In a spectacular career spanning five decades, Elton John has sold over 250 million records and has had more than 50 'Top 40' hits.
His success has had a profound impact on popular music and he has contributed greatly to the popularity of piano-based Rock n' Roll. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and has remained a hugely successful artist.
Elton John began playing the piano when he was just four. A child prodigy, he won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music at the age of 11. He stayed there for six years before graduating early in order to focus on his music career.
John has long been involved in humanitarian work with AIDS charities, after losing many great friends to the disease. In 1992, he established the 'Elton John AIDS Foundation'. The aim of ELAF is to fund programmes for HIV/AIDS prevention, eliminate prejudice and discrimination against sufferers and to provide services to people living with or at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. The cause continues to be one of his personal passions.
Elton John was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II on 24 February 1998, granting him the title of "Sir". The honor was officially for his charitable work.