Look up nutter in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

A nutter (or nut gatherer) is one who gathers nuts. It is also a slang word for a mentally ill person, but also slang for someone who is fearless, tough and cruel.

People[link]

• Adam Nutter, English guitarist
• Alice Nutter (writer), singer and percussionist
• Dave Nutter (born 1955), American politician from Virginia
• David Nutter, film director
• Donald Grant Nutter (1915-1962), American politician
• G. Warren Nutter (1923-1979), American economist
• Janet Nutter (born 1953), Canadian diver
• John Nutter (born 1982), English footballer
• Michael Nutter, American politician, mayor of Philadelphia
• Rik Van Nutter (1930-2005), American actor
• Tommy Nutter (1943-1992), Welsh fashion designer

Places[link]

• Nutter Fort, West Virginia, United States
• Nutter (Netherlands)
• Nutter Center, entertainment center near Dayton, Ohio, United States

Other[link]

• Britannia Coco-nut Dancers or Nutters
• Nutters of Savile Row
• The Nutters, UK comic strip
• Nutter McClennen & Fish, often known simply as Nutter, US law firm
• Nutter Butter, cookie

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

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Jasper Carrott OBE
Carrott in 2006.
Birth name	Robert Norman Davis
Born	(1945-03-14) 14 March 1945 (age 67) Acocks Green, Birmingham, England
Medium	Stand-up, television
Nationality	English
Years active	1973–2005 (Singer) 1975–present (Comedian)
Spouse	Hazel Jackson (1973–present)
Website	Official site

Jasper Carrott OBE (born Robert Norman Davis on 14 March 1945) is an English comedian, actor, television presenter and personality.

Early life[link]

Born in Shaftmoor Lane, Acocks Green (which he would later describe as sounding like the address for "the home of a professional rapist"^[1]), Birmingham, Carrott was educated at Acocks Green Primary School and Moseley Grammar School. He then worked as a trainee buyer at a city centre department store called the Beehive with schoolfriend Bev Bevan.

Rise to fame[link]

This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (April 2010)

In February 1969 he started his own folk club, "The Boggery", in nearby Solihull with his friend Les Ward. Here, Carrott performed folk songs and MC duties. Before long, his banter with the audience overtook the actual songs; he became known more as a comedian than a singer.

He also worked as a musical agent (in partnership with John Starkey, who became his manager in 1974 until 1992), as Fingimigig, managing (among other acts) Harvey Andrews. He toured the UK, appearing in rugby clubs. He independently recorded an album, financed by himself, called Jasper Carrot – In the Club, which he sold out of the back of his van. It was this album that contained the original "Magic Roundabout". Released in 1973, the LP is quite rare, although it mainly consists of material later used in his first three official LPs (such as "Hare Krishna", "Car Insurance", "Bastity Chelt", and "Hava Nagila") plus the Fred Wedlock song "The Folker".

He had a surprise UK Top 5 chart hit in August 1975 with the novelty record "Funky Moped", written by Chris Rohmann and produced by Jeff Lynne. The B-side of this single was a risqué monologue parodying the animated children's TV series The Magic Roundabout. This was banned by the BBC, which is widely believed to have aided its commercial success, and leading, ironically, to his appearance on the BBC's Top of the Pops.

By the late 1970s, Carrott had developed a number of anecdotal sketches which he still performs in similar form some thirty years on. Often these sketches purported to be auto-biographical; many of them celebrate Birmingham accent and culture, including his support of his beloved Birmingham City.

His sketches were captured on records such as Jasper Carrott Rabbitts on and on and on... and Carrott in Notts which were recordings of live performances. Notable hits were "Bastity Chelt" a complete song in Spoonerism, "The Football Match" describing a visit to Old Trafford, "The Nutter on the Bus" including the well known cry of "Has anybody seen my camel?"), "The Mole" ("There's only one way to get rid of a mole – blow its bloody head off!") and "Zits" – an explanation of an American slang word for spots that brought the word into use in England.

Birmingham Walk of Stars

In 1979 he published A Little Zit on the Side, which purported to be a humorous autobiography. The follow-up, Sweet and Sour Labrador, mixed sections of his stand-up routines with similar autobiographical material, much of it related to his world travels.

Jasper also was one of the comperes for the Birmingham Heart Beat Charity Concert 1986, which featured many local bands such as Electric Light Orchestra and the Moody Blues, with a finale that included George Harrison from the Beatles.

On 15 September 2007 he was inducted into the Birmingham Walk of Stars at a presentation as part of the Arts Fest 2007 celebrations. The award was presented by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham. Carrott is the second inductee, following Ozzy Osbourne.

Jasper Carrott was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the British Comedy Awards on 6 December 2008.

Career[link]

His first appearance on television was a half hour show for BBC Midlands in 1976, A Half Hour Mislaid with Jasper Carrott recorded at Pebble Mill. His big break came two years later when he was invited by Michael Grade to make a pilot for LWT. It was well liked by Grade; a five further shows were recorded and became his first TV series, An Audience with Jasper Carrott, in 1978,^[2] this successful partnership with LWT lasted until 1981, The Unrecorded Jasper Carrott (1979) and Beat the Carrott (1981) are the two best known live stand-up performances from his time with LWT.

