Sir Elton John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25, 1947 in Pinner,
England. He inherited his father's love of music, but had little else in common
with the often-missioned Royal Air Force pilot. He learned to play the piano
with his grandmother, and at the age of 11 won a prize from the Royal Academy of
Music. He later joined the group Bluesology and eventually adopted the stage
name Elton John, combining the first names of saxophonist Elton Dean and singer
Long John Baldry. He met lyricist Bernie Taupin in 1967 through a classified ad,
but the duo had to wait three yea...