Elton John and Jerry Lee Lewis
Elton John’s early life definitely influenced his musical life that he later excelled in. He
was born in Pinner, Middlesex, England on March 25, 1947. His original name was Reginald
Kenneth Dwight. When he was younger, around four years old he found an interest in music and
taught himself how to play piano. As he continued to grow up to be a youth he started earning
academic scholarships at the Royal Academy of Music in London. The difficulty that Elton had
with his father, Stanley Dwight also had an influence in his musical interests. His parents
divorced when he was a youth. Yet, Elton’s father still argued with him about his future and his
plans. Elton loved the sounds of rock and roll music although his dream
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was to someday have a career in the pop industry. Elton’s dream was so big and real to him that he dropped out of high school at seventeen to go pursue his life dream. Not surprisingly, this did not please his father. Soon after he dropped out he started playing for a small group called Bluesology. In 1967, Elton got his first job after answering an ad for a songwriter for the Liberty Records. He met Bernie Taupin and they started writing songs together. Their duo turned to DJM Record Label the next year as they continued to write songs together. In 1969, the album Empty Sky was released which was a huge excitement to Elton and Bernie because the album featured songs that they wrote. Yet, the album failed to become popular but, in 1970 he got his first hit called “Your Song”. He got some others too including , “Crocodile Rock”, “Bennie and Weber 2 the Jets”, which are songs I am more familiar with. He also got a series of two albums released in the period of 1973-1975. Later in life he married David Furnish in December of 2005 after being previously married to Renate Blauel. David and Elton had two children after having a civil marriage. He was a very happy man with his family that he chose to have. Elton wrote a majority of his music in England yet, most of his music was incredibly popular in the United States. Elton had many many great achievements in music. One of them was being known as the most successful male soloist on the Hot 100 Top All Time Artist’s chart. He was also known for working with Bernie Taupin, making musical compositions and collaborations. Although he worked with Bernie he has several singles hit number one on the charts. They were, “Crocodile Rock”, “Bennie and the Jets”, “Philadelphia Freedom”, “Don't Go Breaking My Heart”, and “Candle in the Wind”. Other albums and singles he had, earned Gold and Platinum statuses in the music industry. He continued on with his music and found himself making soundtracks for Disney movies, such as The Lion King. He composed “Can You Feel The Love Tonight”, as well as “The Circle of Life”. Theses songs are mostly in a minor tone. They also make you feel emotions that have significance to what is going on in the movie. He also made music for Billy Elliot: The Musical, and Lestat: The Musical. His music is a very fascinating blend of Pop and Rock. His number one hit from classical rock was “Rocket Man”. This song represents the sadness that the astronauts had as they flew above Earth. It captured how they miss family, friends, and other loved ones since they were so far from them. This song was sad but Elton and Bernie believe that sad, truthful songs made the best songs. In the original song there is a piano Weber 3 accompaniment as the songs sings in a minor, sad tone. Not all of his songs were sad though! Many were upbeat pop or rock songs which is what he loved and chose and worked hard to excel in. It’s easy to know he excelled in it because he is still known today and mostly everybody to critique his music liked or even loved it. Not too many people did not enjoy his music. Jerry Lee Lewis was born in Ferriday Louisiana on September 29, 1935. As a very young boy he taught himself piano and often sung in church. Jerry and his family lived on a farm which his dad mortgaged in order to get Jerry his very own piano. He practiced often on this piano and at age fourteen he gave his first performance in a local car dealership. Around the same age he gave up on school and chose to focus on his music and the career he wanted in it. Later in his life he got involved in a huge scandal when he chose to marry his cousin. Her name was Myra Gale Brown. When her and Jerry got married she said she was twenty but, in reality she was only thirteen. The word got out that she was only thirteen and the controversy quickly spread and Lewis had to cancel his tour that he was already in the United Kingdom and he had to come back home to the United States. After this Lewis struggled greatly finding places where he could perform. But he did manage to get another hit called, “High School Confidential”. After this his career went South. After a while he had a son named Steve Allen who drowned and passed away. He then had another son who also died but this time it was in a car accident. At this point in his life he was married to his fourth wife who also drowned before their divorce settlement, and his fifth wife was found dead in her and Jerry’s home shortly after they had been wed. In