He's still standing and likely feeling like a rocket man as he celebrates his 70th birthday.
Born on March 25th, 1947, classic pop, UK sensation, Elton John, celebrates a milestone of 70 years today.
He's sold more than 300 million records and has more than fifty Top 40 hits.
"I thank the Lord there are people out there like you." - Elton John & Bernie Taupin, "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters." . Picture: Elton John (b. March 25, 1947) as The Pinball Wizard, “Tommy” (1975). . Sir Elton John, who was born seventy years ago today as Reginald Dwight, is an English pianist, singer, and composer, best-known for his work with his songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin, and as one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Over five decades, John has sold over 300 million records, received five Grammy Awards, five Brit Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Tony Award, and a Kennedy Center Honor. . In October 1976, at the peak of his early stardom, John did near irreparable harm to his career when he came out as bisexual during a Rolling Stone interview, proclaiming that "there's nothing wrong with going to bed with somebody of your own sex." . After a comeback in the early 1980s, and a failed marriage, John came out as gay in 1988. . John also was one of the first superstars to dedicate substantial resources to the fight against the AIDS epidemic. In 1986, for example, all profits from "That's What Friends Are For," his collaboration with Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder, went to the American Foundation for AIDS Research (@amfar). . Following the death of Freddie Mercury, one of John’s closest friends, Sir Elton founded the Elton John AIDS Foundation (@ejaf), dedicated to funding programs for prevention of HIV/AIDS, eliminating discrimination of those living with HIV/AIDS, and providing services to those living with, or at risk of, contracting HIV/AIDS. The foundation has raised over $300 million to date. . In 1993, John began a relationship with David Furnish; the two entered a civil partnership in 2005 and were married in 2014. As a vocal advocate for LGBTQ rights, John has faced backlash both from inside the community (when, for example, he refused to boycott Russia despite that country’s anti-LGBTQ laws) and from outside the community (when, for example, he described Jesus as a “compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems”). #lgbthistory #HavePrideInHistory #EltonJohn
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He'll be celebrating in Los Angeles with close friends and family, as well as a performance by Lady Gaga.
Some of his best known songs include:
Rocket Man
I'm Still Standing
Bennie & The Jets
Your Song
Candle in the Wind
Tiny Dancer
Did you know?
Elton's real name is Reginald Kenneth Dwight and his middle name is Hercules.
He received knighthood from Queen Elizabeth for his music and charitable service.
He was instrumental in helping Eminem beat his drug addiction in the early 2000's.
He was one of the first western pop stars to tour the Soviet Union in 1979 and many believed all westerners dressed that way.
Today also marks the 25th anniversary of the AIDS Foundation.