This was followed by a move to the BBC and Carrott's Lib – a Saturday night comedy show broadcast live – and then by a string of BBC shows. The most notable of these were Carrott's Commercial Breakdown, which broadcast weird and wonderful adverts from around the world, and the sketch and stand-up shows Carrott Confidential, 24 Carrott Gold, The Jasper Carrott Trial and Canned Carrott, some of which also gave TV exposure to the comedy partnership of Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis.

In addition to his television work, Carrott made a foray into cinema, when he played Heinrich in the 1987 British comedy Jane and the Lost City.^[3]

Canned Carrott also featured a regular police drama spoof called The Detectives, co-starring Robert Powell, which was spun off into its own series. In 2002–2004, he starred in the sitcom All About Me.

He performed in several of the Secret Policeman's Ball charity concerts for Amnesty International, and returned to the stage in 2004 for several sell out shows at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham featuring classic routines from his career. He returned to a singing role for the musical Go Play Up Your Own End (written by Malcolm Stent, songs by Harvey Andrews) in 2005.^[4]

In 2005, he appeared in and put on the first of Jasper Carrott's Rock With Laughter concerts. He appeared alongside performers such as Bill Bailey, Bonnie Tyler, Lenny Henry, Bobby Davro, the Lord of the Dance troupe and Bev Bevan.^{[citation needed]} This has become a regular event at the NEC in Birmingham, usually staged in December and some times alternating with his "Jasper Carrott's Christmas Crackers" events, but there have also been a few summer shows too.

In the summer of 2007, Jasper hosted the Endemol-produced game show Golden Balls for ITV1. Promising ratings led to a recommission, and the second series began in January 2008. A third series began in April 2008, and a fourth series started in October 2008. A fifth and six series were shown in 2009.

He was the host of the Sunday night interactive national pub quiz, Cash Inn, and also an investor in the company, operated by Innterplay. This company has since entered administration.

He was 20th in Channel 4's 100 Greatest Stand-Up Comedians show.

Literary work[link]

Jasper Carrott has written three humorous autobiographical paperbacks: A Little Zit on the Side (1979), Sweet and Sour Labarador (1982) and Carrott Roots...and Other Myths (1986). He also wrote an odd novel called 'Shop! or A Store is Born'.

Also of interest is a book by Jasper's former manager John Starkey, Jasper and Me (1993; Etsiketsi Books).

Business interests[link]

Jasper Carrott turned his hand to business as part-owner of the production company Celador, makers of the internationally successful Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? In 2006, he and wife Hazel sold their shares in the company for over £10m as part of a management buyout deal.

Personal life and interests[link]

Carrott has been married to his wife Hazel (née Jackson) since 1973. His daughter, Lucy Davis (born 1973), is an actress best known for playing Dawn in The Office.

He is a proud supporter and former director of the football club Birmingham City. He was awarded an OBE in 2002. The University of Birmingham awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2004.^[5] following a similar award from Aston University in 1995

He currently resides near Solihull, in Darley Green, to the south of Dorridge. Carrott was a keen runner and supported his local Knowle Fun Run through sponsorship and publicity, including 2001 where he paid out several thousand pounds based on the £10 per person who beat him to the finish line.^{[citation needed]}

He is also a long time patron and fundraiser for Sunfield Children's Home, a school for children with autism and complex learning needs. The school is located in the village of Clent just outside Stourbridge.

TV and filmography[link]

• A Half Hour Mislaid with Jasper Carrott (BBC Midlands, 17 September 1976)
• An Audience With Jasper Carrott (LWT, 6 episodes, 6 January – 3 March 1978)
• The Unrecorded Jasper Carrott (LWT, live from the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 18 February 1979)
• Carrott Gets Rowdie (LWT, 2 November 1980)
• Carrott Del Sol (Sago) (LWT, 2 January 1981)
• Beat the Carrott (LWT, live from the London Palladium, 18 September 1981)
• The Secret Policeman's Other Ball (Film, 1982)
• Carrott's Lib (BBC, 17 episodes, 2 series & 2 Specials, 2 October 1982 – 30 December 1983)
• Jasper Carrott – I've Got This Mole (short animated film, LWT, 23 December 1984)
• Jasper Carrott – Learner Driver(Mother in Law) (short animated film, unknown TX date)
• American Carrott (Channel 4/HBO, 19 January 1985)
• Carrott Confidential (BBC, 26 episodes, 2 series & 2 Specials, 3 January 1987 – 4 February 1989) (this includes an election special broadcast on BBC2, and a special trailer for the 2nd series, broadcast on Friday 15 January 1988, which took the form of a mini sketch with Jasper dressed as Anne Robinson on 'Pointless Views')
• Stand-up America (BBC, 6 episodes, 7 July – 11 August 1987)
• Jane and the Lost City (Heinrich / Herman / Hans) (Film, 1987)
• Carrott's Commercial Breakdown (BBC1, 29 December 1989)
• Canned Carrott (BBC, 12 episodes, 2 series, 17 January 1990 – 15 December 1992)
• 24 Carrott Gold (BBC, recorded live at Stratford Upon Avon, 28 December 1990)
• Carrott's Commercial Breakdown 2 (BBC, 27 December 1991)
• One Jasper Carrott (BBC, recorded live at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 28 December 1992)
• The Detectives (Bob Louis) (BBC, 30 episodes, 5 series & 1 Special, 27 January 1993 – 30 December 1997)
• Carrott's Commercial Breakdown 3 (BBC, 28 December 1993)
• Carrott-U-Like (BBC, 27 December 1994)
• Carrott's Commercial Breakdown 4 (BBC, 5 March 1996)
• The Jasper Carrott Trial (BBC, 6 episodes, 20 May – 26 June 1997) (based on the original BBC radio series)
• Jasper Carrott – Back to the Front (BBC, 6 episodes, 24 February – 31 March 1999)
• All About Me (Colin Craddock) (BBC, 22 episodes, 3 series, 8 March 2002 – 29 October 2004)
• 24 Carrott Gold: The Best of Jasper Carrott (BBC, recorded live at the NIC in Birmingham, 6 episodes, 6 February – March 2004)
• Golden Balls (Presenter) (ITV1, 18 June 2007 – 18 December 2009)
• The One Jasper Carrott (BBC, 9 January 2012)

