Your Song, Rocket Man, Crocodile Rock, Daniel, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Candle In The Wind, Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me, The Bitch IS Back, I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues, I’m Still Standing, Nikita, Blue Eyes, Sacrifice, Circle of Life, Are You Ready For Love.
If anyone reading this doesn’t know several of these song titles, you’ve lived under a rock for the last 4 decades. With over 50 top-fourty hits on his resume, knighthood in 1998, four Broadway shows including The Lion King, Aida, Billy Elliot and Lestat, a successful Vegas show, and multiple sold out tours, Elton John is without a doubt the most successful gay musical artist of all time.
Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25th 1947, he became Elton John as tribute to former Bluesology bandmates Elton Dean and Long John Baldry. In 1976 he came out as bisexual, but after his four-year marriage to music engineer Renate Blauel ended, he announced he was gay. He met his Canadian partner David Furnish in 1993 and the two entered a civil partnership in December 2005.
While music has always been Elton John’s claim to fame, he truly has overcome a lot in his 61 years. He has admitted to drug and alcohol addictions and bulemia. He overcame the stigma of being gay to continue to be a successful artist and performer. The other important side of John is his charitable work. He established the Elton John AIDS Foundation, a charity to fund programmes for HIV/AIDS prevention, for the elimination of prejudice and discrimination against HIV/AIDS-affected individuals, and for providing services to people living with or at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. This cause continues to be one of his personal passions. To raise money for his AIDS charity, John hosts annually a glamorous White Tie & Tiara Ball, to which many famous celebrities are invited.
Elton John last performed in Alberta in September 2006, to rave reviews and sold out audiences. A concert earlier this year in Kitchener, Ontario saw John, solo with only his piano, play for two hours and forty minutes. In an era of 70 minute paint-by-numbers shows, you definitely get your money’s worth at an Elton John concert, even at the high price of $149.00 for top tickets.
He is an incredible showman, no one can question that, and a true credit to gay celebrity. With his Vegas show The Red Piano closing in April, this may be your last chance to see this Rock n’ Roll Icon live and in person. Calgary’s show is sold out, but check Ticketmaster for tickets closer to the event. Tickets are still available for Edmonton.

Elton John
September 12th, 2008– Calgary
September 13th, 2008– Edmonton
www.eltonjohn.com