Elton John

Rock Musician / Composer

Name at birth: Reginald Kenneth Dwight

A prolific songwriter and a flamboyant performer, Elton John had 30 different hits on the top 40 charts between 1970 and 1982. His theatrical stage appearances, with John changing into a succession of elaborate costumes and outlandish spectacles, helped make him a pop megastar. His hit tunes included "Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road," "Your Song," "Bennie and the Jets," and "Rocket Man." All were written with his longtime lyricist, Bernie Taupin. Although John lost a bit of his shine during the '80s, he re-emerged as a force in the 1990s, touring and recording and cementing his spot among the pop music aristocracy. He performed his song "Candle in the Wind" at the funeral of Princess Diana in 1997, and the song went on to become an international best-seller. John (like Paul McCartney) was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997.

Extra credit: According to a 2004 BBC profile, John "has the rare accolade of charting a Top 40 single every year from 1970 to 1996"... "Candle in the Wind" originally was written about actress Marilyn Monroe... In 2000 John caused a flap when he performed a duet at the Grammy awards with controversial rapper Eminem... On 21 December 2005, John entered into civil partnership with his longtime companion, filmmaker David Furnish, shortly after such partnerships became legal in England.