Elton John's back at Copps with his greatest hits tour.
Elton John it would be an understatement to describe as one of the biggest stars in the history of pop music. In some ways, he is the biggest. In singles' sales, for example, In a walk Sir Elton wins top honours. His Candle in the Wind 1997 -- originally written in 1973 for Marilyn Monroe and re recorded as a tribute to Princess Diana -- is the greatest selling single ever.
It has sold a staggering 37 million copies, easily outdistancing two Bing Crosby seasonal favourites (White Christmas and Silent Night have stalled at 30 million each).
As far as solo acts go, Elton's total sales of 250 million worldwide rank him neck and neck with Madonna, behind only Elvis Presley (one billion) and Michael Jackson (750 million).
Throw in The Beatles (one billion), ABBA (370 million) and Queen (300 billion) and Sir Elton is tied for sixth overall in the category of bestselling acts of all time.
So it's easy to understand why Saturday's Elton John concert is very close to being sold out (a fresh block of seats went on sale yesterday). Even at the age of 63, John is still near the top of his game. And, with a new album expected later this year, his catalogue continues to grow.
Here are 15 interesting facts about one of the most popular singer songwriters in the world:
* Most fans know Sir Elton wasn't born with his now famous moniker, but how many know that his middle name is Hercules?
Reginald Kenneth Dwight was the name his parents -- Sheila and Stanley Dwight -- gave him on his arrival into the world March 25, 1947. At the age of 19 or so, "Reggie" began performing under the name Elton John, taking John from his English blues mentor Long John Baldry and Elton from Dean Elton, the sax player in Baldry's Bluesology band. It wasn't until the early '70s that Reggie legally changed his name to Elton John. That's when he added the middle name Hercules, taken not from the mythological strongman but from a horse in a children's TV show.
* Elton owes more than his name to Long John Baldry (who lived in Dundas for several years during the '70s). Elton has said that Baldry was the catalyst for the 1975 hit Someone Saved My Life Tonight. In 1969, Elton was planning on marrying Linda Woodrow, a secretary from Sheffield who had said she was pregnant. Baldry -- possibly aware of John's homosexuality -- talked him out of the marriage during a drunken evening at London's Bag O' Nails club. "(Baldry) actually did change the course of my life," Elton later said.
* Elton eventually did get married -- to recording engineer Renate Blauel on Feb. 14 (Valentine's Day), 1984, in Sydney. The marriage lasted just over four years.
* On Dec. 21, 2005, he entered a "civil partnership" with David Furnish, a Toronto born advertising executive and filmmaker. The party they hosted at their Berkshire mansion that night reportedly cost more than $2 million.
* Elton's wealth has been estimated at $265 million US by the Sunday Times Rich List.
* Last month, Elton performed at the fourth wedding of right wing broadcaster Rush Limbaugh. His appearance at the Palm Beach, Fla., ceremony shocked many observers because of Limbaugh's conservative views on homosexuality. News reports estimate John received $1 million for the gig.
* Elton has 10 godchildren, including Sean Lennon (son of Yoko Ono and John Lennon).
* John Lennon's final live performance was with Elton John at New York's Madison Square Garden on Nov. 18, 1974. The two sang Whatever Gets You Through the Night and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.
* Elton's upcoming album, produced by T-Bone Burnett, is a collaboration with veteran rocker Leon Russell and longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin. Russell was a major influence on Elton's early career. He was in the audience at one of Elton's first U.S. shows at the Troubadour club in Los Angeles in 1970. Neil Young and Beach Boy Brian Wilson make guest appearances on the album. Elton has been performing one of the new songs -- Never Too Old to Hold Somebody -- at recent performances. The album, titled The Union, is scheduled for release in October.
* Elton's last show in Hamilton in 2006 broke the box office record at Copps Coliseum, raking in $1.76 million in ticket sales. The record stood until 2008, when Bruce Springsteen brought in $1.96 million.
* He is president of the Watford Football Club and has been on the board of directors of the soccer team since 1976.
* In more current years, Elton has become a baseball fan. He keeps a home in Atlanta and often attends Braves' games.
* He has won five Grammy Awards, one Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a Tony Award.
