Sir Elton Hercules John CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, March 25, 1947), known by his stage name Elton John, is an English singer, composer, songwriter, and pianist. He has worked with his musical partner Bernie Taupin since 1967; together they have collaborated on over 30 albums.
Over a career spanning four decades, Elton John has sold more than 450 million records worldwide, making him one of the most successful artists in history. His song Candle in the Wind 1997 sold over 37 million copies, making it the best-selling single of all time. He has had more than 50 Top 40 hits, seven consecutive No. 1 albums in the United States, 56 Top 40 songs, 16 Top 10 hits, four No. 2 hits, and nine No. 1 hits. He has won five Grammy Awards, a Tony Award, and for the soundtrack of The Lion King, he received both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe in 1995. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him 49th on its list of the Top 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. He has been heavily involved in the fight against AIDS since the late 1980s and was knighted in 1998. He married David Furnish on December 21, 2005, and continues to be an advocate for the LGBT community. In 2008, Billboard magazine named him the most successful male artist in history on The Billboard Hot 100 Top All-Time Artists list and third overall, after The Beatles and Madonna.
