John, Elton (Hercules) (1947– )

English pop singer, pianist, and composer. He is known for his flamboyant stage presence and talent for blending different styles of pop music. His long career included seven consecutive hit albums during the 1970s. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) includes the hit ‘Bennie and the Jets’; among his many other highly successful songs are ‘Rocket Man’, ‘Crocodile Rock’, and ‘Daniel’ (all 1972), ‘Candle in the Wind’ (1973), ‘Blue Eyes’ (1982), ‘Nikita’ (1985), and ‘Sacrifice’ (1989). He has collaborated extensively with the English lyricist Bernie Taupin (1950– ).

He wrote the Academy Award-winning music (with lyrics by Tim Rice) for the animated film and stage production of The Lion King (1995) and for the musical adaptation of the film Billy Elliot (2005). His career reached new heights in 1997 when he rewrote ‘Candle in the Wind’ for the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, who had been a personal friend. The tribute became the best-selling pop single in history. He composed the soundtracks to the animated films The Road to Eldorado and Aida (both 2000), and released the albums Songs from the West Coast (2001) and Peachtree Road (2004). He was knighted in 1988 and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.