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Elton John Facts & Worksheets

Elton John is one of the most popular British singers, composers, and pianists of the late 20th century

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Elton John is one of the most popular British singers, composers, and pianists of the late 20th century.

See the fact file below for more information on Elton John or alternatively, you can download our 22-page Elton John worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

EARLY LIFE

  • Reginald Kenneth Dwight (later known as Elton John) was born on March 25, 1947 in the Middlesex town of Pinner, England. 
  • He was the only child of Sheila, his mother, who introduced him to rock music by bringing home records, and the eldest son of Stanley Dwight, a high-ranking officer in the Royal Air Force.
  • At the age of four, he taught himself how to play the piano and at the age of 11, he received a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music for being a prodigy on the piano. 
  • Elton studied at the London Academy of Music but dropped out two weeks before graduation to pursue a musical career.
  • He then worked in a music publishing company and played piano before joining a band called Bluesology.
  • He created his stage name by incorporating the middle name of Bluesology’s vocalist, Long John Baldry, and the first name of the saxophonist, Elton Dean, which resulted in Elton John.

MUSIC CAREER

  • After responding to a Liberty Records ad for a songwriter in 1967, John was hired and collaborated with Bernie Taupin.
  • John made his formal debut as a singer in 1969, when he released his first album, Empty Sky, which featured songs written by him and Taupin.
  • Regrettably, the songs did not chart; however, his self-titled album, Elton John which was released in the 1970s, became a hit, and his career skyrocketed.
  • John’s concerts and albums were extremely popular in the mid-1970s and by 1973, John had become one of the world’s best-selling pop artists. 
  • With the song “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” a duet with Kiki Dee, John returned to the top of the charts in 1967. He then decided to take a break from music and focus on his co-owned soccer team in England.
  • “Are You Ready for Love,” John’s fifth UK number one single, reached the top of the charts in August 2003.
  • In March 2007, John celebrated his 60th birthday by performing at Madison Square Garden for the record-breaking 60th time; the concert was broadcast live, and a DVD recording was released as Elton 60 — Live at Madison Square Garden.
  • T-Bone Burnett produced John’s 31st album, The Diving Board, which was released in September 2013. The album peaked at number three in the United Kingdom and number four in the United States.
  • Wonderful Crazy Night, John’s 33rd album, was released in February 2016.
  • On January 24, 2018, it was publicly announced that John would be retiring and would focus on his farewell tour.

IMPACT TO THE WORLD

  • Elton John’s distinct combination of pop and rock styles developed him as one of the twentieth century’s most influential musicians.
  • Throughout his career, John displayed an exceptional ability to assimilate and incorporate various rock and pop styles, transforming them into an energetic and somewhat extroverted style.
  • Elton John is well-known not only for his songs but also as an activist and a humanitarian who has helped countless people.
  • Elton John has given affirmation and accessibility for men and LGBTQ+ people who are dealing with eating disorders, addiction, mental health issues, etc.
  • John has performed countless benefit concerts to raise funds for causes to support rainforest conservation and frontliners during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ACHIEVEMENTS

  • During his career, John has sold over 300 million copies of his albums worldwide which earned him as one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
  • Through his charitable work and causes, Elton John received the Gomes Humanitarian of the Year and the BAMBI Award.
  • Elton was also awarded the Harvard Humanitarian of the Year in recognition of his work as the founder of the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF).
  • Billboard ranked Elton John ranked third of the Greatest Artists of All Time in 2019, just behind The Beatles and the Rolling Stones. He was also presented with the Legion d’honneur, France’s highest civilian award, during his farewell tour in 2019.
  • Elton John was able to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 

LEGACY AND LATER YEARS

  • Elton John established the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) in the United States, as well as in the United Kingdom.
  • He has supported the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and other humanitarian causes while travelling.
  • Elton John was diagnosed with an eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, for which he sought treatment and was eventually cured 16 years later.
  • Elton did not officially “come out” as gay because he believed his homosexuality was widely known among his fans and the general public, until he came out in 1988 and started a relationship with David Furnish in 1993.
  • When the Civil Partnership Act was passed in 2005, Elton and Furnish were among the first LGBTQ+ couples in the UK to enter into a civil partnership.
  • On December 21, 2014, when gay marriage became legal, John and Furnish married. Furthermore, Zachary Furnish-John and Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John are their surrogate children.

DISCOGRAPHY

  • Throughout Elton John’s career, he released 31 studio albums, 22 compilation albums, 9 soundtrack albums, 5 live albums, 4 extended plays, 4 collaboration albums, 3 tribute albums and 2 holiday albums.
  • His biggest-selling studio album is Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, selling more than 30 million copies worldwide while his most popular soundtrack albums are The Lion King (1994 & 2019), Rocketman (2019) and the Road to El Dorado (2000).
  • Elton John’s Billboard’s biggest hot 100 hits include: “Candle in the Wind 1997″, ”Something About the Way You Look Tonight,” (14 weeks no. 1), “That’s What Friends Are For,” “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” (4 weeks), “Crocodile Rock,”  “Island Girl” (3 weeks), “Philadelphia Freedom” (2 weeks).

Elton John Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Elton John across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching about Elton John who is well-known not only for his songs but also as an activist and a humanitarian who has helped countless people.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Elton John Facts
  • John’s Motherland
  • Your Song
  • The Soundtrack
  • The Rocketman
  • Candle in the Wind
  • Dedication
  • Draw the Songs
  • Words of Music
  • British Greats
  • Elton John

Frequently Asked Questions

What song did Elton John write for Princess Diana?

When Princess Diana died in 1997, Elton John wrote a song for her called “Candle in the Wind”.

What is Elton John’s real name?

Elton John’s real name is Reginald Kenneth Dwight. The former is his stage name.

Is there a movie about Elton John’s life?

Yes, it is called “Rocketman”. It was released in 2019 and details his life as a musician.

What is Elton John famous for?

Elton John is most well-known for his musical talent as a pianist, singer, and performer. He has sold more than 300 million records in his career.

Does Elton John have a family?

Yes, Elton John has a husband, David Furnish, and two children

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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