Elton John photos

Elton John began playing the piano when he was 3 years old. Encouraged by his mother, he admired the stage presence of Jerry Lee Lewis as a child. He spent years as a session musician and songwriter, eventually producing his first single in 1968.  Here is one of his first publicity shots.

Elton John met Bernie Taupin after they both answered an ad for musicians. They went on to become one of the most successful songwriting duos in history. Occasionally they credited themselves with the pseudonyms "Ann Horse" and "Carte Blanche," which was a flourish on the expression "an horse and cart, blanche."

Kiki Dee's duet with Elton John, "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," was one of the most successful singles of the 1970s.

His flamboyant stage persona set him apart from other singer-songwriters of the 1970s. In interviews, Elton has said this was his way to rebel against his strict upbringing.

Elton's mother, Sheila, and his stepfather, Fred Fairebrother, supported and encouraged him when he was starting out in the music world.

When "Your Song" hit the radio in 1970, the song catapulted Elton John and Bernie Taupin to fame. They went on to produce a string of hits, including "Rocket Man," Crocodile Rock," and "Candle in the Wind."

Elton John became chairman and director of the Watford Football Club in 1976.  Here he is with Rod Stewart.

Though he no longer has complete financial control of the Waterford Football Club, Elton still invests large amounts of his time and money into the team, often performing at Vicarage Road stadium.

The 1970s music scene allowed for a new crop of singer-songwriters with simple, piano-driven melodies to become successful.  Ray Charles performed "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" with Elton John on his album Genius Loves Company.

Though his music and lyrics were sparse and gimmick-free, Elton's stage presence was usually characterized as flamboyant.  His large, tinted glasses and colorful costumes were almost always over the top.

No strangers to heavy makeup and cutting edge costumes, the members of KISS pose with Elton in 1974.

At the height of his success, Elton John appeared as "The Pinball Wizard" with Roger Daltrey in The Who's rock opera, Tommy, in 1975.

With fellow icon Cher in 1975.

An avid tennis player, Elton John often plays in celebrity tournaments and promotes the sport.  His song "Philadelphia Freedom" is a tribute to his friend Billie Jean King and her tennis team.  Here he is playing tennis in New York in 1975.

He received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1975.

Elton John toured the Soviet Union in 1979.  His concerts were the first by a western rock star in the Eastern Bloc.

Elton played a free concert for 400,000 fans in New York City's Central Park in 1980.

Wearing one of his notoriously loud costumes at Madison Square Garden in 1983.

Elton John married German music engineer Renate Blauel at St. Mark's Church on Valentine's Day 1984.  They divorced in 1988.

He met David Furnish in 1993.  The couple married in 2005.

While studying music as a child, Elton John was more drawn to the work of rock stars, but he still enjoyed playing the works of Handel and Bach.  Here he gives a nod to the classical greats by donning a Mozart wig at a concert in 1986.

One of the world's wealthiest musicians, Elton has become an avid collector of memorabilia and art.  In 1988, he put many items from his collection up for auction at Sotheby's, including an Andy Warhol portrait of Marilyn Monroe.

Every year, Elton John throws a party after the Academy Awards to benefit the Elton John AIDS foundation.

He performed "Candle in the Wind" at the funeral for his close friend,  Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997.

While many in the music industry were outraged over homophobic and misogynist lyrics in Eminem's music, he performed with Elton John at the 2001 Grammy Awards. The performance made a bold statement, as it showed both Elton and Eminem coming together as artists, despite their personal differences.

Elton John and fellow "piano man" Billy Joel perform together at The Concert for New York City. The pair have toured together several times.

Elton John and David Furnish have a son, Zachary, who was born through a surrogate.

He celebrated his 60th birthday by playing Madison Square Garden in 2007.

Joining the ranks of Celine Dion, Cher, and Bette Midler, Elton John began a residency at Caesars Palace in 2011.  His show, "The Million Dollar Piano," plays through May 2012.