Elton John – Rocket Man (Live At Estadio Do Flamengo, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil / 1995) with sheet music

Despite being a fan favourite since its release in 1972, and even becoming a byword for the man himself, ‘Rocket Man’ peaked at #6 in the US charts. Watching this version from the ‘Made In England Tour’ in 1995, though, is like seeing a song reborn. Elton and his six-piece band take the audience in Rio de Janeiro on a journey through soul, funk and into cosmic overdrive! Guitar players Davey Johnstone and John Jorgenson swap acoustic for electric, with Jorgenson even reaching for his saxophone at one point. “I’m a Rocket Man, Rio”, indeed!

Elton John is a British singer, pianist and composer. Along with selling more than 300 million records, he has found success on Broadway, composing the music score for the Tony award-winning hit ‘Billy Elliot.’

Find his original sheet music in our Library.

Sir Elton Hercules John (was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; March 25th, 1947) is an English singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer. Collaborating with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967 on more than 30 albums, John has sold more than 300 million records, making him one of the best-selling music artists.

He has more than fifty Top 40 hits in the UK Singles Chart and US Billboard Hot 100, including seven number ones in the UK and nine in the US, as well as seven consecutive number-one albums in the US.His tribute single “Candle in the Wind 1997“, rewritten in dedication to Diana, Princess of Wales, sold over 33 million copies worldwide and is the best-selling single in the history of the UK and US singles charts. He has also produced records and occasionally acted in films. John owned Watford F.C. from 1976 to 1987 and from 1997 to 2002. He is an honorary life president of the club.

Elton John’s unique blend of pop and rock styles turned him into one of the 20th century’s biggest music icons. He was musically gifted from a young age, and released his first self-titled American album in 1970, making him a huge international star. Some of his chart-topping hits include “Crocodile Rock,” “Philadelphia Freedom” and “Candle in the Wind.” He also found success on Broadway, composing the score for Billy Elliot (2008), which went on to win 10 Tony Awards. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and knighted in 1998.

While he enjoyed all of the recognition and praise, he soon found himself rocked by grief. During the summer of 1997, John lost two good friends — fashion designer Gianni Versace and Princess Diana. He reworked one of his classic songs, “Candle in the Wind,” as a tribute to Princess Diana, with the song’s proceeds going to a charitable trust established in her honor. “Candle in the Wind 1997” proved to be a tremendous success, selling more than 30 million copies that year.

John has been involved in the fight against AIDS since the late 1980s.In 1992, he established the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and a year later he began hosting his annual Academy Awards Party, which has since become one of the biggest high-profile Oscar parties in the Hollywood film industry.

Since its inception, the foundation has raised over £300 million. John, who announced he was bisexual in 1976 and has been openly gay since 1988, entered into a civil partnership with David Furnish on 21 December 2005; they married after same-sex marriage became legal in England and Wales in 2014. Presenting John with France’s highest civilian award, the Legion d’honneur, in 2019, French President Emmanuel Macron called him a “melodic genius” and praised his work on behalf of the LGBT community. In 2018, John embarked on a three-year farewell tour.

Elton John Discography

John continued to record new music later in his extensive career. In 2006 he released The Captain & the Kid, a sequel to his earlier autobiographical effort Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975). He also teamed up with Leon Russell for 2010’s The Union, which led to a joint tour. John later released The Diving Board (2013), his 30th studio album, produced by T Bone Burnett.

John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1994. He and Taupin had already been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992. John was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1995. For his charitable work, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II on 24 February 1998.

In the 2020 New Year Honours, he was appointed Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) for services to music and to charity. In October 1975, John became the 1,662nd person to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Music awards include the Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King, the 1994 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King, and the 2000 Tony Award for Best Original Score for Aida, all of which he shared with Tim Rice.

The 2019 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song went to John for “I’m Gonna Love Me Again“, shared with Bernie Taupin. He has also received five Brit Awards, including the 1991 award for Best British Male, and awards for Outstanding Contribution to Music in 1986 and 1995. In 2013, John received the first Brits Icon award in recognition of his “lasting impact” on UK culture, which was presented to him by his close friend Rod Stewart.

Also in demand as a songwriter, John was instrumental in bringing Billy Elliott the Musical to the stage. The show, adapted from the 2000 film, opened on Broadway in 2008, where it quickly became a critical and commercial success. John also worked on the 2011 animated film Gnomeo & Juliet, serving as a producer and a composer.

Around this time, it was revealed that John and his husband were working on a biopic about the legendary musician titled Rocketman. Starring Taron Egerton, the film finally reached the finish line with its premiere at the May 2019 Cannes Film Festival, drawing attention for its whimsical musical scenes as well as its unflinching portrayal of John’s sexuality. The artist followed with the publication of his autobiography, Me, later that year.

In January 2020, John and Taupin claimed the best original song Golden Globe for Rocketman‘s “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again.” Amazingly, it was their first shared award after more than a half-century of creating some of popular music’s biggest hits together. The duo then picked up their second joint honor, also for best original song, at the Academy Awards the following month.

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On January 24, 2018, John announced that he would retire from the road after his planned Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, set to kick off that September.

In March 2020, John hosted the iHeart Living Room Concert for America to raise funds for coronavirus relief efforts. Alicia Keys, Dave Grohl and Sam Smith were among the artists who performed from their homes for the benefit.