Off The Record – A Conversation With Elton John

Sir Elton Hercules John is an English composer, pianist and singer. John learned the piano early, while being raised in the London area. His first band Bluesology, was an R&B band he played with between 1962 and 1967. He would spend a couple of years writing songs, and being a session musician. By 1969, Elton John released his debut album titled Empty Sky. He would score his first hit, on his second album with the single “Your Song,” which entered the top ten on both sides of the pond.

He has recorded more than 30 albums over the course of his legendary career. Elton John is one of the best selling artist of all time, having sold over 300 million records. He has racked up more than fifty Top 40 hits on the UK Singles Chart and US Billboard Hot 100. 9 of these went number one in the US, with another 9 topping the charts in the UK. A string of 7 consecutive number-one albums made Elton John a household name around the world.

In 1997, Elton John reworked his song “Candle in the Wind” as a dedication to Princess Diana, Princess of Wales. It would go on to sell 33 million copies worldwide, making it the best selling single of all time. As recently as 2019 John was considered the top solo artist in US chart history, and the top Adult contemporary artist of all time.

In this off the record conversation with Joe Smith, Elton John talks about his influences, his early days in music, his musical philosophy and more.

Courtesy of The Library of Congress