Discography[link]

• Jasper Carrott in the Club (live LP, Criminal Records 1973)
• Funky Moped/The Magic Roundabout (DJS 388, 7 inch single, DJM Records 1975)
• Jasper Carrott Rabbitts on and on and on.. (DJLPS 462/DJF 20462, live LP, DJM Records 1975)
• Disco Hits 75 (ADE P 18, compilation LP, Arcade Records 1975) (features Jaspers top 5 hit 'Funky Moped')
• 20 Original Top Hits (2475 501, compilation LP, Polystar Records 1975) (features Jaspers top 5 hit 'Funky Moped')
• Bickenhill Rovers Skin'ead Supporters Song/Car Insurance (DJS 649, 7 inch single, DJM Records 1976)
• Carrott in Notts (DJF 20482, live LP, DJM Records 1976)
• 12 Days of Christmas/Local Radio Promotion (DJS 10815, 7 inch single/DJR 18002, 12 inch single, DJM Records 1977)
• A Pain in the Arm (DJF 20518, live LP, DJM Records 1978)
• Disco Saturday Night 40 (PLD 8004, Double LP compilation, Pickwick Records 1978) (features Jaspers top 5 hit 'Funky Moped')
• The Best of Jasper Carrott (DJF 20549, live LP, DJM Record 1978)
• The Un-Recorded Jasper Carrott (DJF 20560, live at Drury Lane TV soundtrack LP, DJM Records 1979)
• BBC Fun At One (BBC REB 371, LP, BBC Records 1979)(features one track from Jasper 'Car Insurance')
• Made in Australia (L 375 16, live in Australia LP, DJM/Festival (Australia) 1980)
• 12 Days of Christmas (K-8144, 7 inch single, DJM/Festival (Australia) 1980)
• Beat the Carrott (DJF 20575, live at the London Palladium TV soundtrack LP, DJM Records 1981)
• The Secret Policeman's Other Ball (HAHA 6003, live LP, Springtime Records 1981)(features one track from Jasper 'Australian Motor Insurance Claims')
• We Are Most Amused:The Very Best of British Comedy (RTD 2067, Double LP, Ronco Records 1981)(features one track from Jasper 'Nutter on the Bus.)
• The Best of the Chat from Carrott's Lib (DJF 20580, live TV series soundtrack LP, DJM Records 1982)
• The Stun (Carrott Tells All) (DJF 20582, live LP, DJM Records 1983)
• Noel Edmonds presents Listen with Mother (BBC REC 525, LP, BBC Records 1984)(Jasper reads 'Gary the Greatest' by Margaret Joy from The Noel Edmonds Show 1982)
• Jasper Carrott in America (RNLP 817, live in America LP, Rhino Records 1985)
• Cosmic Carrott (Laugh 1, live in America LP, CBS Portrait Records 1986)
• Jasper Carrotts Condensed Classics (CCD 30, CD, Chrysalis/Dover Records 1991)
• The Complete Secret Policeman's Other Ball (ESDCD, 2 CD set, Island 1991) (features two tracks from Jasper 'Australian Motor Insurance Claims' and 'Confessions of a Van Driver')
• 24 Carrott Gold (EMI TC EMC 3655, live Stratford Upon Avon TV soundtrack 1990, Audio Cassette, EMI Records 1991)
• Canned Carrott For The Record (EMI 8 31146 2, 2 CD TV soundtrack, EMI Records 1994)
• Jasper Carrott-Back to the Front volume 1 (TLCD 04, TV soundtrack CD, Sound Entertainment 2000)
• Jasper Carrott-Back to the Front volume 2 (TLCD 05, TV Soundtrack CD, Sound Entertainment 2000)
• 24 Carrott Gold – The Best Of Jasper Carrott (TCLCD 58, live at the NIC Birmingham, Sound Entertainment 2004)
• Classic Carrott volume 1 – Canned Carrott For The Record (2CD TV soundtrack, Sound Entertainment 2005)
• Classic Carrott volume 2 – 24 Carrott Gold (TV soundtrack CD, Sound Entertainment 2005)
• Classic Carrott volume 3 – One Jasper Carrott (TLCD050, TV soundtrack CD, Sound Entertainment 2005)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Jasper Carrott Official Website
• BBC Comedy Guide lists his work.
• Jasper Carrott at the Internet Movie Database

