Elton John plays his piano

MANILA, Philippines - His real name is Reginald Kenneth Dwight and he began playing the piano at the tender age of four. The talented British lad developed an overwhelming musical talent as he was reaching puberty. When he turned 11, he won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music, Britain’s oldest degree-granting music school.

Reginald, also known as Elton John in the universe of influential music idols, was born to be a remarkable and multi-awarded celebrity in the UK and the US. Not a lot of musicians vaunt the same number of accomplishments he successfully filed under his portfolio in a span of 40 years.

Enter the boom of disco fashion, the Rocket Man started rattling everyone’s world with his penchant for first-rate music and unique character. His partnership with lyricist Bernie Taupin proved to be a powerful collaboration that eventually led to blockbuster compositions and a long line globally hit records. Practically, the one of the biggest superstars of the early ’70s, Elton John gave hippies and flower-children more than a couple of reasons to consider their heyday a prime era — his chart-topping feel good songs such as Your Song, Yellow Brick Road, Daniel and Bennie and the Jets.

Kids of the ’80s were still exposed to a reasonable number of his top-selling songs ranging from I’m Still Standing to I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues, while ’90s babies suddenly became aware of him as the likes of Can You Feel the Love Tonight and Candle in the Wind, which was re-released in 1997, conquered the airwaves via MTV just before the dawn of the new millennium. It also helped that he was inducted into knighthood in between, officially making him Sir Elton John.

The year 2000 came into scene with Elton John confidently riding its wings. He teamed up with Tim Rice to work on songs for DreamWork’s El Doroado, and in 2003, conquered the UK once again with his No. 1 single Are You Ready for Love? In 2006, he was rightfully named a Disney Legend for his countless contributions to Disney’s films and theatrical works.

In 2011, Elton John introduced himself to an even younger generation via his work in Rocket Pictures’ Gnomeo and Juliet, a British and North American computer-generated film that gained the admiration of movie-going audiences from age one to 92. Elton John’s music makes up 85 percent of the movie’s soundtrack which features songs like Hello, Hello, Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, Rocket Man and Crocodile Rock.

With just enough stamina, nothing has stopped Elton John from maintaining his popularity, thanks to his exceptional personality, infinitely head turning clothes, relevant opinions on HIV and inextinguishable reputation for outrageous live acts.

Get a look into the Rocket Man and his songs when Elton John invades Manila on Dec. 8 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. For tickets, you may log on to www.ticketnet.com.ph or call TicketNet at 911-5555. Newly-opened premium sections are available. You can also experience the brand-new ergonomic Upper B seats of the Big Dome.

(Elton John Live in Manila: 40th Anniversary of the Rocket Man Tour is presented by Manhattan Garden City. It is presented by Midas Promotions and Araneta Center. Television partners are ABS-CBN and Solar Entertainment. Other media partners are Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Business World, Metro and Metro Society, Radio High, Crossover. Official hotels are Manila Peninsula, Crowne Plaza Galleria and Holiday Inn. Official Transport partners are H&M Transport and Joylong Van Philippines.)