He’s Still Standing
Known for his unforgettable voice and piano playing, flashy stage wear, collection of outlandish glasses and tart tongue, John will touch down in Fort Lauderdale’s Bank Atlantic Center on Friday March 9th and then head over to Orlando’s Amway Center on Saturday, March 10.
The monumental career of international singer/songwriter and performer Elton John spans five decades. He is one of the top-selling solo artists of all time, with 35 gold and 25 platinum albums, 29 consecutive Top 40 hits, and he has sold more than 250 million records worldwide. John holds the record for the biggest selling single of all time, “Candle in the Wind ’97,” the tribute single for the late Diana, Princess of Wales, which sold 37 million copies. Since his career began in 1969 he has played almost 3,000 concerts worldwide.
Throughout the years, John has remained more than relevant in the music world, something most other stars only dream of. And not just for his music. His charity work has also made an impact. Since the 1980s, John has been heavily involved in the fight against AIDS. In 1986, John, Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder recorded “That’s What Friends Are For” and all profits were donated to the American Foundation for AIDS Research.
He established the Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1992 which funds programs for HIV/AIDS prevention, the elimination of discrimination against those who have HIV/AIDS and provides services for people living with HIV/AIDS.
To raise money for his charity, John hosts an Annual Academy Award Party “White Tie & Tiara Ball.” The event is one of the most talked about in Hollywood. Past guests include Diana Ross, Sharon Stone, Diddy, Joan Collins, Joan Rivers, Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslet, Victoria & David Beckham, George Michael, The Pet Shop Boys, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Lady Gaga.
To date, his foundation has raised over $200 million.
John has been open about his sexuality since he came out as bisexual in Rolling Stone Magazine in 1976. He was at the top of his game then and the news didn’t go over well with his fans, who wrote angry letters to the magazine. His career picked up again in the 1980s and he officially came out as gay in 1988, also to Rolling Stone. He started a relationship with David Furnish in 1993 and the two became civil partners in 2005. They have a son, Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John, who was born to a surrogate mother. The couple chose Lady Gaga and magazine editor Ingrid Sischy and her partner Sandy Brant as Zachary’s godparents.
Sir Elton is also known for being very opinionated and recently his fight with another legend – Madonna, has been in the news. Their feud, however, dates back to 2004 when he accused her of lipsyncing as he accepted an award at the Q Awards. Last month, at the Golden Globe Awards, the feud was reignited when Furnish took to his Facebook page to complain that Madonna beat John for Best Original Song. And just when you thought the sniping was over, John made a jab about Madonna lipsyncing at the Super Bowl.
John continues to make headlines and his music continues to touch his fan’s hearts. His band, which includes Davey Johnstone on guitar, Bob Birch on bass, John Mahon on percussion, Nigel Olsson on drums, and Kim Bullard on keyboards, puts on an unforgettable show, which will have the audience on their feet, dancing and singing along. Classic songs like “Your Song,” “Daniel,” “Rocket Man,” “Bennie and the Jets,” and many more will be performed at this concert you won’t want to miss.
INFO:
Elton John
March 9
Bank Atlantic Center in Fort Lauderdale
and March 10
Amway Center in Orlando
