Early Life and Education of Elton John: A Complete Timeline
An overview of the childhood and early education of Elton John, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.
Sir Elton John is a highly acclaimed British singer, songwriter, and pianist. Especially known for his influential work in the 1970s, his music and flamboyant performances have left a lasting mark on the music industry. His songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin stands as one of the most successful collaborations ever.
1925: Stanley Dwight Born
In 1925, Stanley Dwight, Elton John's father, was born.
1945: Marriage of Elton John's Parents
In 1945, Elton John's parents, Stanley Dwight and Sheila Eileen Harris, married.
March 1947: Birth of Reginald Kenneth Dwight
In March 1947, Reginald Kenneth Dwight, known as Elton John, was born in Pinner, Middlesex.
1956: Hooked on rock and roll
In 1956, John stated he was immediately hooked on rock and roll when his mother brought home records by Elvis Presley and Bill Haley & His Comets.
1959: Roy Dwight scores in FA Cup Final
In 1959, John's paternal cousin Roy Dwight, a professional footballer, scored for Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup Final before breaking his leg later in the same match.
1968: Performed "Skyline Pigeon" at Ryan White's funeral
In 1968, John performed his ballad "Skyline Pigeon" at Ryan White's funeral.
1970: First gay relationship with John Reid
In 1970, after his first US shows in Los Angeles, California, Elton John started his first gay relationship with John Reid, who later became his manager.
January 1972: Legal Name Change to Elton Hercules John
On January 7, 1972, Reginald Kenneth Dwight legally changed his name to Elton Hercules John.
1974: Formation of The Rocket Record Company and Contract with MCA
In 1974, Elton John formed his own label, The Rocket Record Company, and signed an $8 million contract with MCA.
1975: Part-Owner of Los Angeles Aztecs
From late 1975, John was a part-owner of the Los Angeles Aztecs of the North American Soccer League.
1976: Watford Football Club Chairman
In 1976, Elton John became the chairman and director of Watford Football Club.
1976: Coming out as Bisexual
In 1976, Elton John came out as bisexual in an interview with Rolling Stone.
1976: Part-Owner of Los Angeles Aztecs
Until 1976, John was a part-owner of the Los Angeles Aztecs of the North American Soccer League.
February 1984: Marriage to Renate Blauel
On 14 February 1984, Elton John married German recording engineer Renate Blauel in an extravagant wedding ceremony in Sydney, Australia.
1984: Remembrance of Childhood
In 1984, 'Abide with Me' was played at the Cup Final which made Elton cry due to evoking his childhood memories.
1984: Marriage to Renate Blauel and Release of 'Breaking Hearts'
On Valentine's Day in 1984, Elton John married Renate Blauel. In the same year, he released Breaking Hearts, which featured the song "Sad Songs (Say So Much)".
1987: End of First Watford Football Club Chairman
In 1987, Elton John ended his first term as the chairman and director of Watford Football Club.
1987: Libel case against The Sun
In 1987, Elton John won a libel case against The Sun, which published false allegations about him.
1988: Divorce from Renate Blauel
Elton John's marriage to Renate Blauel ended in divorce in 1988.
1988: Madison Square Garden Shows and Sotheby's Auction
In 1988, Elton John performed five sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden. Also in 1988, 2,000 items of his memorabilia were auctioned off at Sotheby's in London, netting over $20 million.
April 1990: Support for Ryan White
In April 1990, John traveled to Indianapolis to support his friend Ryan White, a teenage haemophiliac, as his health deteriorated. He dedicated "Candle in the Wind" to White at Farm Aid IV on the eve of White's death and performed "Skyline Pigeon" at White's funeral.
1990: Sobriety
In 1990, Elton John became clean and sober after struggling with drug and alcohol addiction.
1990: Associated with AIDS charities after the death of Ryan White
In 1990, following the death of his friend Ryan White, John became more closely associated with AIDS charities.
1991: Becoming a fan of the Atlanta Braves
In 1991, after moving to Atlanta, Georgia, Elton John became a fan of the Atlanta Braves baseball team.
1991: Associated with AIDS charities after the death of Freddie Mercury
In 1991, following the death of his friend Freddie Mercury, John became more closely associated with AIDS charities.
1992: Release of 'The One'
In 1992, Elton John released the album The One, his first album recorded entirely sober. He also signed a music publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music.
1992: Statement on being Gay
In 1992, Elton John stated in an interview with Rolling Stone that he was "quite comfortable about being gay".
1992: Founded the Elton John AIDS Foundation
In 1992, John founded the Elton John AIDS Foundation, a charity to fund HIV/AIDS prevention programs and provide services to affected individuals.
1993: Beginning of relationship with David Furnish
In 1993, Elton John began a relationship with David Furnish.
1993: Hosted first annual Academy Award Party
In 1993, John began hosting his annual Academy Award Party, which became a high-profile event raising money for AIDS charities.
