Is the Godfather of John Lennon's son, Sean Lennon.

Ranked #17 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Rock & Roll.

Sang a duet with Luciano Pavarotti called "Live Like Horses".

In the Independent of Sunday 2006 Pink List - a list of the most influential gay men and women - he came no. 2, down from no. 1.

1995: Winner of the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution.

His song "Act of War" was a duet with Millie Jackson.

Covered the The Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" in 1974. John Lennon is featured in this recording.

Auditioned for the lead vocalist spot in the band King Crimson but was turned down.

Godfather of Elizabeth Hurley's son Damian Charles.

2004: Recipient of the Kennedy Center Honours, along with Joan Sutherland, John Williams, Warren Beatty, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee.

Duet with Aretha Franklin: "Through the Storm".

2004: Winner of the Q Classic Songwriter Award.

Came up with the name Elton John from Soft Machine saxophone player Elton Dean and Long John Baldry.

1996: Appointed a CBE.

Duet with Luciano Pavarotti: "Live Like Horses".

When Stevie Winwood left the Spencer Davis Group to form Traffic, he auditioned to take Winwood's place. Unfortunately, he was turned down.

He considers The Beatles song "Yesterday" as the perfect song.

Sang a song with Tupac Shakur called "Ghetto Gospel".

Sang a duet with Cliff Richard called "Slow Rivers".

The song "You Can Make History (Young Again)" was a tribute to fashion designer Gianni Versace.

One of his all-time favorite singers is Country Music Hall-Of-Fame legend "Gentleman" Jim Reeves (1923-1964). Reportedly he once considered recording Reeves' mega-hit (on both Pop and Country Charts) "He'll Have To Go" (1960), but decided he couldn't possibly top Reeves' version.

His song "All the Young Girls Love Alice" is a tribute to Alice Cooper.

1992: Decided that all profits from his singles would be donated to AIDS charities and formed the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The foundation has become one of the world's largest nonprofit AIDS organizations.

1991: Winner of the Brit Award for British Male Solo Artist.

Gave friend Rod Stewart the nickname "Phyllis".

Sang the duet "Donner Pour Donner" in French with singer France Gall.

Sang in his first and only concert in Puerto Rico in the Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot on April 28th 2007.

Stated once in the 1970s that if he ever had a daughter, he would name her "Umbrella".

1974: During one of his concerts at Madison Square Garden, John Lennon joined him on stage to perform three songs. This was part of a bet that if Lennon's song "Whatever Gets You Through the Night" went to #1, he would join Elton on stage. This proved to be Lennon's last on-stage performance.

Covered the John Lennon song "Give Peace a Chance" on his four-CD boxed set "To Be Continued...".

1/87: Underwent laser surgery to remove nodules from his vocal chords in Australia. This followed a televised concert with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in which his voice sounded noticeably rough. In 2004 he admitted this problem had been caused by smoking too many drugs, including marijuana.

2002: Presented (along with musical partner Bernie Taupin) with the Music Industry Trusts' Award for his outstanding contribution to the British music industry.

His song "On Dark Street" features back-up vocals by Kiki Dee.

2001: Declared that "Songs from the West Coast" would be his final studio album, and thereafter he would concentrate on just live performances. In 2004, however, he released a new album, "Peachtree Road", which despite some favorable reviews flopped in every country it was released in.

1986: Winner of the British Phonographic Industry award for Outstanding Contribution.

Godfather of Brooklyn Beckham & Romeo Beckham.

Duet with Eric Clapton: "Runaway Train".

Covered the Kiki Dee song "Sugar on the Floor".

Christmas hits: "Step into Christmas" (1973) and "Cold as Christmas (In the Middle of the Year)" (1983).

In 2007, Forbes Magazine reported his earnings to be approximately $53 million for the year.

1991: Had a UK #1 hit with his live duet with George Michael, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me".

1995: Awarded the Polar Music Prize, the Royal Swedish Academy of Music Award.

1/17/97: Covered the Queen song "The Show Must Go On" at the Theatre National de Chaillot in Paris, for the gala opening night of "Le Presbytere n'a rien perdu de son charme ni le jardin de son eclat", a moving work inspired by the premature deaths of Freddie Mercury and the company's principal dancer Jorge Donn.

Covered the Queen song "The Show Must Go On".

Started piano lessons at age four, and showed promise as a musician at an early age.

His 1994 album "The Lion King" sold 15 million copies in the United States.

Duet with Jennifer Rush: "Flames of Paradise".

He was voted the 49th Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artist of all time by Rolling Stone magazine.

