Elton’s career achievements to date are unsurpassed in their breadth and longevity. Elton is one of the top-selling solo artists of all time, with 38 gold records and 31 platinum and multi- platinum albums, over 50 Top 40 hits, and he has sold more than 300 million records worldwide. He holds the record for the biggest-selling single of all time, “Candle in the Wind 1997,” which sold over 33 million copies. ‘Diamonds’ the Ultimate Greatest Hits album, reached the Top 5 of the UK album charts on its release in November 2017, becoming Elton’s 40th UK Top 40 album in the process, reaching Gold status before the end of the year. This release celebrated 50 years of his songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin. August 2018 saw Elton named as the most successful male solo artist in Billboard Hot 100 chart history, having logged 67 entries, including nine No. 1s and 27 Top 10s.
He has also written the music for stage and screen successes Billy Elliot: The Musical, Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida, and The Lion King, which was named the highest-grossing stage show or film release in the world. Elton announced the ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour at New York’s Gotham Hall in January 2018. Encompassing 5 continents, and over 300 dates, this 3-year-long tour started in September and marks his retirement from touring after more than 50 years on the road. To date, Elton has delivered more than 4,000 performances in more than 80 countries since launching his first tour in 1970. April 2018 saw the release of ‘Revamp’, an album of the world’s biggest musical stars covering some of Elton’s best loved Songs.
Among the many awards and honours bestowed upon him are five GRAMMYs along with a GRAMMY Legend award, a Tony and an Oscar, a Best British Male Artist BRIT Award, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Kennedy Center Honor, Legend of Live Award, 13 Ivor Novello Awards and a knighthood from HM Queen Elizabeth II for “services to music and charitable services.”
In 1992, Elton established the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which today is one of the leading non-profit HIV/AIDS organizations and has raised over $400 million to date in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. In January 2018, he received the Crystal Award for this long- standing fight against HIV/AIDS at the World Economic Forum in Davos. At the 2018 International AIDS Conference in Amsterdam, Sir Elton John and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, announced the launch of the MenStar Coalition; an over $1.2 billion global partnership, that seeks to engage men in new and innovative ways to break the cycle of HIV transmission and ultimately end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.
Davey Johnstone
Musical Director, Guitars, Mandolin, Banjo, Vocals
Born: May 6, 1951 – Edinburgh, UK
First show with Elton: Feb 5, 1972
Having already learned the violin at age seven, Davey Johnstone got his first guitar when he was 11. In 1971, Davey lent his guitar and mandolin skills to Elton’s Madman Across The Water album. Very soon after, Elton invited Davey to join drummer Nigel Olsson and bassist Dee Murray both in the studio and on stage — and thus was born the group that solidified Elton’s sound.
In the 1980s, Davey co-wrote the hits I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues and Wrap Her Up and became Elton’s Musical Director in 1988. He has performed on the majority of Elton’s albums and continues to support Elton on stage and in the studio, making many contributions to everything from tour set lists to song arrangements on new recordings, as well as Elton’s theatre and film projects such as Billy Elliot the Musical and Gnomeo & Juliet.
Nigel Olsson
Drums, Vocals
Born: Feb 10, 1949 – Wallasey, UK
First show with Elton: Apr 20, 1970
Nigel Olsson started out as a lead singer and, after becoming a drummer, joined the London group Plastic Penny, which recorded two albums and the UK hit Everything I Am.
In the late 1960s Nigel played on some of Elton’s songwriting demos at the Dick James Studios in London and made his first appearance on an Elton record on Lady What’s Tomorrow, from the 1969 album Empty Sky.
Nigel became Elton’s concert drummer in April 1970 and went on the road to support the Elton John album, culminating with Elton’s career-changing performances at The Troubadour in Los Angeles.
In 1972, Elton, Nigel, Dee, and Davey became The Elton John Band on record as well as on stage. This incredibly successful configuration would continue through five #1 albums, numerous smash hit singles, and record-breaking world tours during the 1970s and 1980s.
In the 1970s, Nigel also had solo chart success with Only One Woman and the Billboard Top 40 hits Dancin’ Shoes and A Little Bit Of Soap. Nigel has been Elton’s full-time drummer since late 2000.
John Mahon
Percussion, Vocals
Born: Jan 23 – Canton, OH
First show with Elton: Jul 8, 1997
Multi-instrumentalist John Mahon’s early days were based in drums, recording and performing jazz, progressive jazz, rock, R&B and pop music with bands in Northeastern Ohio. Moving to Los Angeles in 1983, he continued to play and study music. John was featured with the band Windows and went from there to record and tour with Peter White. This led to tours and gigs with Al Stewart, Helen Reddy, Boney James and Rita Coolidge. Before joining Elton’s band, John’s own band, The Stickmen, employed Bob Birch on bass.
John was originally hired for the Elton John Band as a percussionist, but during tour rehearsals it was discovered that he could add his vocal talents to the mix — and now John is often spotlighted as a harmony vocalist on songs like Daniel and Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word.
Ray Cooper
Percussion
Born: Sep 19 – Watford, UK
First show with Elton: Feb 5, 1972
Ray Cooper studied piano and trained in the theatre arts before beginning a career as a session percussionist in the 1960s. He has played on hits by America, Carly Simon, and David Essex, as well as many other acts.
Ray has appeared on a dozen of Elton’s albums. The pair famously toured in the USSR in 1979, one of the first times a Western act had played the Communist country.
Ray continued to perform and record with Elton sporadically through the 1980s, including the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra tour in 1986. During the ’80s, Ray also played in the studio or on stage with George Harrison, Eric Clapton and Mick Jagger, among others, and began to work in film, most notably with Monty Python director Terry Gilliam.
Although featured in The Million Dollar Piano residency in Las Vegas, this is Ray’s first world tour with Elton and the band since 1995.
Kim Bullard
Keyboards
Born: May 6 – Atlanta, GA
First show with Elton: Oct 7, 2009
Kim Bullard studied classical music and by the age of 14 had begun playing out with local bands before moving to Los Angeles and continuing his musical education at UCLA. His extensive session and stage resume includes the bands Yes, Nine Inch Nails, Kelly Clarkson, Phil Colins, Tori Amos, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Art Garfunkel, and Poco, of which he was a member for five years.
When Guy Babylon passed away, Kim was asked to become the keyboardist for the Elton John Band and immediately took to the task of learning his parts for European The Red Piano concerts coming up in less than a month’s time.
Kim currently lives in Los Angeles, in the house where the television show, Mr. Ed, was filmed.
Matt Bissonette
Bass Guitar, Vocals
Born: Jul 25, 1961 – Detroit, MI
First show with Elton: Sep 11, 2012
Matt Bissonette is a musician, writer and producer who was born into a musical family in Detroit, Michigan. His brother, Gregg, is a drummer. When he was twelve years old his parents bought him a bass guitar and, effectively, he’s been playing it ever since.
Since moving to Los Angeles, he found steady work playing for Gino Vanelli, Sheena Easton, A-Ha, Christopher Cross, Brian Wilson, Captain & Tennille, David Lee Roth and Rick Springfield, in addition to forming his own band, The Mustard Seeds.
Matt had known Davey Johnstone for many years and following the tragic death of Bob Birch, Davey invited Matt to join Elton’s band.