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“I’m Not the Man They Think I Am” – the Story of the Rocket Man

Sir Elton John in his heyday, was part of the British wave of modern pop rock. Elton John has sold more than 300 million records making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world. He also boasts the achievement of 58 Billboard “top 40s” and 27 “top 10s” singles in his career. His Elton John AIDS Foundation has raised more than 200 million dollars in contributions to AIDS research. In light of the upcoming movie “Rocket Man” in May 31st we put together the story behind the rocket man. We look at where he came from, the impact he made, and where the mother ship is today.

Name Change

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photo credit: JStone / Shutterstock.com

Elton John was not actually born with the name Elton John. During the beginning of his career, he used his birth name Reginald Kenneth Dwight to his parents Stanley and Sheila Dwight. As a boy, he was called “Reg,” or “Reggie.” In 1972 he had changed his name and said: “if my mother can call me Elton, then so can everyone else.”