Elton John

Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE (born March 25, 1947) is a rock music singer, songwriter, and pianist, is one of the most successful solo artists in music history. He has recorded a long string of records and participated in a number of musical projects over a career that is approaching its fifth decade. His flamboyant fashion sense, on-stage showmanship, and public struggles with his private life have combined with his talent to make him a legend to his many fans around the world.

Personal life

John has had a complicated personal history. Coming out first as bisexual in 1976, he married (1984) and quickly divorced (1988) Renate Blauel. He subsequently stated that he was gay and has lived with his partner David Furnish for a number of years. He plans to marry Furnish after the British civil partnership law comes into effect in December 2005. He has occasionally battled addictions to cocaine and financial difficulties caused by his profligate spending.

Related Topics:
Bisexual - 1976 - 1984 - 1988 - Renate Blauel - Gay - David Furnish - Civil partnership - Cocaine

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In 1976 Elton John became involved in Watford Football Club and fulfilled a childhood dream by becoming chairman and director. He resigned in 2002 when the club needed a full-time chairman. He remains lifelong president.

Related Topics:
1976 - Watford Football Club - 2002

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John has long been associated with AIDS charities after the death of his friends Ryan White and Freddie Mercury, raising large amounts of money and using his public profile to raise awareness of the disease. For example, in 1986 he joined with Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder to record the single "That's What Friends Are For", with all profits being donated to the American Foundation for AIDS Research. The song won Elton and the others the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (as well as Song of the Year for its writers, Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager).

Related Topics:
AIDS - Ryan White - Freddie Mercury - 1986 - Dionne Warwick - Gladys Knight - Stevie Wonder - That's What Friends Are For - American Foundation for AIDS Research - Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal - Song of the Year - Burt Bacharach - Carole Bayer Sager

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John founded the Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1992 as a charity to fund programmes for HIV/AIDS prevention, for the elimination of prejudice and discrimination against HIV/AIDS-affected individuals, and for providing services to people living with or at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS.

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Aside from his main home in Windsor, England, John splits his time in his various residences in Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Nice, France; London, England; and Venice, Italy.

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He is a noted art collector, and is believed to have one of the largest private photography collections in the world.

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