Elton John opens up about the 'thrill' of working with Stevie Wonder
His new album 'The Lockdown Sessions' is out now
Last updated 28th Oct 2021
In his most recent album 'The Lockdown Sessions', Sir Elton John worked with over 20 different creators, including legendary artists like Stevie Wonder, as well as newer artists like Dua Lipa. He spoke to Greatest Hits Radio in an exclusive interview about his experience working with them on the new album.
Throughout lockdown, the music legend managed to write songs with several other creators, he explained: "I got to write five songs, actually I wrote six. Two with Eddie Vedder, one for his album, one for mine. One for Brandi Carlile, one for Stevie Nicks, one for Stevie Wonder, one with Young Thug and Nicki Minaj and I also did the Jimmie Allen track. So voilà I had a record."
When talking about all the incredible artists that feature on his album, he said: "It's the first time I've worked with Stevie Nicks, and we've been friends for a long time but I never got to work with her.
"But Stevie Wonder, he played harmonica on our 'I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues' and then I did 'That's What Friends Are For' with him and Gladys Knight and Dionne Warwick. But it's the first time we've actually made a duet together."
He described Stevie Wonder saying "He's just other worldly, he's got more talent than all of us put together. So it was a real honour and he's just the most wonderful person and it was just a thrill for me, as you can imagine."
Watch: Elton John talks about working with Stevie Wonder
The album also features younger artists like Miley Cyrus, Charlie Puth and Olly Alexander, and Elton talked about his experience working with newer artists saying: "These are the kind of artists that keep me young. And you know I listen to all new music, I know all the old music but it's the new music in life that keeps me inspired and all these new artists that come along. I find them so inspiring and to get to work with them is even more inspiring because we have fun. The whole thing was fun, and I hope that comes across on the record."
Watch Elton John and Stevie Wonder's new song 'Finish Line':
Elton talked about the importance of mentoring younger artists and said: "Anything I can do to help push them in a direction. They have the talent to go their own way but I remember when I first went to America and I had so many wonderful people that I admired like George Harrison, the Beach Boys, The Band, Leon Russell, Neil Diamond all sent me messages, all came to see me, Linda Rondstadt, it gives you affirmation.
"And affirmation when you're young, that you're doing the right thing you must have had that in your life as well. When someone said to you, 'you're actually doing really well' and it gives you so much more confidence."
Elton John has had an amazing career to date, take a look through some of his best moments:
Career beginnings
Reggie learned to play the piano as a very young child, and could play songs fluently by ear after hearing them only a couple of times, soon winning a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London. Although he enjoyed the music, he wasn't particularly interested in classical, and left school at the age of 17 just before his A Levels to pursue a career in music - something his RAF father tried to dissuade him from. He fell in love with rock 'n' roll after his mum Sheila brought home Elvis Presley records. He also played piano in local pubs as a teenager.
1962: Bluesology
Reggie formed band Bluesology with some friends in 1962, whilst also working as an admin assistant for a music publishing company. They became pretty popular in the mid 1960's, and played backing for acts like The Isley Brothers and Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles on their tours.
1967: Meeting Bernie Taupin and initial success
Reggie met Bernie after answering an advert in the New Musical Express (NME), and met A&R manager Ray Williams who gave him a wad of lyrics written by Bernie. He then wrote music for the lyrics, and thus began a beautiful partnership which still works today. They recorded their first single, 'Scarecrow', together in 1967, and Reggie also started going by Elton John as a tribute to his Bluesology bandmates. He legally changed his name to Elton Hercules John in 1972. The pair joined DJM Records in 1968 as staff songwriters, writing songs for the likes of Lulu - including her 1969 Eurovision entry, 'I Can't Go On (Living Without You)'.
The pair wrote their first album together, 'Empty Sky', and released it in 1969, putting out follow-up 'Elton John' just a year later in 1970, which contained 'Your Song' - one of Elton's most famous and beloved songs ever. Elton also gave his first performance in America in 1970 at the Troubadour, and released his third album 'Tumbleweed Connection' later that year.