1993: Auction of Jaguar XJ220
Included in the auction of cars was a 1993 Jaguar XJ220, the most expensive at £234,750.
January 1996: Expenditure on Property
Between January 1996 and September 1997, Elton John spent more than £9.6m on property.
January 1997: 50th Birthday Party and Performance with Queen
In January 1997, Elton John held a 50th birthday party and performed with the surviving members of Queen at the opening night of a Maurice Béjart ballet.
September 1997: Expenditure on Flowers
Between January 1996 and September 1997, Elton John spent more than £293,000 on flowers.
September 1997: Performance of 'Candle in the Wind 1997' at Diana's Funeral
On 6 September 1997, Elton John performed "Candle in the Wind 1997" live for the only time at Diana, Princess of Wales' funeral in Westminster Abbey. The song became the fastest- and biggest-selling single of all time.
1997: Return to Watford Football Club Chairman
In 1997, Elton John returned to Watford Football Club as chairman and director.
2000: Admission to spending habits
In 2000, Elton John admitted to spending £30 million in just under two years—an average of £1.5 million a month.
2000: Criticism of Catholic Church's views on homosexuality
In 2000, Elton John criticised the Roman Catholic Church's views on homosexuality.
2000: Seeing Billy Elliot
In 2000, Elton John watched the British coming-of-age film Billy Elliot.
June 2001: Car Auction at Christie's
In June 2001, Elton John sold twenty of his cars at Christie's auction house, raising nearly £2 million.
2002: End of Second Watford Football Club Chairman
In 2002, Elton John ended his second term as the chairman and director of Watford Football Club.
2003: Sale of Holland Park home contents
In 2003, Elton John sold the contents of his Holland Park home to modernize the decoration and display his contemporary art collection.
2004: Opening of Elton's Closet
Every year since 2004, Elton John has opened a shop called "Elton's Closet", in which he sells his secondhand clothes.
December 2005: Civil Partnership with David Furnish
On 21 December 2005, Elton John and David Furnish were among the first couples to form a civil partnership in the United Kingdom.
2005: Civil Partnership with David Furnish
In 2005, Elton John entered a civil partnership with David Furnish.
2005: Hurricanes affect Harrah's Entertainment Inc. workers
In 2005, hurricanes affected Harrah's Entertainment Inc. workers.
2006: Political Views
In 2006, John stated he considered himself a Labour man and expressed admiration for Tony Blair.
2006: Call to ban religion
In a 2006 interview with The Observer, Elton John stated that he would "ban religion completely".
March 2007: 60th Birthday Concert at Madison Square Garden
In March 2007, Elton John 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.
June 2007: Ninth annual White Tie & Tiara Ball
On June 28, 2007, John hosted the ninth annual White Tie & Tiara Ball, raising £3.5 million for his AIDS charity through auctions and performances.
2007: Founded Elton John Charitable Trust
In 2007, John and his husband David Furnish founded the Elton John Charitable Trust, supporting over 100 charities.
September 2008: Announces Face to Face tour with Billy Joel
In a September 2008 GQ interview Elton John said, "I'm going on the road again with Billy Joel again next year", referring to "Face to Face", a series of concerts featuring the two. The tour began in March.
2008: Obama's Victory
After senator Barack Obama won the 2008 United States presidential election, John called Obama's victory "incredibly moving."
2008: Preference for civil partnerships
In 2008, Elton John stated that he preferred civil partnerships to marriage for gay people.
April 2009: Wealth Estimation
In April 2009, the Sunday Times Rich List estimated Elton John's wealth at £175 million (US$265 million) and ranked him the 322nd wealthiest person in Britain.
2009: Labeled as a "floating voter"
In 2009, despite being called one of the Labour Party's most stalwart supporters, John was described as a "floating voter" by The Daily Telegraph.
December 2010: Birth of Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John
On 25 December 2010, Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John, Elton John and David Furnish's elder son, was born via surrogacy in California.
2010: Description of Jesus as gay
In 2010, Elton John described Jesus as a "compassionate, super-intelligent gay man", sparking criticism from some Christian groups.
2011: White Tie & Tiara Ball
In 2011, John's White Tie & Tiara Ball raised £5 million, adding to the £45 million the balls had raised for his foundation.
2012: Support for same-sex marriage
By 2012, Elton John had changed his position and become a supporter of same-sex marriage in the United Kingdom.
January 2013: Birth of Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John
On 11 January 2013, Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John, Elton John and David Furnish's younger son, was born via the same surrogate.
January 2014: Putin's Comments on John
In January 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke of John in an attempt to show that there was no discrimination against gays in Russia.
March 2014: Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage
After same-sex marriage became legal in the United Kingdom in March 2014, John and Furnish married in Windsor, Berkshire, on December 21, 2014.
December 2014: Marriage to David Furnish
Elton John and David Furnish married in Windsor, Berkshire, on 21 December 2014, the ninth anniversary of their civil partnership.
2014: Marriage to David Furnish
In 2014, Elton John married David Furnish when same-sex marriage was legalized in England and Wales.