Sir Elton John CBE
Elton John attending the premiere of The Union at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival
Background information
Birth name	Reginald Kenneth Dwight
Born	(1947-03-25) 25 March 1947 (age 65) Pinner, Middlesex, England
Genres	Rock, R&B, pop rock, glam rock, soft rock
Occupations	Musician, singer-songwriter, record producer, composer
Instruments	Vocals, piano, keyboards, guitar
Years active	1964–68 (Bluesology) 1969–present (Solo)
Labels	DJM, Uni, MCA, Geffen, Rocket/Island, Universal, Interscope, Mercury, UMG
Associated acts	Bernie Taupin, Tim Rice, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Kiki Dee, Billy Joel, George Michael, Eminem, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, Neil Sedaka
Website	eltonjohn.com

Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor. He has worked with lyricist Bernie Taupin as his songwriter partner since 1967; they have collaborated on more than 30 albums to date.

In his four-decade career John has sold more than 250 million records, making him one of the most successful artists of all time.^[1] His single "Candle in the Wind 1997" has sold over 33 million copies worldwide, and is the best selling single in Billboard history.^[2] He has more than 50 Top 40 hits, including seven consecutive No. 1 US albums, 56 Top 40 singles, 16 Top 10, four No. 2 hits, and nine No. 1 hits. He has won six Grammy Awards, four Brit Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award and a Tony Award. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked him Number 49 on its list of the 100 greatest artists of all time.^[3]

John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.^[4] Having been named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1996, John received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II for "services to music and charitable services" in 1998.^[5]

He has been heavily involved in the fight against AIDS since the late 1980s.^[6] In 1992, he established the Elton John AIDS Foundation and a year later began hosting the annual Academy Award Party, which has since become one of the most high-profile Oscar parties in the Hollywood film industry. Since its inception, the foundation has raised over $200 million.^[7]

John entered into a civil partnership with David Furnish^[8] on 21 December 2005 and continues to be a champion for LGBT social movements. In 2008, Billboard magazine ranked him as the most successful male solo artist on "The Billboard Hot 100 Top All-Time Artists" (third overall, behind only The Beatles and Madonna).^[9]

Life and career[link]

Early life[link]

John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947, the eldest child of Stanley and only child of Sheila Eileen Dwight (née Harris)^[10][11][12] and was raised in Pinner, Middlesex in a council house of his maternal grandparents. His parents did not marry until he was 6 years old, when the family moved to a nearby semi-detached house.^[13][14][15] He was educated at Pinner Wood Junior School, Reddiford School and Pinner County Grammar School, until age 17, when he left just prior to his A Level examinations to pursue a career in the music industry.^[16][17][18]

When John began to seriously consider a career in music, his father, who served as a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force, tried to steer him toward a more conventional career, such as banking.^[16] John has stated that his wild stage costumes and performances were his way of letting go after such a restrictive childhood.^[18] Both of John's parents were musically inclined, his father having been a trumpet player with the Bob Millar Band, a semi-professional big band that played at military dances.^[18] The Dwights were keen record buyers, exposing John to the popular singers and musicians of the day, and John remembers being immediately hooked on rock and roll when his mother brought home records by Elvis Presley and Bill Haley & His Comets in 1956.^[16][17]

John started playing the piano at the age of 3, and within a year, his mother heard him picking out Winifred Atwell's "The Skater's Waltz" by ear.^[16][17] After performing at parties and family gatherings, at the age of 7 he took up formal piano lessons. He showed musical aptitude at school, including the ability to compose melodies, and gained some notoriety by playing like Jerry Lee Lewis at school functions. At the age of 11, he won a junior scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music. According to one of his instructors, John promptly played back, like a "gramophone record", a four-page piece by Handel that he heard for the first time.^[17]

For the next five years he attended Saturday classes at the Academy in central London, and has stated that he enjoyed playing Chopin and Bach and singing in the choir during Saturday classes, but that he was not otherwise a diligent classical student.^[17] "I kind of resented going to the Academy", he says. "I was one of those children who could just about get away without practising and still pass, scrape through the grades."^[17] He even claims that he would sometimes skip classes and just ride around on the Tube.^[17] However, several instructors have testified that he was a "model student", and during the last few years he was taking lessons from a private tutor in addition to his classes at the Academy.^[17]

