Elton John, born in Pinner, Middlesex in 1947, is an English singer and pianist whose partnership with lyricist Bernie Taupin produced one of pop's great catalogs — more than 300 million records sold. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) is the peak; Honky Château (1972) runs it close. Explore Elton John vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Reginald Kenneth Dwight was born in Pinner, Middlesex on March 25, 1947. He met longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin in 1967 through a Liberty Records ad, beginning one of the most enduring songwriting partnerships in popular music. He adopted the stage name Elton John in 1967, combining the names of two of his early bandmates. His commercial breakthrough came with his self-titled second album (1970), which produced Your Song. The 1973 double album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (with the hits Candle in the Wind, Bennie and the Jets, and the title track) became his commercial and creative peak. His 1997 re-recording of Candle in the Wind for the funeral of Princess Diana of Wales became one of the best-selling singles in history. He has won 5 Grammys, an Academy Award, and a Tony Award; was knighted in 1998; and embarked on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour (2018-2023) as his final concert tour.
Elton John's sound combines rock, pop rock, glam rock, soft rock, and piano rock with his classically-trained piano work and Bernie Taupin's lyrical contributions. His arrangements have ranged from elaborate orchestral productions to stripped-down rock arrangements across more than five decades of work.
Original MCA and Uni pressings of the 1970s Elton John catalog are widely collected. Multiple anniversary editions, audiophile reissues, and the Mercury reissue program of the catalog have been released. The 50th anniversary edition of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road in 2023 received particularly extensive deluxe treatment.
Listeners new to Elton John typically start with Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) or Honky Château (1972).
