Elton is often referred to as pop music's greatest survivor, as this is often a genre of music that changes rapidly, leaving many stars and starlets behind. Since his rise to fame in the '70s, he remained active and popular, collaborating with many young pop singers, filling venues, and releasing new music. Among his collaborations, you'll find names like John Lennon, The Who, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton, Dionne Warwick, George Michael, Olivia Newton-John, and Eddie Vedder.
Throughout his meandering career, he auditioned for the lead vocalist spot in the band King Crimson but was turned down, he composed the Broadway musical Billy Elliot and co-composed the hit "I Don't Feel Like Dancing" by the Scissor Sisters. He was inducted into the American Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the early 1990s.
Elton is decorated with many titles and awards. Apart from being knighted in 1998 for his attribution to music and fundraising for AIDS, he's also one of 64 people to hold the Companion of Honour title. This is a prestigious order awarding outstanding achievements in fields like art, literature, science, politics, and music. There can only be 65 other people in the order at all times. His star on the walk of fame was awarded to him in 1975.
But not all is feathers and glam in this singer's biography; Elton John is a survivor of drug and alcohol abuse and a bulimic episode. His song "Someone Saved my Life" is about a real suicide attempt that was prevented by his friend Long John Baldry, who stood by him at times of pain and conflict regarding his sexual orientation.
And maybe that's what made him such an active donor to many funds: the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Rainforest Foundation, and the Robin Hood Foundation. He also holds his own Elton John AIDS Foundation, which he established in 1992. All profits from his singles are donated to these foundations.
-He is estimated to have sold over 300 million albums.
-He has won 27 awards, including 2 Oscars, 2 Golden Globes, and 6 Grammys.
-He is one of the few artists with #1 hits in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.
-He has had at least one charted Billboard hit every year from 1970 to 2009.
-He owns over 1,000 pairs of glasses, but not even one single cell phone.
-He was honored by a set of 12 commemorative postage stamps issued by the Royal Mail.
-He has 1 diamond album and 32 platinum albums.
-His song "Candle in the Wind" from 1997 is the biggest selling single of all time, selling over 33 million copies.
-He's performed over 4000 shows in more than 80 countries.
-He's raised over 450 million dollars in total for charity.
-Together with Bernie Taupin, he has written 396 officially released songs.