John's mother, though also strict with her son, was more vivacious than her husband, and something of a free spirit. With Stanley Dwight uninterested in his son and often physically absent, John was raised primarily by his mother and maternal grandmother. When his father was home, the Dwights would have terrible arguments that greatly distressed their son.^[17] When John was 14, they divorced.^[19] His mother then married a local painter, Fred Farebrother, a caring and supportive stepfather whom John affectionately referred to as "Derf", his first name in reverse.^[17] They moved into flat No. 1A in an eight-unit apartment building called Frome Court, not far from both previous homes. It was there that John would write the songs that would launch his career as a rock star; he would live there until he had four albums simultaneously in the American Top 40.^[20]

Pub pianist to staff songwriter (1962–1969)[link]

At the age of 15, with the help of his mother and stepfather, Reginald Dwight became a weekend pianist at a nearby pub, the Northwood Hills Hotel, playing Thursday to Sunday nights for £35 a week and tips.^[21][22] Known simply as "Reggie", he played a range of popular standards, including songs by Jim Reeves and Ray Charles, as well as songs he had written himself.^[23][24] A stint with a short-lived group called the Corvettes rounded out his time.^[17]

In 1964, Dwight and his friends formed a band called Bluesology. By day, he ran errands for a music publishing company; he divided his nights between solo gigs at a London hotel bar and working with Bluesology. By the mid-1960s, Bluesology was backing touring American soul and R&B musicians like The Isley Brothers, Major Lance, Billy Stewart, Doris Troy and Patti LaBelle and The Bluebelles. In 1966, the band became musician Long John Baldry's supporting band and played 16 times at The Marquee Club.^[25]

After failing lead vocalist auditions for King Crimson and Gentle Giant, Dwight answered an advertisement in the New Musical Express placed by Ray Williams, then the A&R manager for Liberty Records.^[26] At their first meeting, Williams gave Dwight a stack of lyrics written by Bernie Taupin, who had answered the same ad. Dwight wrote music for the lyrics, and then mailed it to Taupin, beginning a partnership that still continues^[update]. When the two first met in 1967 they recorded what would become the first Elton John/Bernie Taupin song: "Scarecrow". Six months later Dwight was going by the name "Elton John" in homage to Bluesology saxophonist Elton Dean and Long John Baldry.^[23]

The team of John and Taupin joined Dick James's DJM Records as staff songwriters in 1968, and over the next two years wrote material for various artists, like Roger Cook and Lulu.^[27] Taupin would write a batch of lyrics in under an hour and give it to John, who would write music for them in half an hour, disposing of the lyrics if he couldn't come up with anything quickly.^[27] For two years, they wrote easy-listening tunes for James to peddle to singers. Their early output included a contender for the British entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1969, for Lulu, called "Can't Go On (Living Without You)". It came sixth of six songs. In 1969, John provided piano for Roger Hodgson on his first released recording, the single "Mr. Boyd" by Argosy, a quartet that was completed by Caleb Quaye and Nigel Olsson.^[28][29]

During this period, John was also a session musician for other artists including playing piano on The Hollies' "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" and singing backing vocals for The Scaffold.^[30]

[edit] Debut album to Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1969–1973)

When John transitioned to solo performance, he started wearing increasingly flamboyant clothing onstage, including this hat and domino mask

On the advice of music publisher Steve Brown, John and Taupin started writing more complex songs for John to record for DJM. The first was the single "I've Been Loving You" (1968), produced by Caleb Quaye, former Bluesology guitarist. In 1969, with Quaye, drummer Roger Pope, and bassist Tony Murray, John recorded another single, "Lady Samantha", and an album, Empty Sky.

For their follow-up album, Elton John, John and Taupin enlisted Gus Dudgeon as producer and Paul Buckmaster as musical arranger. Elton John was released in April 1970 on DJM Records/Pye Records in the UK and Uni Records in the USA, and established the formula for subsequent albums; gospel-chorded rockers and poignant ballads. The first single from the album, "Border Song", made into the US Top 100, peaking at Number 92. The second single "Your Song" made the US Top Ten, peaking at number eight and becoming John's first hit single as a singer. The album soon became his first hit album, reaching number four on the Billboard 200 album chart.^[31]

Backed by ex-Spencer Davis Group drummer Nigel Olsson and bassist Dee Murray, John's first American concert took place at The Troubadour in Los Angeles in August 1970, and was a success.^[32]

The concept album Tumbleweed Connection was released in October 1970, and reached the Top Ten on the Billboard 200. The live album 17-11-70 (11–17–70 in the US) was recorded at a live show aired from A&R Studios on WABC-FM in New York City. Sales of the live album were heavily hit in the US when an east coast bootlegger released the performance several weeks before the official album, including all 60 minutes of the aircast, not just the 40 minutes selected by Dick James Music.^[33]

Elton John at the Musikhalle, Hamburg in March 1972

John and Taupin then wrote the soundtrack to the obscure film Friends and then the album Madman Across the Water, the latter reaching the Top Ten and producing the hit "Levon", while the soundtrack album produced the hit "Friends". In 1972, Davey Johnstone joined the Elton John Band on guitar and backing vocals. The band released Honky Chateau, which became John's first American number 1 album, spending five weeks at the top of the charts and spawning the hit singles "Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long, Long Time)" (which is often compared to David Bowie's "Space Oddity") and "Honky Cat".^[34]

