Elton's Milestones...what a life!
RegDwight
1967
7/67: Dick James introduces lyricist Bernie Taupin to melody writer, Elton John. From that meeting evolved the second most successful songwriting team in the rock era, preceded only by Lennon and McCartney.1970
8/25/70: Elton John made his U.S. debut at the Troubadour in Los Angeles; he received national critical acclaim via review from Robert Hilburn of the Los Angeles Times.Grammy Nomination for Album of the Year (Elton John) - Best New Artist; Best Contemporary Vocal Performance, Male (Elton John album).
Elton John makes his first appearance in the Top 10 of Billboard magazine's "Hot 100" singles chart with "Your Song."
1971
Elton John becomes the first act since the Beatles to have four albums in the American Top Ten simultaneously.Grammy Nomination for Best Original Score (Friends, nominated with Bernie Taupin).
1972
Honky Chateau is the 1st of 7 consecutive U.S. #1 Pop LP's. Stayed on the charts for 5 straight weeks.10/30/72: Elton John gives a command performance for Queen Elizabeth II, making him the first rock & roller to be asked to appear in a royal variety performance since the Beatles in November 1963.
1973
Grammy Nomination for Best Pop Vocal performance, Male: "Daniel."2/10/73: Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player is the 2nd of 7 consecutive U.S. #1 Pop LP's.
11/2/73: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is the 3rd of 7 consecutive U.S. #1 Pop LP's.
1974
Grammy Nomination for Album of the Year (Caribou); Record of the Year "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me"; Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male, "Don't Let The Sun..."4/8/74: "Bennie and the Jets" turns gold, the single becomes a major hit on the R&B chart as well.
7/13/74: Caribou is the 4th consecutive U.S. #1 Pop LP
8/25/74: Elton John returns to the site of his American premiere and plays two sets on the first of three nights at Los Angeles' Troubadour to raise money for UCLA's Jules Stein Eye Institute. The benefit show raises over $150,000 for the clinic, named for the licensed opthamologist who runs it (and who, not coincidentally, is head of MCA, John's label).
11/28/74: Elton John - Greatest Hits is the 5th of 7 consecutive U.S. #1 Pop LP's. This album is the most successful Greatest Hits album to date and stayed on the charts for 11 weeks. John Lennon joins Elton John on stage at Madison Square Garden.
1975
Grammy Nominations for Album of the Year (Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy); Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male, (Captain Fantastic...)6/7/75: Elton John's album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, is the 6th consecutive U.S. #1 Pop LP.
10/25-26/75: Elton John plays 2 sold-out dates at Dodger Stadium. Decked out in sequined Dodgers uniform, John is first rocker to the ballpark since the Beatles in 1966.
11/8/75: Rock of the Westies is the 7th consecutive U.S. #1 Pop LP.
1976
Grammy Nominations for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Duo or Group, "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (nominated with Kiki Dee).3/7/76: A likeness of Elton John is put on display at London's Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. He is the first rock figure so accorded the honor since the Beatles were first immortalized in wax in March of 1964.
1977
10/1/77: Elton John becomes the first rock & roller to be honored in New York City's Madison Square Garden Hall of Fame.11/3/77: During a concert at the Empire Pool in London, Elton John announces that he is retiring from live performances. He will be good to his word for fifteen months.
1979
1/79: Grammy Nomination for Best Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance, Male, "Mama Can't Buy You Love."2/3/79: Elton John resumes touring after his 15 month semi-retirement with a concert in Sweden.
5/1/79: Elton John becomes first pop music star to perform in Israel.
5/29/79: Elton John becomes first Western solo pop performer to tour Russia.
1980
8/80: An estimated 500,000 fans turn out for a free Elton John concert in New York's Central Park, later concert is broadcast on Home Box Office.1982
Grammy Nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male, "Blue Eyes"; Video of the Year, Visions.1984
Grammy Nomination for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male, "Restless."1986
Grammy Nomination for Best Pop Performance, Duo or Group with Vocal, "That's What Friends Are For" (nominated with Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder).1987
Grammy Nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male, "Candle In The Wind" (live).1988
Elton John and Bernie Taupin are inducted into the National Songwriter Hall of Fame.1991
Grammy Nomination for Best Instrumental Composition, "Basque."1992
As of 1992 (January) Elton John has sold over 100 million records worldwide and is listed among the all-time Top 10 artists who have had the greatest success in the U.S. Billboard Charts.1/92: Dee Murray, Elton John's original bass player dies after an 8 year battle with cancer.
3/92: Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male, The One, Best Pop Vocal Performance, Duo or Group, "Don't Let The Sun..." (nominated with George Michael).