present day Jerry spends his time with his daughter from his third marriage to Myra. His daughter's name is Phoebe Lewis. Yet, he is currently married to his sixth wife, Judith Brown. They got married in 2012 and they live together on a ranch in Nesbit, Mississippi. Weber 4 Jerry’s music career was considered more great than not great. He played with Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley on Sam Phillips Sun Record Label that was in Memphis Tennessee. Jerry was very well known for his intense pianist technique that played tribute to his style of music but Jack Clement introduced to him rock and roll and suggested that he play that. In 1956 his very first hit record came out. It was called “Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On”. This song was a breakthrough for him and he musical career. It sold 100,000 copies. In this song there is many changes in tempo pace. The vocal characteristics also gave it a rock and roll style. Even in 1960 he continued to play this song in his concerts but he starting changing his record taste to a more country style. Later in life he is still known as a rock and roll legend. In 1989, a biographical film called “Great Balls of Fire” was made to show and explain more about the song. In fact, in the pop, country, and R&B Top Five featured “Whole Lotta Shakin Goin on”, and “Great Balls of Fire”. These were his number one hits throughout his career which came to a stop after the scandal that he got involved in. But, even after the scandal his career did come though. This time around he was not as popular as the first time people heard his name. Even though his tragic event occurred, he is still a rock and roll legend. Although not everybody loved his music, those who did were plentiful and loved his music. Elton John and Jerry Lee Lewis had several things similar and different about themselves.
Both in life and music.
In contrast, there musical lives were very similar other than the fact that Jerry Lee Lewis
was involved in a scandal that had a great impact on his career. Elton John was not involved in a
scandal that ruined his musical career for a short time. Also, Elton John had music style range
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from being a pianist to rock and roll, to pop, to musical music. Jerry’s music ranged from being a
pianist, to pop, rock and roll, and R&B. They both had different music ranges.
In comparison, Elton and Jerry both had struggles in their lives. Elton did not get along
with his dad nor did he have support from him like Jerry did. Jerry’s dad got him his very own
piano so he could practice and play on. I think this affected his pianist techniques and even
Elton’s. Elton John shared with the The Guardian and said “...I heard someone beat the shit out
of a piano. When I saw Little Richard at the Harrow Granada, he played it standing up, but Jerry
Lee Lewis actually jumped on the piano! This was astonishing to me, that people could do that.
Those records had such a huge effect on me, and they were just so great. I learned to play
like that” (John). In other words, they both had a passion for piano playing and they both excelled in it. Also, both Elton and Jerry were rock and roll legends and had an interest in the style. They both had several great hits and did many great things.
Throughout his life, the only relationship he was able to maintain was with his sister. On the other hand, his relationship with his parents was very strained; At one point he declared that his "entire childhood seem like a fiction"(123) due to his dad’s infidelity.
chopping wood - introduced him to early rock & roll and rhythm & blues music.
Kurt was in love with music since the age of two. He was brought up in a
room and play then, he took piano lessons when he was seven. By the age of
mother he lived with his grandmother. His grandma took the best care of him out of
many love stories, shaped his legacy. His influences on other artists, such as, African-American singers, Chuck Berry and Little Richard were enormous throughout their careers.
John Lennon was very outspoken and contributed greatly to his mission of peace. “He became an increasingly important symbol of the burgeoning counterculture” (DeCurtis). John went against the normal acts and beliefs of society and spoke out. He always expressed his true views and nothing else. This is because he believed in questioning authority and not conforming for anything.“[He] helped redefine the rules of acceptable behavior for rock stars” (DeCurtis). This once again shows his desire to stand out and speak out. He reformed many ideas and practices that needed reform and some that did not. But no matter what he was doing, it was always supporting the fight for peace. Even when it did not involve politics or the stand for peace, he acted differently from what was expected of him by the majority of the population. “How the chords can change the world. To me, that is John Lennon” (Ono 117). John thought that change was necessary, and he intended to do everything he could to insure that it happened. “A man who stood up!” (Ono 117). John expressed and conveyed his beliefs, no matter the consequences. His immense support of the fight for peace helped more and more people see a different side of the world.
