Elton John vows to keep making music as he turns 75

LONDON • British pop superstar Elton John turned 75 yesterday, but vowed to keep making music, even as he tours the world for the final time.

The flamboyant singer, formerly known as Reg Dwight, has been a stalwart of the music scene since the 1970s, with a string of hits including Crocodile Rock, Candle In The Wind and Rocketman.

He has also fronted a high-profile campaign for research against HIV/Aids, raising millions of dollars for charities.

The singer-songwriter, who became Sir Elton in 1998 when he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, said he was not usually nostalgic but described the three-quarter century as a "milestone".

"I'll definitely find time today to take stock and thank my lucky stars for my wonderful family, friends and career," he added.

"I feel unbelievably lucky that at 75, I still love what I do so much - I'm still so energised about music and excited I get to play, listen and talk about this every single day."

He has sold more than 300 million records worldwide. Last year, he became the first solo artiste with UK Top 10 singles across six decades.

He has remained culturally relevant through collaborations with younger artistes such as dance music group Pnau and singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. Last month, he scored his first British No. 1 single in 16 years with Cold Heart, with the singer Dua Lipa.

John is currently on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour - an extravaganza of more than 300 gigs worldwide that began in 2018 - and said "the thrill of playing live is as amazing as it was 50 years ago".

Even though he tested positive for Covid-19 in January, he continued on his tour after postponing a couple of concerts.

"I have so much to pass on to the new generation of fans and artistes alike, and I'm determined to keep giving back to the industry that has given me so much."

To mark his birthday, he is releasing a digitally remastered version of his Diamonds: The Ultimate Greatest Hits album on streaming platforms for the first time.

This weekend, his husband David Furnish, 59, will host the 30th annual Elton John Aids Foundation Academy Awards. They have two sons aged 11 and nine, who were born through surrogacy.

Five years ago, John - a two-time Oscar music winner for his biopic Rocketman (2019) and The Lion King (1994) - sold 25 works donated by artists and collectors to mark the charity's 25th anniversary.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE