Many performers are known for their over-the-top performances, as well as their songs. Of these same performers, as well as others, some have stage names much different from their birth names. Through the years voices change, mellow down. For the spotlight today is a voice once classed as tenor, now baritone. His piano playing is influenced by classical and gospel music.
Welcome into the Spotlight...
Do you know this kid?
He started playing the piano when he was 3 years old.
What about now?
He was inspired by the stage performance of Jerry Lee Lewis.
"I wasn't a sex symbol like Bowie, Marc Bolan or Freddie Mercury, so I dressed more on the humorous side, because if I was going to be stuck at the piano for two hours, I was going to make people look at me."
"I wasn't a sex symbol like Bowie, Marc Bolan or Freddie Mercury, so I dressed more on the humorous side, because if I was going to be stuck at the piano for two hours, I was going to make people look at me."
Reginald Kenneth Dwight: British
singer, pianist and composer who was one of the most popular musicians
of the 20th century. Along with selling more than 250 million records he
has found success on Broadway
Are you familiar with Reginald Kenneth Dwight?
Of course, as long as you know that is the birth name of ELTON JOHN! When he
decided to change his name, he chose "Elton John" because he wanted to
honor saxophone legend Elton Dean, as well as Long John Baldry.
Elton doesn't write lyrics, his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin takes care of that. In 1967, Elton John, as Reg Dwight, and Bernie Taupin signed to DJM
publishing. Their signatures had to be witnessed by their parents
because they were both under 21 years of age. Taupin answered an
advertisement for a lyric writer placed in the New Musical Express...the rest is history, especially Elton John's fabulous, over-the-top costumes and glasses for his elaborate concerts!
1975 Elton John started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with his version of The Beatles 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds'. His third US No.1, the song featured John Lennon on guitar.
1968 The University of California, Los Angeles announced that students taking music degrees would have to study the music of The Rolling Stones saying they had made such an important contribution to modern music.
2004 Britney Spears had her surprise marriage annulled less than 55 hours after tying the knot at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas with childhood friend Jason Alexander. They couple married on Saturday morning, during a night out in Las Vegas, but immediately her lawyers filed for an annulment, saying Spears 'lacked understanding of her actions to the extent that she was incapable of agreeing to the marriage.'
And the music goes on beating to the rhythm of the changing times...
No comments:
Post a Comment