2014: Jesus in favor of same-sex marriage
In 2014, Elton John stated that Jesus would have been in favor of same-sex marriage.
2014: Launched the Elton John Sports Fund
In 2014, John launched the Elton John Sports Fund to assist citizens with training and competition costs for over 50 sports.
May 2015: Meeting with President Obama
On May 2015, John met President Obama in the White House.
September 2015: Putin Calls John
On September 2015, the Associated Press reported that Putin called John and invited him to meet in the future to discuss LGBT rights in Russia.
2016: Supports Hillary Clinton
During the 2016 presidential election, John supported Hillary Clinton's campaign, and performed alongside Katy Perry and Andra Day at Clinton's fundraiser concert.
2016: Supports Remaining in the European Union
In 2016, John announced his intention to vote Remain during the UK's European Union referendum on Instagram, sharing an image with the words "build bridges not walls".
January 2017: Declines Trump Inauguration Invitation
In January 2017, John declined an invitation to attend Donald Trump's inauguration, citing his British nationality.
September 2017: Trump References "Rocket Man"
In September 2017, Donald Trump referenced John's song "Rocket Man" when referring to North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un during Trump's first address to the United Nations.
2017: Elton John appears in Kingsman: The Golden Circle
In 2017, Elton John appeared as a fictionalized version of himself in the film Kingsman: The Golden Circle.
January 2018: Announcement of Retirement from Touring
On 24 January 2018, it was announced that Elton John was retiring from touring and would embark on a three-year farewell tour.
May 2018: Visit to Armenia
In May 2018, John visited Armenia and was overwhelmed with the kindness and humanity shown to him by the Armenian people.
September 2018: Farewell tour begins and signs agreement with Universal Music Group
In September 2018, Elton John began his three-year farewell tour in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Also in September 2018, he signed an agreement with Universal Music Group (UMG) to represent his new music.
May 2019: Release of Rocketman biopic
In May 2019, Rocketman, a biopic about Elton John's life from his childhood to the 1980s, was released.
October 2019: Release of autobiography Me
In October 2019, Elton John released his "first and only autobiography", Me.
2019: Publication of autobiography Me: Elton John Official Autobiography
Elton John published his autobiography Me: Elton John Official Autobiography in 2019.
2019: Expresses Shame over Brexit
In 2019, John said the Brexit vote and the way it had been handled had made him ashamed.
2019: Death threats
In his 2019 autobiography Me, Elton John stated that he had received many death threats as a result of his statements.
October 2020: Calls Attention to Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
In October 2020, John called attention to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
2020: Financial Assistance to Linda Woodrow
In 2020, Elton John helped pay for the medical fees of his former fiancée, Linda Woodrow, upon her request, despite having lost contact with her 50 years prior.
2020: Settlement of lawsuit with Renate Blauel
In 2020, Renate Blauel sued Elton John for writing about their relationship in his 2019 autobiography, and the case was settled later that year.
2021: Ignored requests to meet with Boris Johnson
In 2021, John said that his requests to meet with Boris Johnson regarding Brexit and touring visas for musicians were ignored.
March 2022: Release of remastered Diamonds album
In March 2022, Elton John celebrated his 75th birthday by releasing a digitally remastered version of his Diamonds compilation album on streaming platforms.
March 2022: Performance at Shane Warne's memorial service
On 30 March 2022, Elton John performed "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" at the memorial service for Australian cricketer Shane Warne.
September 2022: Tribute to Queen Elizabeth II
After the death of Elizabeth II on September 2022, John paid tribute to her during a show.
December 2022: Leaves Twitter
On December 2022, John left Twitter, following changes to its rules made by new owner Elon Musk, citing concerns about misinformation.
February 2023: The Elton John AIDS Foundation donation via United24
On 23 February 2023, The Elton John AIDS Foundation donated $125,000 via United24 to purchase biochemistry analysers, to help assure that all Ukrainians living with HIV can continue to access high-quality care and treatment.
July 2023: End of Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour
On 8 July 2023, Elton John ended his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in Stockholm, Sweden.
July 2023: Final concert of the tour in Stockholm
On 8 July 2023, Elton John performed the final concert of his tour in Stockholm, Sweden, at the Tele2 Arena, marking the end of his touring career, although he intends to continue with occasional shows and recording a new album.
2023: Addressed Politicians on AIDS Eradication
In 2023, John addressed a cross-party gathering of politicians at Westminster and said that the winner of the next general election could help to eradicate AIDS worldwide by the end of the decade.
December 2024: Public Opposition to Marijuana Legalization
In December 2024, John made public his opposition to marijuana legalization, noting, among other things, his own past drug use.
2024: Assists Biden at Stonewall Monument Opening
During the 2024 United States presidential election, John assisted Biden at the opening of the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center in New York.
2024: Publicly supports Labour
In 2024, John returned to publicly supporting Labour at the general election, endorsing the party's leader Keir Starmer to become prime minister.
