“My biggest inspiration”: the hero who made Elton John become a musician
Elton John is a name that resonates worldwide. When he took to the Pyramid Stage to headline Glastonbury in 2023, he played a barrage of hits, new and old, that showed his connection to music doesn’t start and stop at a particular style but is, in fact, embedded into songwriting itself, completely transcending time and resonating with multiple generations as a result. His knowledge of melody and rhythm is second to none, and we have been gifted a plethora of classics because of it.
Of course, there is a lot more to Elton John than his ability as a musician and songwriter. You don’t headline Glastonbury and play to some of the biggest crowds in the history of music by just having some good tracks; there’s a lot more to it than that. John was a flamboyant character who delivered some of the greatest stage shows in the history of live performance, filled with colour, dancing, and energy.
You rarely get somebody who can combine both of those attributes. Many excellent songwriters have become famous because of this. The same goes for frontmen; there are many great ones, and they become known for as much. However, when you combine the two, you have somebody destined for greatness, and that’s why so many people have been able to connect with Elton John over the years.
Developing such an exciting on-stage persona was no accident either. John had a range of influences, but his most prominent were those who did what he wanted to do one day: combine an upbeat and exciting show with excellent music. When asked about his biggest influences, a few names popped up, but two stood out for that very reason.
“The piano players that changed my life were Little Richard, Jerry Lewis, and Fats Domino,” he said, “The first two especially, as I saw them live in concert – and Little Richard stood up and played the piano, and Jerry Lewis climbed all over and played the piano, and also did some things which is what appealed to me.”
While the two resonated strongly with the piano player, he confessed that Little Richard was his biggest inspiration. When he passed away, Elton John wrote a moving tribute that perfectly personified just how much Richard meant to him. “Without a doubt – musically, vocally and visually – he was my biggest influence. Seeing him live in my teens was the most exciting event in my life at that point. Goosebumps, electricity and joy came from every pore.”
It’s easy to pinpoint that influence, as a lot of what John did throughout his career, in some way, emulated that which Little Richard did. His energy, mastery over melody, and dedication to putting on the best live show he could mirror his idol’s mindset.
