Celebrity Name : Elton John

Celebrity Real Name : Reginald Kenneth Dwight

Date of Birth : 25 March 1947

Birth Location : Pinner, London, England

Biography:
Sir Elton Hercules[1] John, CBE[2] (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is an English pop/rock singer, composer and pianist. In a career spanning five decades, Elton John has sold over 250 million records[3] and has over 50 Top 40 hits, making him one of the most successful musicians of all time.
In the early 1990s, John publicly revealed the personal costs of his rock-star extravagance: his ongoing struggle with drug abuse, depression and bulimia. He continues to be a major public figure, and has been heavily involved in the fight against AIDS since the late 1980s. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and was knighted in 1998, and has remained an enduringly successful artist.
Early years (1947–1962)
Reginald Kenneth Dwight was born in Pinner, Middlesex, a London suburb. His father, Stanley Dwight, was a officer in the Royal Air Force and was frequently away. When the elder Dwight was home, he was demanding, disapproving, and difficult to please, exuding a frightening countenance. Reggie’s mother, the former Sheila Harris, was strict, but in contrast to her husband was Elton’s true mentor, confidant, and confidence booster. Years later, she said that her son grew up “a bundle of nerves.” Reggie’s childhood was marred by terrible arguments between his parents. But something happened in 1950 that would set his life on an immutable course: At age three, he started playing the piano by ear.
Early career (1962–1969)
At age fifteen, with the help of caring father figure Farebrother, Reginald Dwight became a weekend pianist at the nearby Northwood Hills pub, playing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. The crowd was often rough – sometimes an unruly patron would dump a pint of beer into Reggie’s piano – and the youngster had to work hard to please them. He played everything from Jim Reeves country songs (”He’ll Have to Go”) to Irish folk numbers (”When Irish Eyes Are Smiling”), decades-old ditties (”Beer Barrel Polka”), hits of the day (”Kign of the Road”), and songs that he had written himself. He recieved a modest, steady income and substantial tips. “During that whole period, I don’t think I ever missed a gig,” he said later. A stint with a short-lived group called the Corvettes rounded out his time.

2000s
In the 2000s, John began frequently collaborating with other artists. In 2000, John and Tim Rice teamed again to create songs for DreamWorks’ animated film The Road To El Dorado. In the musical theatre world, addition to a 1998 adaptation of The Lion King for Broadway, John also composed music for a Disney production of Aida in 1999 with lyricist Tim Rice, for which they received the Tony Award for Best Original Score and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.
In 2001, he duetted with Eminem on the rapper’s “Stan” at the Grammy Awards. This went a long way towards absolving Eminem of charges of homophobia and thus paving the way for Eminem’s greater mainstream acceptance. That same year, his 1970s track “Tiny Dancer” was prominently featured in the film Almost Famous, and then his “The Heart of Every Girl” was the end title song from 2003’s Mona Lisa Smile.
Personal life
Document of Civil Partnership
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Document of Civil Partnership
John has had a complicated personal history in both his sexual orientation, as well as personal battles with drugs and spending.
Sexual orientation and extended relationships
While married to Katie, Elton John disclosed his bisexuality in 1976 in a Rolling Stone magazine interview. He married German recording engineer Renate Blauel on Valentine’s Day, 1984, but they divorced four years later. John later renounced the bisexual claim and announced he was gay.
He met his partner David Furnish, a former advertising executive and now film maker, in 1993. On 21 December 2005, they entered into a civil partnership. A low-key ceremony with only their parents in attendance was held at the Guildhall, Windsor, followed by a lavish party at their Berkshire mansion. The Sun newspaper marked the event with the headline “Elton Takes David Up the Aisle”.
Sports and other interests
* In 1976, Elton John became involved in Watford Football Club and fulfilled a childhood dream by becoming its chairman and director. He invested large sums of money and the club rose into the First Division after a number of key acquisitions. He sold the club to Jack Petchey in 1987, but remained their life-long president. In 1997 he re-purchased the club from Petchey and once again became chairman. He stepped down in 2002 when the club needed a full-time chairman although he continued as president of the club. Although no longer the majority shareholder, he stills holds a significant financial interest. In June 2005 he held a concert at Watford’s Vicarage Road ground, donating the funds to the club.
Awards

* In 1991, John’s “Basque” won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition.
* Elton and Bernie Taupin were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992.
* Elton John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
* Elton John was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1995.
* In September 1997, Taupin altered the lyrics of “Candle in the Wind” for a special version mourning the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, and John performed it at her funeral in Westminster Abbey. A recorded version, “Candle in the Wind 1997″, then became the fastest selling single of all time, eventually going on to sell over 30 million copies worldwide, with the proceeds of approximately £55 million going to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. John would later win the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for the single.[wikipedia]