To be precise, Reginald Kenneth Dwight was born on this day in 1947, but he would later find fame after changing his name to Elton John.
He teamed up with lyricist Bernie Taupin, and together they began writing songs. The first album they submitted in 1968 was rejected by their record company. Regimental Sgt. Zippo would remain in the vaults until 2021.
In 1970, Elton John scored his breakthrough hit with Your Song, and he went on to become one of the biggest artists of the next five decades in popular music. To date, he has released 32 studio albums, five live albums, 10 soundtracks, five collaborative records, and a holiday album.
In 1970 Elton John scored his breakthrough hit with Your Song, and he went on to be one of the biggest artists of the next five decades in popular music.To date Elton John has released 32 studio albums, 5 live albums, 10 soundtracks, 6 records where he collaborated with another artist, and a holiday album.
In 1970, Elton John scored his breakthrough hit with “Your Song,” and he went on to become one of the biggest artists of the next five decades in popular music. To date, he has released 32 studio albums, five live albums, ten soundtracks, six collaborative records, and a holiday album.
He has also released countless greatest hits compilations, along with three tribute albums featuring other artists recording his songs.
Along the way, Elton John has been a major fundraiser for HIV research and support. His charitable foundation has raised hundreds of millions of dollars.
His life was brought to the screen in the musical biopic Rocketman, and in 1998 he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. In 2020, he was appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honour.
He’s also put out countless greatest hits compilations, and there’s three albums of other artists paying homage by recording his songs.
Along the way Elton John has also been a major fundraiser for HIV research and support. His charitable foundation has raised hundreds of millions of dollars.
HIs life was brought to the screen in the musical bio-pic Rocket Man and in 1998 he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. In 2020 he was appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honour.
Choreographer Robert Joffrey died in 1988
He was born Anver Bey Abdullah Jaffa Khan but found fame as Robert Joffrey. The acclaimed dancer and choreographer co-founded his company, The Joffrey Ballet, in Chicago in 1953.
He was one of the first major choreographers to have studied both modern and classical dance, and his work combined the two. While that’s quite common today, in the 1950s it was groundbreaking.
In 1966, the company moved to the New York City Center, replacing the New York City Ballet. The company later opened a Los Angeles branch. In 1995, its New York operations returned to Chicago, where it remains to this day.
Besides works by Joffrey, the company also featured works by his co-founder Gerald Arpino, who was also his romantic partner. George Balanchine, Alvin Ailey, and Twyla Tharp are also major choreographers who have created works for The Joffrey Ballet.
Sadly, Joffrey died of an AIDS-related illness in 1988. He was 57 years old. Arpino took over as the company’s Artistic Director, a role he held until 2007, when he became Artistic Director Emeritus. He died aged 85 in 2008 after battling prostate cancer.
In 1985 documentary ‘The Times of Harvey Milk’ wins an Oscar
The documentary The Times of Harvey Milk won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature on this day in 1985. It was the first documentary focused on an LGBTIQA+ subject to receive the award.
The film follows the political career of Harvey Milk, San Francisco’s first openly gay elected official. It traces his rise from neighborhood activist to a symbol of gay political progress, through to his assassination in November 1978 at San Francisco City Hall, and the subsequent trial of former city supervisor Dan White, who shot Milk and Mayor George Moscone.
In his acceptance speech, producer Richard Schmiechen thanked his partner, John Wright, marking another notable first on the Oscar stage.
WAAC CEO Andrew Burry died in 2017
Community leader Andrew Burry suddenly died on this day in 2017. Burry, who was the CEO of the WA AIDS Council (WAAC), passed away while on holiday in Taiwan.
Prior to joining WAAC, he served as Vice President of the Australian Federation of AIDS Councils. He was formerly the General Manager of the AIDS Action Council of the ACT and also worked with the Victorian AIDS Council.
