On March 25, 1947 Sheila and Stanley Dwight had a song they named Reginald Kenneth. Stanley was a trumpeter in the Royal Air Force. Stanley passed on that musical ability to young Reginald who began playing the piano at age four. When he was eleven Reginald received a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music. Six years later he left to make his way in the music business.In 1969 he released his debut album "Empty Sky" to good reviews but not sales. But it was not until 1970 that this young flamboyant pop rocker from England made his mark on the music world and he hasn't stopped yet. In 1970 he was known to the world as Elton Hercules John. Today he is simply called Sir Elton. His musical accomplishments are fitting his knightly status with one Brit Award, one Oscar, five Grammys, six Tonys, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a Grammy Legend Award recipient, received Kennedy Center Honours, and has eleven Ivor Novella Awards. Sir Elton has received an honourary doctorate from the Royal Academy of Music and is a Fellow of the British Academy of Songwriters and Composers.
Besides releasing over 30 albums Sir Elton was the first western pop start to perform in the USSR in 1979. His tribute song to his friend Princess Dianna "Candle in the Wind 97" was debuted at her funeral and sold over three million copies the first week, spent 14 weeks at the number one spot of the Billboard Singles Chart, and went on to sell 33 million copies worldwide.
Not content with just playing music, Sir Elton's accomplishments include appearing in the 1975 movie "Tommy". He has also lent his voice to the animated films "The Lion King" and "The Road to El Dorado".
Over the year Sir Elton has seen his albums and singles top the charts. From 1970 to 1996 every release by Sir Elton charted on the Billboard Top 40. His albums top 50 million in sales. And to celebrate his sixtieth birthday Sir Elton gave a record setting performance at Madison Square Garden. Sir Elton became the first performer to give 60 concerts at the Garden. At a 1974 Garden concert Sir Elton convinced his friend John Lennon to share the stage. The appearance was Lennon's last performance in public.
Along with the Madison Square Garden show Sir Elton released an album titled "Rocket Man - Number Ones" The album includes 12 of his chart topping hits and five songs he calls "other favourites". Among the 17 songs are two of the most beautiful pieces Sir Elton and songwriting partner Bernie Taupin wrote together "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word' and his first single "Your Song".
Sir Elton and Taupin were first paired in 1968 as staff songwriters. For the first six months of their collaborations was done through the mail. At the peak of their careers the pair could crank out a song about once an hour.
Known for his flamboyant lifestyle, "Rocket Man's" album cover is adorned with the various incarnations of Sir Elton through the years.
With his prolific writing and record releasing style it is almost impossible to pick only a few songs to fit onto a one disc album, but Sir Elton has created an album with something for everyone to enjoy.
Track Listing
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Bennie and the Jets
Daniel
Crocodile Rock
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
Philadelphia Freedom
Island Girl
Don't Go Breaking My Heart - Kiki Dee, Elton John
Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word
Sacrifice
Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
Can You Feel the Love Tonight?
Your Song
Tiny Dancer
Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time)
Candle in the Wind
Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)
Disc 2 (bonus DVD in the CD/DVD package):
Bennie & The Jets (Live from The Red Piano Show)
Rocket Man (Live from The Red Piano Show)
Candle In The Wind 1997 (Live from The Red Piano Show)
Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting (Live from The Red Piano Show)
Your Song (Live from The Red Piano Show)
Your Song (bonus video)
I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues (bonus video)
I'm Still Standing (bonus video)
I Want Love- featuring Robert Downey Jr. (bonus video )
"Tinderbox" (bonus video)
