established himself as a legend in the music industry with his talent in composition and songwriting. Born as Reginald Dwight, the British musician learned piano at an early age and earned a junior scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music at 11 years old. John studied at the school for five years before forming his own band, Bluesology, in 1962.
While working at a music publishing company, John took solo gigs at a London hotel bar and played with his band. By the mid-1960s, Bluesology backed musicians like the and and became the supporting band for singer . John left Bluesology and met lyricist in 1967.
Shortly after recording their first song, “Scarecrow,” John began going by the name Elton John in homage to Baldry and the saxophonist of Bluesology, . John and Taupin formed one of the most prolific and successful songwriting partnerships in music history, collaborating on albums (1973), (1975), (1980), (2001) and (2013). They were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992.
After finding success with 1973 albums and , John and Taupin founded the Rocket Record Company. By 1975, the pressures of stardom took a toll on John, and he developed a drug and alcohol addiction along with bulimia. John shared more about his battle with addiction and his in a 2002 interview with the late .
“It took me 16 years to say those three words — I need help,” John said at the time. “My pride was killing me. It’s — you think you don’t have a problem.
” Despite the AIDS.
