Elton John

Elton John proved his musical genius early. At the ripe age of four, he was already playing the piano. Any time he heard a song or melody on the radio, he could instantly replay it on the piano. He entered the Royal Academy of Music on an advance scholarship at only age eleven and left before graduation to begin his quest for the limelight.

In the early 1960s, Elton John (who at that time was known by his real name, Reginald Kenneth Dwight) played backup for major R&B musicians, such as Patti LaBelle and Doris Troy. He tried out as the lead singer for several bands, including Gentle Giant, but got soundly rejected. Eventually, he partnered with a lyricist at DJM Records and developed a lifetime collaboration. Although his first album release, Empty Sky, didn't spark with the public, Elton John persisted and soon won wide acclaim.

He distinguished himself by relying on the piano at an age when guitar dominated the music scene. Elton John's flamboyant style and emotive onstage personality added to his rock and roll legacy. In the 1970s, he became phenomenally successful throughout the United States and England, producing seven number one albums in a row.

Elton John's career has truly been epic. In the 1990s, he developed the music for the animated movie, The Lion King, garnering numerous awards. From songs like Candle in the Wind to I'm Still Standing, John has proven time and again that he has the musical chops, pop intuition, and passion to move millions with his music. His prolific career has generated a massive amount of memorabilia and fan tributes, much of which are available online.