Art Blakey was born to a poor family in the heart of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1919. He was working in the steel and coal mills when he was only fourteen. There were no child labor laws in those times. He had to work to help support his family and put food on the table. Blakey turned to music as a way of escaping the exhausting day-to-day labor of the mills. Blakey taught himself how to play the piano. Even though he couldn't read music, and could only play songs in three keys, Blakey was a crowd favorite a several local venues. He used to make fifteen-twenty dollars a night in tips every night he went. At fifteen Blakey was leading his own band. They were small and unknown, but played at clubs all around the city.
Edward Kennedy was his real name; he was born on April 29, 1899 in Washington, D.C. Duke’s parents Daisy Kennedy Ellington and James Edward Ellington served as ideal role models for Duke and taught him everything from table manners to an understanding of the emotional power of music.
Edward Kennedy Ellington was born on April 29, 1899 to his middle-class parents James Edward Ellington and Daisy Kennedy Ellington, who were both pianist. At the age of 7 his parents put him in piano lessons and enforced the necessity for sophistication and etiquette, which is actually where his nickname Duke came from because his style of dress and his mannerisms reminded his friends of that of a nobleman. He attended At age 15 although he was a talented pianist, he was rough around the edges and could not read or write music, but that did not stop him from composing his first piece “Soda Fountain Rag”, which he created by ear while working as a soda jerk. Upon viewing various ragtime artists while vacationing with his mother Duke felt encouraged to better his piano skills and through the help of Dunbar High School’s Henry Lee Grant and local big band leader Oliver “Doc” Perry, Duke learned to read and write music, become far more polished in his playing techniques, and overall raise his playing ability. While by professional at this point he was a sign painter, he played party gigs and dances ...
Ser Elton John has been one of the most iconic and successful British pop stars since the 1970’s. His music is based from his own life experiences as well as those of his country and of his time. Elton John is known for his passion and vivacity for his career, his fortitude to fight AIDS, his homosexuality and his importance to the evolution of the British and the American pop/rock genre.
the world. Gershwin , at the young age of fifteen, quit school and became a song plugger.
Anderson had a very strong musical education. At age eleven he began piano lessons and music studies at the New England Conservatory of Music in Cambridge. At his high school graduation from the Cambridge High and Latin School, Anderson composed, orchestrated, and conducted his class song. In 1925 he entered Harvard College. While at Harvard he studied musical harmony with Walter Spalding, counterpoint with Edward Ballantine, canon and fugue with William C. Heilman, and orchestration with Edward B. Hill and Walter Piston. Between 1926 and 1929 he played trombone for the Harvard University Band. He eventually became the director of the Harvard University Band for four years. In 1929 Anderson received a B.A. magna cum laude in Music from Harvard. The magna cum laude is the next-to-highest of three special honors for grades above the average. He was also elected into Phi Beta Kappa. Anderson continued into graduate school at Harvard. In 1930, he earned an M.A. with a major in music. He began studying composition with Walter Piston and Georges Enesco; organ with Henry Gideon and double bass with Gaston Dufresne of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. As well as his studies in music, he continued for his PhD in German and Scandinavian languages. He ultimately mastered Danish, Norwegian, Icel...
As many already know, John Lennon was part of the ever-so popular group, the Beatles. During the time he spent with the group, his “voice” and stance on the world was practically obsolete, as it was overpowered by Paul McCartney’s drippy and love-like lyrics His “stand” in political life wouldn't come until late in the his career as a beatle. The most well known are the bed ins and billboards. John and Yoko were married March 20th, 1969 and instead of having a regular honeymoon, they decided to utilize their time in the eyes of the public.