Elton John Research Paper

On March 25th, 1947, in Pinner, Middlesex, England a child was born. His name? Reginald Kenneth Dwight, but we know him as Elton John. Reginald was born a musician. How do I know this? Look at him! At age three Reginald began learning Piano and it really got him far when he was eleven. Reginald received a scholarship to the Royal Music Academy. Elton studied at the academy for a while. Then sometimes in the sixties Reginald began a band named "Bluesology." "Bluesology's" main members were Reginald Dwight, Elton Dean, and Long John Baldry. "Bluesology" became quite famous in '65 but Reginald broke up the band to start his solo career. Reginald knew that his name wasn't suitable for the music Biz sp he changed his name to Elton John. His new
name, Elton John, came from the first name of previous band mates Elton Dean and Long John Baldry. At the start of Elton's solo career he recorded to major things: "Lady Samantha" and his first album "Empty Sky." "Lady Samantha" was never a huge Hit and "Empty Sky" was greatly reviewed but was poorly sold. These two failures made Elton start to regret some things about his past, but his luck changed when Elton released the self-titled album "Elton John." This album included the Hit song "Your Song." In this research paper I will explain the recording experience of Elton's self-titled album "Elton John," The meaning of Elton's Hit song "Daniel" and how it resembles Elton's other Hit song "Levon," I will describe some of Elton's famous outfits and how they affected his life and career, I will also talk about some charities Elton has given to and how his charitable soul helped him receive the honor of being knighted, and I will also talk about why Elton had throat surgery and how it affected his career and singing. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me..." I don't think Elton should worry about that. In 1967 Elton released his first album "Empty Sky." This album was more of a failure than a success and Elton knew that. This is when Elton started wondering if he'd ever succeed, but what Elton didn't know started on October 27th, 1969 while he was sitting at home and cam up with a song idea. Elton wrote down the lyrics. After he finished writing the lyrics he came up with a name for the song... "Your Song." "Your Song" is a beautiful ballad about a man who wants to show how much he loves his girlfriend/wife, but he doesn't have money to by her a "great big house" they could both live in, so he decides to write her a song. So after the lyrics were written Elton showed the lyrics to Bernie Taupin (Elton's musical partner) and then recorded a demo of the song. It is said that Elton seems to whisper the lyrics of "Your Song" during the demo version of the song. After recording the demo, Elton and Bernie talked to Steve Brown, man who produced "Empty Sky." Steve didn't really like the project idea at all, even when Paul Buckmmaster wanted to orchestrate the song and the album it was going to be on. Steve then made an appointment for Elton and Bernie to see legendary producer Gus Dudgeon, the man who produced David Bowie's legendary "Space Oddity." During the meeting with Gus, Elton recalled Gus "not being too excited about the John/Taupin compositions." Steve Brown was annoyed by Gus's "seem-to-be cold reaction to the project.