8/92: Elton John returns to Dodger Stadium for 2 sold-out appearances with Eric Clapton - first appearance since 1975 at ballpark.
10/92: Elton John announces that beginning with release of "The One" single, all his single sales will go to the fight against AIDS.
11/92: Warner Chappell signs Elton John and Bernie Taupin to biggest deal in publishing history.
12/92: Elton John establishes Elton John AIDS Foundation to fund direct patient care services and HIV/AIDS prevention education.
1993
2/93: Elton John receives first RIAA mutiplatinum award for The One (RIAA platinum certification began in 1984).3/93: For 23 years, Elvis Presley propelled hits into the Top 40 -
a record-setting performance that has never been surpassed until now. With the
hit "Simple Life" from his current Double Platinum album, The
One, Elton John breaks Elvis' long-standing record with 24
consecutive years of Top 40 hits.
3/93: Another 7 albums are
certified platinum and 6 albums are certified multi-platinum. One of those, a
1974 Greatest Hits package, hits the 10 million mark.
3/93: First Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party to Benefit the
Elton John AIDS Foundation raises $150,000.
6/93:
France makes Elton John an "Officer of Arts &
Letters" France's highest of the arts.
7/93: Sotheby's
auctions off Elton John's album & single collection with all
proceeds benefiting AIDS charities. Auction raises $273,000.
9/93: First Annual "Smash Hits" with Elton
John and Billie Jean King (and host of WORLD TEAMTENNIS players, raises
$400,000 for Elton John AIDS Foundation.)
10/93: R
& R names Elton John #1 A/C artist of past 20 years. His 38
chart records top all other artists as do his 14 #1's.
11/93:
Entertainment Weekly names Goodbye Yellow Brick Road one of the Top 100
Greatest CD's.
1994
1/94: Elton John is inducted into the Rock' n'
Roll Hall of Fame; he shares his honor with lyricist, Bernie Taupin.
6/6/94: Lion King "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" goes
#1 on the R&R & Billboard A/C Charts, making this Elton
John's 25th consecutive year with a Top 40 hit.
6/24/94:
Lion King (Disney Animated Feature) premieres with 5 songs written by
Elton John & Tim Rice. Features hit, "Can You Feel The
Love Tonight." - The Lion King movie had an astounding first weekend in
wide release, taking No. 1 at the box office, delighting audiences of over 10
million people. The soundtrack will eventually surpass the 10 million mark in
sales, making it one of the most successful soundtrack albums of all time.
7/94: Elton John teams for first time with Billy
Joel for 21 date sold-out stadium tour titled "Summer of 1994." Dates
for New York's Giant Stadium sell out in record-breaking time; surpassing both
Bruce Springsteen and Rolling Stone totals for shows who held the record in
previous years. Tour ranks as one of the Top Ten highest grossing of the year.
8/25/94: Second Annual "Smash Hits" WORLD TEAMTENNIS
Tournament in Boston with Elton John and Billie Jean King to
benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
1995
1/19/95: Elton John receives "Commitment
To Life" Award from APLA (AIDS Project Los Angeles). Co-honorees are Tom
Hanks and Ron Meyer.
1/21/95: Elton John and Tim
Rice receive the Golden Globe Award for Best Song From A Motion Picture for
"Can You Feel The Love Tonight" from the #l film and soundtrack, The
Lion King.
1/28/95: Elton John and Ray Cooper, with
Special Guest, Sting, perform first New York benefit for Elton John
AIDS Foundation. Dinner, auction and concert raises $l million for Foundation.
3/1/95: Elton John receives first artist-oriented
Grammy Award in history of his career for Best Pop Vocal Performance for
"Can You Feel The Love Tonight."
3/21/95: Made In
England -- Elton's first album on re-formed Rocket Records (distributed by
Island) is released. For the first time in their 25-year songwriting
relationship, Elton John and Bernie Taupin appear at in-store
autograph signing at famous Tower Records on Sunset Blvd. in Los Angeles to
usher-in release of Made In England. From midnight to 4:00 am, the legendary duo
signed more than 2,000 autographs and shook hands with all 3,000+ fans that
attended event.
3/26/95: John Reid and Jeffrey
Katzenberg host birthday party for Elton John's 48th birthday.
Event will be one of last parties at legendary Chasen's restaurant in Hollywood.
3/27/95: Elton John and Tim Rice win an
Oscar for Best Song From A Motion Picture for "Can You Feel The Love
Tonight" from The Lion King. It marks Elton's first Oscar. Third Annual
Academy Awards Viewing Party To Benefit The Elton John AIDS
Foundation takes place at Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. Sponsored by
Cartier with special contributions from Curtco Media Group & CES, event nets
more than $200,000 for the EJAF to fund direct care services & AIDS
prevention education.
