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Elton John

By Tom Kirvan

Born as Reginald Dwight on March 25, 1947, British singer and songwriter Elton John began making a musical name for himself in the late 1960s when he released his debut album “Empty Sky,” setting in motion a critically-acclaimed performing career that has spanned more than six decades.

John, who teamed with lyricist Bernie Taupin in 1967, became a worldwide sensation in the 1970s when he released a series of hit singles, including “Tiny Dancer,” “Crocodile Rock,” “Funeral for a Friend,” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” and “Rocket Man” among a host of others.

The rock ‘n’ roll legend has sold more than 300 million records over the course of his career and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998. Of particular note, John is one of 21 entertainers to earn EGOT recognition, which is reserved for those who have won an Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, an Academy Award (Oscar), and a Tony Award. His life – which has included a successful battle with a drug and alcohol addiction – was chronicled in the 2019 movie “Rocketman,” a biopic that traces his rise from piano prodigy to international superstar. 

2025 March 25 - Weekly Historical Quote - Elton John
Elton John*

The music icon, who since the 1990s has devoted much of his philanthropic energy to the fight against AIDS, took a prolonged victory lap with his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour that ran from 2018-23, grossing nearly $1 billion in ticket sales over more than 300 concert dates. Near the end of the dizzying concert schedule, John proclaimed, “you should never take more than you give.”

Other words of wisdom from John:

  • “There’s really no point in asking what if? The only question worth asking is: What’s next?”
  • “Live for each second without hesitation.”
  • “Sometimes a gut feeling is the most important thing; sometimes you have to trust fate.”

*Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons