Almost no one is as well-decorated as Elton John and we’re not just talking about his outfits, but his titles and awards, too. Sir Elton John is the most successful solo male artist on the American charts — ever. And, globally he’s the third most successful artist in the history of the world, behind Madonna and the Beatles.

Humble Beginnings

Though his given name sounds fancy (Reginald Kenneth Dwight) he didn’t come from an impressive household.

He and his family were from a modest home in Middlesex, England and he got his musical education through scholarships, mostly at the Royal Academy of Music.

And though he was playing piano at the fresh age of three, it was those Saturday mornings at the Royal Academy he thanks for his legendary piano skills.

A Love to Perform

A lot of artists say it’s their fans that keep them going, but tours are tiring. It’s city after city, show after show. It doesn’t seem the hustle and bustle of life on the row effects Elton, at least, it didn’t use to. Throughout his career, he’s played in over 80 countries and taken the stage more than 4,000 times. That’s a lot of his life spent singing!

Other Ventures

While Elton John announced his intention to stop touring in 2018, that doesn’t mean he’s going to sit still and do nothing. He’s still a songwriter and composer, as well as a well-loved music-industry personality.

In fact, if you’ve ever seen a highly-rated Broadway musical, there’s a good chance Elton John had a hand in composing some of the tracks. He’s to thank for the award-winning, legendary music of the Lion King show. It’s been gracing stages for over 15 years.

Though he may not do long arduous tours anymore (the man is 72!) we don’t think he’ll ever retire his performance rhinestones entirely.