3/30/95: The first pair of Elton
John Limited Edition Spectacles from Oliver Peoples premieres worldwide.
Net profits from the Spectacles will benefit the Elton John AIDS
Foundation and will raise more than $200,000 for the charity.
10/95: The Made In England album is certified platinum and
the third single, "Blessed," is released. "Blessed" becomes
#1 AC hit. Island Records and Rocket Records award Elton John a
special multi-platinum plaque commemorating 38 million in sales of his back
catalogue.
10/95: Elton John completes his
"Made In England For the U.S.A. Tour" by performing six sold-out
nights at New York City's Madison Square Garden. His final night (10/20) marks
his 44th appearance at the arena.
12/95:: Superlative achievements
for the year: 108 shows; played to 2,068,500 people; 12 million records sold; 10
million additional copies of Lion King soundtrack sold; Winner, Brit Award;
Winner, Golden Globe; Winner, Academy Award; Winner, Polar Music Prize; Winner,
Grammy Award; Winner, ASCAP Songwriter of the Year; BMI Most Played Song of the
Year ("Can You Feel The Love Tonight"); Tour of the Year, Performance
Magazine; Awarded Queens Honor List, Commander of the British Empire.
1996
3/96: Lalique premieres "Elton's Angel" - a
crystal figurine to benefit EJAF (by 8/96, the angel had broken all records in
the history of this French luxury goods house, selling 4,000 copies and making
$200,000 for EJAF).
3/96: Fourth Annual Academy Awards viewing
party to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation $250,000 raised.
5/96: Second Annual Art Auction to Benefit EJAF in Atlanta
$350,000 raised.
6/96: Elton John unveils
"Elton's Closet" re-sale event at Neiman Marcus in Atlanta to benefit
EJAF. Elton John's designer "hand me downs" raise
$450,000.
8/96: Oliver Peoples premieres second pair of
Elton John Limited Edition Spectacles to Benefit EJAF.
9/96: Fourth Annual "Smash Hits" WORLD TEAMTENNIS event
takes place in Houston, TX at the Summit. Elton and Billie Jean King play tennis
with Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Martina Navratilova, Monica Seles, Lindsay
Davenport & the Jensen Brothers.
1997
3/15/97: Lalique unveils second angel to benefit Elton
John AIDS Foundation - "Elton's Singing Angel"
3/24/97: Fifth Annual Academy Awards Party to benefit Elton
John AIDS Foundation raises more than $400,000
4/97: Royal
Academy of Music in London makes Elton John an Honorary Member,
their highest award
9/3/97: Bernie Taupin re-writes "Candle
In The Wind" to be performed by Elton John at Westminster
Abbey on 9/6 as part of the funeral service for Diana, Princess of Wales. The
new version, titled "Candle In The Wind 1997" along with
"Something About The Way You Look Tonight," are released on 9/12 in
the UK and 9/15 in the U.S. as a special CD single with all proceeds benefiting
the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund.
9/22/97: Elton
John releases The Big Picture (written by Elton John
and Bernie Taupin). Album marks the 30th anniversary of this songwriting
partnership.
10/97: "Candle In The Wind 1997" sells
more than 33 million units worldwide, making it the most successful single in
music history. (The record previously held by Bing Crosby's "White
Christmas" represented 30 million copies sold in 55 years of its initial
release. John's single took just 37 days since it was shipped September 11 to
exceed that figure.)
11/97: Atlanta: Elton John
receives CARE's Humanitarian Award for his work in the fight against AIDS and
the Elton John AIDS Foundation's expanded efforts to fund overseas
AIDS projects with CARE.
12/97: The first proceeds from
"Candle In The Wind 1997" are presented to the Diana, Princess of
Wales Memorial Fund. UK: Elton John presented a check for 20
million pounds as the first installment.
1998
1/98: The Queen of England presents the 1998 Honors List,
announcing that Elton John will be knighted with the title, Sir
Elton John, CBE.
1/98: Elton John
receives a Grammy Nomination as Best Male Pop Vocalist for his single,
"Candle In The Wind 1997"
1/98: "Candle In The
Wind 1997" marks Elton John's 29th consecutive year with a Top
40 Hit on the Billboard Charts.
2/98: UK - Elton
John is knighted Sir Elton John, CBE by the Queen of England
DJ
RegDwight wrote in message <73cg5v$s...@chronicle.concentric.net>...
Tony Carter
*~~~> Tony Carter <~~~*