Steve says "I could of punched him in the nose." Gus denies not liking the "John/Taupin Compositions." He says that he was amazed by the ideas Elton and Bernie had but he says he didn't want to risk losing the project by looking "too" enthusiastic about the "John/Taupin Compositions." "So I was Johnnie Cool" Gus said. Gus Dudgeon agreed to produce the "John/Taupin Compositions." Steve Brown coordinated the compositions. So after the meeting the demo tapes were sent to Dick James music. Elton and Bernie were granted $12,000 for the project. An unknown sum for unknown musicians. The album was planned note-for-note, and the hired classical musicians would be an important part in the recording process. In 1980 Elton made a quote on this project. "All the notes were written down, even the rhythm notes," Elton said. "I had to play live with everything. Can you imagine? I mean, they all had these brilliant session musicians standing there... and I had to play live... It was a very, very disciplined album for me to make." The album was completed in Trident Studio sometimes in January 1970. An enraptured Dick James launched the final product April 10th, 1970. Meanwhile, in America, another record deal was made. Dick James Music tried to get an American license, Bell Records, interested in "Lady Samantha" and "Empty Sky." Bell Records only release "Lady Samantha" to no affect, but sometimes in 1970 the president of Uni Records, Russ Regan, was approached
by Dick James Music representative Lennie Hades in Los Angeles. Lennie Hodes informed Russ Regan that Elton John was thrown from Bell Records and That Elton's only album "Empty Sky" had been rejected by five other record companies. Russ Regan wondered how bad "Empty Sky" was since it was rejected by five other record companies, so he listened to it. "Somebody's crazy, because this album is very good!" Russ Regan said after listening to "Empty Sky." It would be years before "Empty Sky" would be released in America. After the release of Elton's self-titled album, "Elton John", was released Elton released "Honky Château" which includes the hit song "Honky Cat." After that Elton released his first live album "17-11-71." It was a total failure. Then, after a few more failures Elton released his Hit album "Don't Shoot Me... I'm Only the Piano Player." This album includes the Hit songs "Crocodile Rock" and "Daniel." "Crocodile Rock" is a groovy song about the beginning of Rock 'N' Roll and how it affected people's lives. "Daniel" on the other hand is a sad story about a boy who goes to fight in Vietnam and comes home to stay. His brother was so happy to see him once he came home but he was disappointed once Daniel decided to go to Spain to forget about his bad times. "Daniel" really deserves some tears. Now, "Daniel" is very similar to Elton's Hit song "Levon." "Levon" is the sad story of Alvin Tostig's son. Levon was born on Christmas day. As an adult Levon carries his was wound proudly and tries to fulfill his fathers wishes to be a good man, in tradition with the family plan. Now even though Levon becomes a successful businessman selling "cartoon balloons in town and provides well for his family, he ails, and his son Jesus wants to get away from him. After "Don't Shoot Me... I'm Only the Piano Player" Elton released several other albums including "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and "Caribou." These albums included many hit songs, but Elton was getting big for something else... His costumes.. With his big boots, strange costumes, and spectacles he really made the show. Elton usually would go on stage with huge boots, feathery, sparkly costumes, and glammy spectacles. Elton's act really became big in 1975 once Elton played as the Pinball Wizard in the motion picture "The Who's Tommy." The greatest thing about his performance was that he wore 4 foot, six and a half inch boots! He was the perfect person for this part. Elton sometimes wore even worse outfits. Once he actually wore a Donald Duck costume and he also wore a Minnie Mouse costume once! Elton is crazy for his acts. One more example was once Elton wore ruby red high-heels on the cover of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road." These costumes are loved by the audience.
The costumes affected Elton's career in a good way and in a bad way. The costumes he wore won him the role as the "worst dressed woman" and really showed his bi-sexuality. Many didn't care about Elton's problems though as his songs were too great. Many songs fans loved, and many costumes the fans loved. Elton John isn't a fully greedy man. As he gets older he gives to more charities. For many years Elton has been giving money to charities. Mostly to HIV/AIDS Researchers. Elton is heart-felt about living a full life. Elton has been included in many benefit concerts. These include "Live AID" and "Tsunami AID." Elton even holds his own benefit concerts for many charities, and because of this Elton was knighted by Queen Elizabeth. In 1987, during a concert in Australia Elton John fainted on stage. Stage workers rushed Elton to the nearest hospital and scanned his throat because he reported earlier having a hard time singing and breathing. Elton even cancelled concerts before this because of his throat. After the results were in, the scan found several polyps in his throat, and because they thought the polyps might of been cancerous they move Elton to the E.R. for emergency surgery. After the surgery Elton's voice began getting lower and lower. Fans don't seem to mind as he still is the same
Elton. In the end, Elton John has accomplished so much. His life is a full adventure. It doesn't look like he's slowing down yet! From "Crocodile Rock" to "Candle in the Wind" (Elton John's tribute to Marilyn Monroe) he's still the one and only Elton John. "Don't Shoot Me... I'm Only the Piano Player..." Yeah, please, nobody shoot him... Please? For me? Thank you.