The pop album Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player came out at the start of 1973, and produced the hits "Crocodile Rock" and "Daniel"; the former became his first US Billboard Hot 100 number one hit.^[35] Both the album and "Crocodile Rock" were the first album and single, respectively on the consolidated MCA Records label in the USA, replacing MCA's other labels including Uni.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road gained instant critical acclaim and topped the chart on both sides of the Atlantic, remaining at Number 1 for two months.^[36] It also temporarily established John as a glam rock star. It contained the number 1 hit "Bennie and the Jets", along with the popular and praised "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", "Candle in the Wind", "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting", "Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" and "Grey Seal" (originally recorded and released in 1970 as the B-side to the UK-only single, "Rock and Roll Madonna"). There is also a VHS and DVD as part of the Classic Albums series, discussing the making, recording, and popularity of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" through concert and home video footage including interviews.

[edit] Rocket Records to 21 at 33 (1974–1979)

Elton John performing live in 1975

John formed his own MCA-distributed label Rocket Records and signed acts to it – notably Neil Sedaka ("Bad Blood", on which he sang background vocals) and Kiki Dee – in which he took a personal interest. Instead of releasing his own records on Rocket, he opted for $8 million offered by MCA. When the contract was signed in 1974, MCA reportedly took out a $25 million insurance policy on John's life.^[37]

In 1974 a collaboration with John Lennon took place, resulting in Elton John covering The Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" and Lennon's "One Day at a Time", and in return Elton John and band being featured on Lennon's "Whatever Gets You thru the Night". In what would be Lennon's last live performance, the pair performed these two number 1 hits along with the Beatles classic "I Saw Her Standing There" at Madison Square Garden. Lennon made the rare stage appearance to keep the promise he made that he would appear on stage with Elton if "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night" became a number 1 single.^[38]

Caribou was released in 1974, and although it reached number 1, it was widely considered^[39] a lesser quality album. Reportedly recorded in a scant two weeks between live appearances, it featured "The Bitch Is Back"^[39] and the lushly orchestrated "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me".^[39]

John performing, 1975.

Pete Townshend of The Who asked John to play a character called the "Local Lad" in the film of the rock opera Tommy, and to perform the song "Pinball Wizard". Drawing on power chords, John's version was recorded and used for the movie release in 1975 and the single came out in 1976 (1975 in the US). The song charted at number 7 in England. Bally subsequently released a "Captain Fantastic" pinball machine featuring an illustration of John in his movie guise.

In the 1975 autobiographical album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, John revealed his previously ambiguous personality, with Taupin's lyrics describing their early days as struggling songwriters and musicians in London. The lyrics and accompanying photo booklet are infused with a specific sense of place and time that is otherwise rare in John's music. "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" was the hit single from this album and captured an early turning point in John's life.

The album's release signalled the end of the Elton John Band, as an unhappy and overworked John dismissed Olsson and Murray, two people who had contributed much of the band's signature sound and who had helped build his live following since the beginning.

According to Circus Magazine^[40] a spokesman for John Reid (Connie Papas) said the decision was reached mutually via phone while Elton was in Australia promoting Tommy. She said there was no way John Reid could have fired them "because the band are not employed by John Reid, they're employed by Elton John."^[40] She went on to say Nigel would be going back to his solo work and Dee would do session work "and possibly cut a solo album".^[40]

Davey Johnstone and Ray Cooper were retained, Quaye and Roger Pope returned, and the new bassist was Kenny Passarelli; this rhythm section provided a heavier-sounding backbeat. James Newton-Howard joined to arrange in the studio and to play keyboards. John introduced the line-up before a crowd of 75,000 in London's Wembley Stadium.

John in 1975.

The rock-oriented Rock of the Westies entered the US albums chart at number 1 like Captain Fantastic, a previously unattained feat. Elton John's stage wardrobe now included ostrich feathers, $5,000 spectacles that spelled his name in lights, and dressing up like the Statue of Liberty, Donald Duck, or Mozart, among others, at his concerts.^[41][42]

To celebrate five years since he first appeared at the venue, in 1975 John played a two-night, four-show stand at The Troubadour. With seating limited to under 500 per show, the chance to purchase tickets was determined by a postcard lottery, with each winner allowed two tickets. Everyone who attended the performances received a hardbound "yearbook" of the band's history. That year he also played piano on Kevin Ayers' Sweet Deceiver, and was among the first and few white artists to appear on the black music series Soul Train on American television.^[36] On 9 August 1975, John was named the outstanding rock personality of the year at the first annual Rock Music Awards at ceremonies held in Santa Monica, California.^[43]

In 1976, the live album Here and There was released in May, followed by the Blue Moves album in October, which contained the single "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word". His biggest success in 1976 was "Don't Go Breaking My Heart", a duet with Kiki Dee that topped both the American and British charts. Finally, in an interview with Rolling Stone that year entitled "Elton's Frank Talk", John stated that he was bisexual.^[44]

John playing in Mannheim, Germany in 1979.