1973: 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road'
After penning the soundtrack to 1971 film Friends, Elton and Bernie saw huge success with their next few albums - spawning singles like 'Rocket Man', 'Tiny Dancer', 'Crocodile Rock' and 'Daniel'. But it was his seventh album, 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' released in 1973, that drew real acclaim. With songs like 'Bennie and the Jets', 'Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting', 'Candle in the Wind' and the album's title track, the record hit the top spot in both the UK and the US charts. It's since been certified 8x Platinum in the US, with album sales of 8 million. Elton founded a record label, The Rocket Record Company, that same year, but chose to release his own music through MCA - signing a whopping $8 million deal with the label in 1974.
'Elton John's Greatest Hits' was released in 1974, and has since been certified Diamond in the US for 16 million sales. Elton had a big year in 1974 - working with the likes of Beatles star John Lennon and performing together at Madison Square Garden in New York. He also released his eighth album 'Caribou', which went to Number 1 and spawned singles such as 'Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me'. Elton starred in The Who's film adaptation of their album 'Tommy' in 1975, in which he performed their song 'Pinball Wizard' - this version broke into the Top 10 in the UK chart. Between 1972 and 1975, Elton had seven albums go to Number 1 in the US - a record he broke at the time.
1977: Elton retired from performing
Elton announced he was retiring from performing in 1977, and Bernie began working with other musicians. They reunited in 1979, and released their first album together - 'Too Low For Zero' - in 1983, which spawned singles such as 'I'm Still Standing'. Elton married his friend and sound engineer Renate Blauel in 1984, splitting three years later in 1987, and performed at Live Aid in 1985, singing 'Bennie and the Jets', 'Rocket Man' and 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' with Kiki Dee.
Some of Elton's output in the 1980's was not hugely well-received on either side of the pond, but scored a Number 1 in 1990 with 'Sacrifice', and won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental a year later - also winning the BRIT Award for Best British Male.
1992: Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert and The Lion King
As well as releasing his 23rd album 'The One' in 1992, Elton also released 'Runaway Train' with longtime friend Eric Clapton - also performing the song with Eric on his World Tour. Elton took to the stage for the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium in April 1992 following Freddie's tragic death in November 1991.
Elton worked with lyricist Tim Rice to write the soundtrack for Disney's 1994 animated film The Lion King. He won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1995 for 'Can You Feel The Love Tonight', which also took home the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance the same year. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, and won the BRIT Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music in 1995. Elton and Tim worked together again in 1997 for the theatre musical version of the film, and again in 1999 for Aida.
In 1997, Elton was devastated by the death of his friend Diana, Princess of Wales, and worked with Bernie to rewrite the lyrics for 'Candle In The Wind' to honour her. Elton performed this version at her funeral - the only time he ever performed it live. The song's proceeds of approximately £55 million were donated to her charities through her memorial fund.
1998: Knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II
In 1998, Elton received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II. "They don't come much bigger than this," he told reporters at the time, accompanied by his parents and David Furnish, who was his partner at the time (now husband).
He was awarded the title of Knight Bachelor for 'services to music and charitable services'.
2005: Billy Elliot The Musical and David Furnish
Elton worked on another musical in 2005 - Billy Elliot The Musical, based on the 2000 film, and also featured on 'Ghetto Gospel' by Tupac Shakur. He formed a civil partnership with his partner David Furnish on 21st December 2005 - the day that the Civil Partnership Act came into being. The couple welcomed their first child, Zachary, in 2010 and their second, Elijah, in 2013. Elton performed at the Concert for Diana in July 2007, on what would have been her 46th birthday. He also performed a duet with Lady Gaga at the Grammy Awards in 2010.
2013: GRAMMY Awards performance with Ed Sheeran
Elton teamed up with his protégé Ed Sheeran for a performance at the GRAMMY Awards in 2013, having championed the singer-songwriter from early on in his career. That year, he also worked with Queens of the Stone Age, and received the first-ever BRITs Icon Award.
He also appeared as himself in the Kingsman sequel Kingsman: The Golden Circle in 2017, starring alongside Taron Egerton, who later played Elton in the biopic of his life, Rocketman.