Often parodied on "Saturday Night Live" (1975) by Horatio Sanz.

2000: Nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award (1999 season) for Best New Musical for "The Lion King" at the Lyceum Theatre.

Helped compose the single 'I Don't Like Dancin' with The Scissor Sisters.

Is one of the few artists such as Madonna and Kylie Minogue with #1 hits in both '80s, '90s and '00s.

2/6/04: Attended the special dinner at Sony Studios in Los Angeles to honor singer and activist Sting as MusiCares 2004's Person of the Year. The evening celebrated Sting's contribution to popular music, honored his charitable work with Amnesty International and the Rainforest Foundation. Other stars in attendance included Kylie Minogue and Dido.

2/24/98: Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for contribution to music and fund-raising for AIDS charities.

1994: Re-recorded his 1976 hit "Don't Go Breaking My Heart", this time as a duet with RuPaul.

1991: Had a UK #1 with his live duet with George Michael, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me".

Raised $2.5m for Hillary Rodham Clinton`s US presidential campaign with a concert at New York`s Radio City Music Hall.

Names The Beatles as a major musical inspiration and became friends with all the members of the band.

Plays Yamaha concert grand pianos. Yamaha have also produced the Elton John Limited Edition Signature Series Red Piano, based on his Vegas show, The Red Piano.

1992: Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Estimated in 2006 to have sold 250 million albums during his career.

As of March 2006, he has 10 godchildren.

Registered his civil partnership with long-term partner David Furnish at Windsor Town Hall on December 21, 2005, the first day that civil unions were legal in England and Wales. The ceremony was performed by Registrar Clair Williams, who also presided over the union between Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles.

He is a close friend of David Beckham, Billy Connolly and Billy Joel.

1976 song "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" was about his real life suicide attempt.

7/99: Had a pacemaker fitted to correct an irregular heartbeat following an episode of angina on an airplane.

Has epilepsy.

Enjoys tennis.

Likes Indian food.

His parents, Sheila and Stanley Dwight, divorced when he was young. His mother then married Fred Farebrother, whom Elton affectionately dubbed `Derf.`

Sang with Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder and Gladys Knight on the song "That`s What Friends Are For".

Is a co-owner of the chic Sunset Strip restaurant Le Dome in Hollywood.

Duets he sang with Kiki Dee are "Don`t Go Breaking My Heart" and "True Love".

He has teamed up with lyricist Tim Rice on four projects. The songs for the films The Lion King (1994), The Road to El Dorado (2000) and the Broadway stage productions of "The Lion King" and "Aida".

Long-time collaborator, lyricist Bernie Taupin.

His partner, filmmaker David Furnish, made the documentary about Elton, Elton John: Tantrums & Tiaras (1997) (TV).

Started wearing glasses to copy one of his idols, Buddy Holly. After a while, his eyes adjusted to the lenses and he`s worn glasses ever since.

Is the Godfather of John Lennon`s son, Sean Lennon, Elizabeth Hurley`s son Damian and David Beckham and Victoria Beckham`s sons Brooklyn and Romeo.

Has played the piano since he was four years old.

Stevie Wonder played harmonica on his song "I Guess That`s Why They Call It the Blues".

His song "Empty Garden" is a tribute to John Lennon.

His hit "Song for Guy" was a tribute to Guy Burchett, Rocket Records messenger who was killed in a motorcycle accident.

1976: Covered The Who`s "Pinball Wizard".

His song "Philadelphia Freedom" was a tribute to tennis star Billie Jean King.

Dusty Springfield sang backing vocals on his song "The Bitch is Back".

Reformed drug addict, alcoholic and bulimic.

He was a friend of the late rock singer Freddie Mercury and performed at the Freddie Mercury tribute concert.

1994: Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He was twice a former Chairman of Watford Football Club.

At age 11, entered the Royal Academy of Music, but quit just before graduation to pursue a rock career.

Changed his name legally to Elton Hercules John. He chose the middle name "Hercules" not after the hero of mythology, but after the horse named Hercules on the British sitcom "Steptoe and Son" (1962).

9/5/97: Performed a new version of "Candle in the Wind", in tribute to Princess Diana at her funeral, with new lyrics specially written by Bernie Taupin.

Grammy award winning singer.

He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1996 and awarded Knighthood of the British Empire in the 1998 Queen`s New Years Honors List for his services to music and fund-raising for AIDS charities.

1979: He was the first Western rock star to perform in Israel and the USSR.

Spouse, Renate Blauel (14 February 1984 - 18 November 1988) (divorced)