Besides being the most commercially successful period, 1970–1976 is also held in the most regard critically. Within only a three year span, between 1972 and 1975 John saw seven consecutive albums reach Number 1 in the charts, which had not been accomplished before.^[36] Of the six Elton John albums to make the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in Rolling Stone'in 2003, all are from this period, with Goodbye Yellow Brick Road ranked highest at number 91; similarly, the three Elton John albums given five stars by Allmusic (Tumbleweed Connection, Honky Château, and Captain Fantastic) are all from this period too.

During the same period, John made a guest appearance on the popular Morecambe and Wise Show on the BBC. The two comics spent the episode pointing him in the direction of everywhere except the stage in order to prevent him singing.^[45]

In November 1977 John announced he was retiring from performing; Taupin began collaborating with others. Now only producing one album a year, John issued A Single Man in 1978, employing a new lyricist, Gary Osborne; the album produced no singles that made the Top 20 in the US but the two singles from the album released in the UK, Part-Time Love and Song for Guy, both made the Top 20 in the UK with the latter reaching the Top 5. In 1979, accompanied by Ray Cooper, John became one of the first Western solo artists to tour the Soviet Union (as well as one of the first in Israel), then mounted a two-man comeback tour of the US in small halls. John returned to the singles chart with "Mama Can't Buy You Love" (number 9, 1979), a song originally rejected in 1977 by MCA before being released, recorded in 1977 with Philadelphia soul producer Thom Bell.^[46] Elton reported that Thom Bell was the first person to give him voice lessons; Bell encouraged John to sing in a lower register. A disco-influenced album, Victim of Love, was poorly received. In 1979, John and Taupin reunited, though they did not collaborate on a full album until 1983's Too Low For Zero. 21 at 33, released the following year, was a significant career boost, aided by his biggest hit in four years, "Little Jeannie" (number 3 US), although the lyrics were written by Gary Osborne.

[edit] The 80s: The Fox to Sleeping with the Past (1981–1989)

Elton performing in the 1980s.

His 1981 album, The Fox, was recorded in part during the same sessions as 21 at 33, and also included collaborations with Tom Robinson and Judie Tzuke. On 13 September 1980, John, with Olsson and Murray back in the Elton John Band, performed a free concert to an estimated 400,000 fans on The Great Lawn in Central Park in New York City. His 1982 hit "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)", came from his Jump Up! album, his second under a new US recording contract with Geffen Records.

He married his close friend and sound engineer, Renate Blauel on Valentine's Day 1984 – the marriage lasted three years.^[47] The Biography Channel Special detailed the loss of Elton's voice in 1986 while on tour in Australia. Shortly thereafter he underwent throat surgery, which permanently altered his voice. Several non-cancerous polyps were removed from his vocal cords, resulting in a change in his singing voice.^[48] In 1987 he won a libel case against The Sun which published allegations of sex with rent boys.^[49]

With original band members Johnstone, Murray and Olsson together again, John was able to return to the charts with the 1983 hit album Too Low for Zero, which included "I'm Still Standing" and "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues", the latter of which featured Stevie Wonder on harmonica and reached number 4 in the US, giving John his biggest hit there since "Little Jeannie". He placed hits in the US Top Ten throughout the 1980s – "Little Jeannie" (number 3, 1980), "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" (number 5, 1984), "Nikita" boosted by a mini-movie pop video directed by Ken Russell (number 7, 1986), a live orchestral version of "Candle in the Wind" (number 6, 1987), and "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That" (number 2, 1988). His highest-charting single was a collaboration with Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder on "That's What Friends Are For" (number 1, 1985); credited as Dionne and Friends, the song raised funds for AIDS research. His albums continued to sell, but of the six released in the latter half of the 1980s, only Reg Strikes Back (number 16, 1988) placed in the Top 20 in the United States.

In 1985, Elton John was one of the many performers at Live Aid held at Wembley Stadium.^[50] John played "Bennie and the Jets" and "Rocket Man"; then "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" with Kiki Dee for the first time in years; and introduced his friend George Michael, still then of Wham!, to sing "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me".^[50] He enlisted Michael to sing backing vocals on his single "Wrap Her Up", and also recruited teen idol Nik Kershaw as an instrumentalist on "Nikita". John also recorded material with Millie Jackson in 1985. In 1986, he played the piano on two tracks on the heavy metal band Saxon's album Rock the Nations.

In 1988, he performed five sold-out shows at New York's Madison Square Garden,^[51] giving him 26 for his career. Netting over $20 million, 2,000 items of John's memorabilia were auctioned off at Sotheby's in London.^[52]

[edit] The 90s: "Sacrifice" to Aida (1990–1999)

In 1990, John finally achieved his first UK number one hit on his own, with "Sacrifice" (coupled with "Healing Hands") from the previous year's album Sleeping with the Past; it would stay at the top spot for six weeks.^[53] The following year, John's "Basque" won the Grammy for Best Instrumental, and a guest concert appearance he had made on George Michael's cover of "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" was released as a single and topped the charts in both the US and UK.^[54] At the 1991 Brit Awards in London, Elton John won the award for Best British Male.^[55]