Elton John - Rocketman
Hugely popular biopic Rocketman was released in May 2019, following Elton John's life from his humble beginnings through until the 1980's. He wrote a brand new song, '(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again', for the film, winning an Academy Award for Best Original Song. It starred Taron Egerton as Elton and Billy Elliot star Jamie Bell as Bernie Taupin. Elton's husband David was a co-producer on the film, which also won Taron a Golden Globe for Best Actor.
Click more to buy the DVD on Amazon.
2020: Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour
Elton was appointed a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour for services to music and charity in 2020. Sadly, Elton was forced to postpone his 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road' tour in March 2020 due to the Coronavirus, and took to social media that month to encourage people to stay at home and stop spreading the virus.
May 2021: Elton performs at the BRIT Awards
At the 2021 BRIT Awards, Elton performed alongside Years & Years star Olly Alexander for a cover of the Pet Shop Boys' song 'It's A Sin'.
October 2021: Elton releases 'The Lockdown Sessions'
In October 2021, Elton John released his 32nd studio album 'The Lockdown Sessions', a collaboration album recorded during the Covid-19 pandemic. The album features artists including Stevie Nicks and Stevie Wonder.
November 2021: Elton to join the Order of the Companions of Honour
In November 2021, it was announced that Elton John would receive a prestigious award for his long music career and his charity work through the Elton John Aids Foundation.
The music legend became a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour in a ceremony held at Windsor Castle and carried out by Prince Charles.
2022: 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road' tour resumes
After almost two years, Elton was able to get back to performing his 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road' tour, which had to be rescheduled due to Covid-19.
His first show back took place on 19th January in New Orleans, Louisiana. Elton has tour dates across the UK for 2022 and 2023, when the tour will wrap up.
2022: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road documentary announced
In May, it was announced that footage was being captured from Elton John's 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road' tour as part of a new documentary called Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: The Final Elton John Performances And The Years That Made His Legend.
The documentary will also show performance footage from over the past 50 years, as well as prominent moments from the start of his career, and a look into his personal life and career in the present day.
As well as this, fans will also get to see his final show at Dodger Stadum livestreamed on Disney+ on 20th November. As well as the venue holding significance, this will be the final show of the US leg of his tour.
2022: Elton performs at the Platinum Party at the Palace
As he was on his 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road' tour when the concert for Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee took place, Elton John pre-recorded a performance which was shown on the night.
He sang a beautiful rendition of 'Your Song' and the video was projected onto the side of Buckingham Palace.
2022: Elton John releases 'Hold Me Closer'
Elton John remixed another one of his greatest hits. 'Tiny Dancer', in September 2022. The new version of the song is called 'Hold Me Closer' and includes vocals from Britney Spears.
Speaking about the new song and working with Britney, he said: "I love her dearly and am delighted with what we've created together."
2022: Special edition Elton John Marmite
Marmite released a special edition, Elton John themed product in November 2022. The product has a rocket on the break seal and an image of the singer on the front.
Elton John announced for Glastonbury 2023
It was announced that Elton John will headline Glastonbury Festival 2023, closing the festival on Sunday 25th June. This show will be the final stop on his 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road' tour which is also the final tour of his career.
2023: Elton John Eyewear
In 2023 Elton John launched Elton John Eyewear. Despite having 20/20 vision the singer is known for his extravagant glasses. He designed 300 pairs with his husband David Furnish and has a pop-up shop in Soho.
2023: Glastonbury
Sir Elton closed the 2023 edition iteration of Glastonbury Festival, performing an incredible set of over 20 songs in his two-hour slot and bringing out multiple guests to duet with in the show that marked the end of his touring days.
2023: Last date of the 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road' tour
Elton John performed his last ever date for his 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road' tour in Stockholm, Sweden. During the gig, Coldplay joined Elton via a video link to pay tribute to the legendary artist.
2024: Emmy win
Elton's 'Farewell From Dodger Stadium' documentary won the Emmy award for Best Variety Special (live) in January 2024, meaning that Elton has gained EGOT status - a name given to those who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award. Elton is the 19th person to win an EGOT.
Now Read:
A look back at some of Elton John's most iconic performances
Elton John reschedules 2021 Farewell Yellow Brick Road UK tour dates
11 of the best Elton John songs of all time