More about Elton John

(CNN) -- The son of ex-Royal Air Force trumpeter Stanley Dwight and his wife, Sheila, Elton John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25, 1947, in Pinner, Middlesex. He started piano lessons when he was four years old and played at a local music festival at age 12. His early piano idols were Winifred Atwell and Charlie Kunz.

1961: He joins locally performing R&B outfit the Corvettes, which becomes Bluesology (its name taken from a Django Reinhardt album), playing piano with existing members Stuart Brown (guitar), Rex Bishop (bass) and Mike Inkpen (drums).

1963: Still a teenager, he attends Pinner County Grammar school, but quits three weeks before his exams.

1965: John writes Bluesology's first release, "Come Back Baby." During the year, Bluesology turns professional -- with the help of talent agent Roy Tempest -- and, for 18 months, backs major U.S. R&B artists, including Patti LaBelle & the Blue Belles, Arthur Alexander, and the Exciters.

1967: Disillusioned with the music he is playing for Bluesology, John auditions for Liberty Records in London, where he sings the Jim Reeves' songs "I Love You Because" and "He'll Have To Go" because he's too nervous to perform his own material. He fails the audition, but Liberty's Ray Williams gives him lyrics sent to the label by writer Bernie Taupin.

It is the beginning of a songwriting relationship that would translate into millions of records sold. They begin to write each other, finally meeting after some 20 songs are completed. John and Taupin eventually sign to Dick James Music Publishing (DJM) as staff writers.

In March 1967, the first Elton John solo single, "I've Been Loving You Too Long," is released.

1969: In June, John's debut album, "Empty Sky," comprised solely of John and Taupin songs, is released. Later that month, John plays piano on the Hollies' "He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother," at Abbey Road Studios, London.

1970: John debuts on the U.S. Singles chart with "Border Song." He later makes a live stateside debut

1972: "Levon," "Madman Across The Water," "Tiny Dancer," "Rocket Man," "Honky Cat," "Crocodile Rock" all climb charts in an eventful year for John. In May, he formally changes his name to Elton Hercules John.

1973: John's album, "Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player," reaches No. 1 on U.S. and U.K. charts. "Daniel" and "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" also climb charts, and his album "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" hits No. 1 on U.S. charts.

1974: In March, his Marilyn Monroe tribute, "Candle in the Wind," reaches No. 11 in the United Kingdom. In April, after the B side of his "Candle in the Wind" album hits No. 1 on U.S. charts, John re-signs with MCA Records in North America, for an $8 million, five-album deal, the most lucrative in recording history.

In August, his overwhelming popularity in the United States is reaffirmed as tickets for three October concerts in Los Angeles sell out in minutes, causing a fourth show to be added.

1975: In July, John receives a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame during "Elton John Week." Yet despite his enormous success and wealth, John has become increasingly depressed and chemically dependent.

1976: After collapsing during two concert performances, John announces in November his retirement from live work. Nonetheless, he returns to the live arena 15 months later in Sweden.

1979: He collapses on stage in September at a Universal City, California concert, suffering from exhaustion due to a bout with influenza. After resting for 10 minutes, he returns, completing the three-hour-long show.

1983: Singles "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" and "I'm Still Standing" climb charts in U.S. and U.K.

1984: John marries studio engineer Renate Blauel in Darling Point, Sydney, Australia.

1992: John matches Elvis Presley's record as the act with the most consecutive years (22) with a Top 40 hit on the U.S. Hot 100.

"Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" and "You Gotta Love Someone" are honored at the annual ASCAP PRS Awards as two of the most performed songs in 1991. And John is inducted into Madison Square Garden's Walk of Fame, the first non-athlete to be so honored.

1994: John is inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame by Axl Rose at the ninth annual dinner at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

1995: He wins Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" at the 37th Annual Grammy Awards. At the 67th Annual Academy Awards, he performs "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" and picks up the Oscar for Best Original Song.

1997: A year of celebration and mourning. John celebrates his 50th birthday with an extravagant costume party attended by 600 celebrities and friends at London's Hammersmith Palais. He also attends the July funeral service of slain fashion designer Gianni Versace at the Duomo Cathedral in Milan, Italy, singing Psalm 23 with Sting. And in September, he performs "Candle in the Wind 1997" -- using the song's original tune with new lyrics penned by Taupin -- at the funeral of friend Princess Diana. Following the Westminster Abbey performance, he records the song at Townhouse Studios with Sir George Martin producing.

"Candle In The Wind 1997" enters the U.K. and U.S. charts at No. 1.

In November, he presents a check for $33 million to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund at Kensington Palace. The check, presented to Diana's sister Lady Jane McCorquodale and fellow fund trustees, represents the first installment from the sales of "Candle In The Wind 1997." By year's end, worldwide sales for the single will exceed 35 million, passing Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" as the all-time global best-seller.

1998: John is awarded a knighthood in the New Years Honours List. Queen Elizabeth II bestows the knighthood upon John at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace, attended by his mother, stepfather and partner David Furnish.

John wins Best Male Vocal Performance at the 40th annual Grammy Awards for "Candle In The Wind 1997," and the single is also named the Best Selling U.K. Single and International Hit of the Year. John and Taupin receive a special award at the 43rd annual Ivor Novello Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel. In accepting the special award, John says, "This is a bittersweet award to get. I wish the record never had to be made."