In 1992 he released the US number 8 album The One, featuring the hit song "The One".^[56][57] John and Taupin then signed a music publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music for an estimated $39 million over 12 years, giving them the largest cash advance in music publishing history.^[58] In April 1992, John appeared at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium, performing "The Show Must Go On" with the remaining members of Queen, and "Bohemian Rhapsody" with Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses and Queen.^[59] In September, John performed "The One" at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards, and also closed the ceremony performing "November Rain" with Guns N' Roses.^[60] The following year, he released Duets, a collaboration with 15 artists including Tammy Wynette and RuPaul. This also included a new collaboration with Kiki Dee, entitled "True Love", which reached the Top 10 of the UK charts.^[61]

Along with Tim Rice, Elton John wrote the songs for the 1994 Disney animated film The Lion King, which became the 3rd highest-grossing animated feature of all time.^[62] At the 67th Academy Awards ceremony, The Lion King provided three of the five nominees for the Academy Award for Best Song, which John won with "Can You Feel the Love Tonight".^[63] Both that and "Circle of Life" became hit songs for John.^[64][65] "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" would also win Elton John the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 37th Grammy Awards.^[63] After the release of the The Lion King soundtrack, the album remained at the top of Billboard's charts for nine weeks. On 10 November 1999, the RIAA certified The Lion King "Diamond" for selling 15 million copies.^[2]

In 1995 John released Made in England (number 3, 1995), which featured the single "Believe".^[66] John performed "Believe" at the 1995 Brit Awards, and picked up the prize for Outstanding Contribution to Music.^[67] A compilation called Love Songs was released in 1996.^[68]

Early in 1997 John held a 50th birthday party, costumed as Louis XIV, for 500 friends. John also performed with the surviving members of Queen in Paris at the opening night (17 January 1997) of Le Presbytère N'a Rien Perdu De Son Charme Ni Le Jardin De Son Éclat, a work by French ballet legend Maurice Béjart which draws upon AIDS and the deaths of Freddie Mercury and the company's principal dancer Jorge Donn. Later in 1997, two close friends died: designer Gianni Versace was murdered; Diana, Princess of Wales died in a Paris car crash on 31 August.^[69]

	"Candle in the Wind 1997" noicon Most of the lyrics of "Candle in the Wind 1997" were written to suit the circumstances of Diana, Princess of Wales' life and death
Problems listening to this file? See media help.

In early September, John contacted his writing partner Bernie Taupin, asking him to revise the lyrics of his 1973 song "Candle in the Wind" to honour Diana, and Taupin rewrote the song accordingly.^[70] On 6 September 1997, John performed "Candle in the Wind 1997" at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales in Westminster Abbey.^[71] The song became the fastest, and biggest-selling single of all time, eventually selling over 33 million copies worldwide.^[2][72][73] The best-selling single in UK Chart history, it sold 4.86 million copies in the UK.^[74] The best-selling single in Billboard history, and the only single ever certified Diamond in the United States, the single sold over 11 million copies in the U.S.^[75][76] The song proceeds of approximately £55 million were donated to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. It would win John the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 40th Grammy Awards ceremony in 1998.^[73] John has publicly performed "Candle in the Wind 1997" only once, at Diana's funeral, vowing never to perform it again unless asked by Diana's sons.^[77]

In the musical theatre world, in addition to a 1998 adaptation of The Lion King for Broadway, John also composed music for a Disney production of Aida in 1999 with lyricist Tim Rice, for which they received the Tony Award for Best Original Score at the 54th Tony Awards,^[78] and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album at the 43rd Grammy Awards.^[79][80] The musical was given its world premiere in the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta. It went on to Chicago and eventually Broadway. He also released a live compilation album called Elton John One Night Only – The Greatest Hits from the show he did at Madison Square Garden in New York City that same year.

2000 to present[link]

Elton John performs at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, July 2008

In 2000, John and Tim Rice teamed again to create songs for DreamWorks' animated film The Road to El Dorado. In August 2003, John scored his fifth UK number one single when "Are You Ready for Love" topped the UK Charts.^[81] Returning again to musical theatre, John composed music for a West End Theatre production of Billy Elliot the Musical in 2005 with playwright Lee Hall. John's only theatrical project with Bernie Taupin so far is Lestat: The Musical, based on the Anne Rice vampire novels. However it was slammed by the critics and closed in May 2006 after 39 performances.^[82]

John was named a Disney Legend for his numerous outstanding contributions to Disney's films and theatrical works on 9 October 2006, by The Walt Disney Company.^[83] In 2006 he told Rolling Stone magazine that he plans for his next record to be in the R&B/hip-hop genre. "I want to work with Pharrell {Williams}, Timbaland, Snoop {Dogg}, Kanye {West}, Eminem and just see what happens."^[84]

In March 2007 he performed at Madison Square Garden for a record breaking 60th time for his 60th birthday, the concert was broadcast live and a DVD recording was released as Elton 60 - Live at Madison Square Garden;^[85] a greatest-hits compilation CD, Rocket Man – Number Ones, was released in 17 different versions worldwide, including a CD/DVD combo; and his back catalogue – almost 500 songs from 32 albums – became available for legal download.^[86]