* In 1979, Elton became the first major western pop act to perform in the U.S.S.R.
* Sir Elton was a student of the Royal Academy of Music in London from 1959 to 1964. In 2002, the academy gave him an honorary doctorate.
It has sold a staggering 37 million copies, easily outdistancing two Bing Crosby seasonal favourites (White Christmas and Silent Night have stalled at 30 million each).
As far as solo acts go, Elton's total sales of 250 million worldwide rank him neck and neck with Madonna, behind only Elvis Presley (one billion) and Michael Jackson (750 million).
Throw in The Beatles (one billion), ABBA (370 million) and Queen (300 billion) and Sir Elton is tied for sixth overall in the category of bestselling acts of all time.
So it's easy to understand why Saturday's Elton John concert is very close to being sold out (a fresh block of seats went on sale yesterday). Even at the age of 63, John is still near the top of his game. And, with a new album expected later this year, his catalogue continues to grow.
Here are 15 interesting facts about one of the most popular singer songwriters in the world:
* Most fans know Sir Elton wasn't born with his now famous moniker, but how many know that his middle name is Hercules?
Reginald Kenneth Dwight was the name his parents -- Sheila and Stanley Dwight -- gave him on his arrival into the world March 25, 1947. At the age of 19 or so, "Reggie" began performing under the name Elton John, taking John from his English blues mentor Long John Baldry and Elton from Dean Elton, the sax player in Baldry's Bluesology band. It wasn't until the early '70s that Reggie legally changed his name to Elton John. That's when he added the middle name Hercules, taken not from the mythological strongman but from a horse in a children's TV show.
* Elton owes more than his name to Long John Baldry (who lived in Dundas for several years during the '70s). Elton has said that Baldry was the catalyst for the 1975 hit Someone Saved My Life Tonight. In 1969, Elton was planning on marrying Linda Woodrow, a secretary from Sheffield who had said she was pregnant. Baldry -- possibly aware of John's homosexuality -- talked him out of the marriage during a drunken evening at London's Bag O' Nails club. "(Baldry) actually did change the course of my life," Elton later said.
* Elton eventually did get married -- to recording engineer Renate Blauel on Feb. 14 (Valentine's Day), 1984, in Sydney. The marriage lasted just over four years.
* On Dec. 21, 2005, he entered a "civil partnership" with David Furnish, a Toronto born advertising executive and filmmaker. The party they hosted at their Berkshire mansion that night reportedly cost more than $2 million.
* Elton's wealth has been estimated at $265 million US by the Sunday Times Rich List.
* Last month, Elton performed at the fourth wedding of right wing broadcaster Rush Limbaugh. His appearance at the Palm Beach, Fla., ceremony shocked many observers because of Limbaugh's conservative views on homosexuality. News reports estimate John received $1 million for the gig.
* Elton has 10 godchildren, including Sean Lennon (son of Yoko Ono and John Lennon).
* John Lennon's final live performance was with Elton John at New York's Madison Square Garden on Nov. 18, 1974. The two sang Whatever Gets You Through the Night and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.
* Elton's upcoming album, produced by T-Bone Burnett, is a collaboration with veteran rocker Leon Russell and longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin. Russell was a major influence on Elton's early career. He was in the audience at one of Elton's first U.S. shows at the Troubadour club in Los Angeles in 1970. Neil Young and Beach Boy Brian Wilson make guest appearances on the album. Elton has been performing one of the new songs -- Never Too Old to Hold Somebody -- at recent performances. The album, titled The Union, is scheduled for release in October.
* Elton's last show in Hamilton in 2006 broke the box office record at Copps Coliseum, raking in $1.76 million in ticket sales. The record stood until 2008, when Bruce Springsteen brought in $1.96 million.
* He is president of the Watford Football Club and has been on the board of directors of the soccer team since 1976.
* In more current years, Elton has become a baseball fan. He keeps a home in Atlanta and often attends Braves' games.
* He has won five Grammy Awards, one Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a Tony Award.
* In 1979, Elton became the first major western pop act to perform in the U.S.S.R.
* Sir Elton was a student of the Royal Academy of Music in London from 1959 to 1964. In 2002, the academy gave him an honorary doctorate.
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