendary 1979 Russian two-man tour with percussionist Ray Cooper will finally be commemorated for 2019's Record Store Day. The two-record vinyl set, Live From Moscow, will feature the long-bootlegged concert from May 28th, 1979 held at Russia's Rossya Hotel Concert Hall, which was broadcast at the time on BBC radio.
Elton released his most recent album, Wonderful Crazy Night, on February 5th, 2016. The set was co-produced by Elton and T-Bone Burnett and recorded at The Village in Los Angeles. The album, which features 12 new collaborations with lyricist BernieTaupin, also includes Elton's legendary bandmates -- drummer Nigel Olson and guitarist Davey Johnstone, who although onstage with Elton every night, had not been featured on the “Rocket Man’s” studio sessions since 2006’s The Captain & The Kid .Also on board from the legendary '70s Elton John Band lineup is beloved percussionist, Ray Cooper.
Elton John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in Pinner, Middlesex, a suburb of London. John was playing piano at age three, and by the age of 11 he was studying at London's Royal Academy of Music. He later dropped out to work as a music publishing errand boy and play rock n' roll at night. John recorded and gigged with his early band Bluesology, and went on to back such legendary acts as Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles and the Isley Brothers.
In 1967 he hooked up with aspiring lyricist Bernie Taupin and went on to form one of the most successful songwriting partnerships in rock history. By early 1971, Elton had cracked the American charts with "Your Song," which peaked at Number Eight, and became the first of his 25 Top 40 hits of the 1970's. In the '70s, John and Taupin turned out hit after hit, placing 25 singles in the top 40, 16 in the Top Ten, and sending six to Number One.
Of the 19 albums Elton released in the States during the 1970's, 15 went gold or platinum. His 1975 album Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy holds the distinction of being the first album to debut at Number One in the charts. A month after its release, on June 21st, 1975, Elton performed the album in its entirety at London's Wembley Stadium. Elton took the stage at the close of a mammoth outdoor rock concert, which featured the Beach Boys and the Eagles as the opening acts.
See Paul McCartney in Phoenix and New Orleans!!
- 99.9 KEZ has your LAST CHANCE to experience Paul McCartney at his SOLD OUT show at Talking Stick Resort Area…AND in New Orleans!
- Every workday, we’ll award a pair of tickets to the SOLD OUT show here…and, on Friday one lucky winner will be upgraded to see Paul McCartney there…in New Orleans!
- Listen every hour during your workday from 8am to 5pm at 25 after to text and win!
- Paul McCartney here…and there…listen to win a flyaway to New Orleans to see Paul McCartney!