His given name may be Reginald Dwight, but much of the world knows him better as Elton John. For much of the last four decades, few performers have been as consistently popular and prolific as he has, and tickets for the upcoming Elton John tour are a hot item. Though well into his 60s, Elton John puts on as good a concert as anyone and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Though he got his start in the early '60s as a member of the R&B band Bluesology, Elton John emerged as a solo performer toward the end of the decade. His breakthrough came with his sophomore self-titled album, which was his first exposure to an American audience. The 1970 release included a number of popular tunes, but it is perhaps best known for "Your Song," which is recognized as one of his most well-known tracks more than 40 years after it initial release.
Since his breakthrough, Elton John has not been far from the spotlight. He was one of the biggest performers in the world throughout the 1970s with songs like "Levon," "Tiny Dancer," "Crocodile Rock," and "Rocket Man" all making their mark on the popular music scene. By the time the 80s rolled around, he had firmly established his place among the biggest names in the industry and had also earned a reputation as a dynamic performer.
In the years since then, Elton John has expanded his career well beyond stage. He has been an avid composer, perhaps most notably for his work on the soundtrack for Disney's The Lion King and the musical Aida, both of which earned him numerous accolades. In 1997, he reached new levels of popularity when his updated version of "Candle in the Wind" sold a record 33 million copies.
Though he is not quite at the level he was in his prime, Elton John remains a popular act. As of June 2012, he has an astonishing 56 top 40 singles and earned six Grammy Awards. His 31st studio album, The Diving Bird is set for release in 2013. Currently touring throughout Europe, he returns to the United States for a string of performances in September before closing out the year in Las Vegas.