Reggie Dwight and some friends formed a band in the early 60s, and named it Bluesology. They turned professional in 1965, by which time they were providing support for touring American acts such as the Isley Brothers, Doris Troy and Patti LaBelle. From 1967 they were the backing band of the Blues revivalist Long John Baldry.
Also in 1967, Dwight answered an advertisement in the New Musical Express (NME), placed by Ray Williams, then the A&R manager for Liberty Records. Williams handed him an unopened envelope containing lyrics written by Bernie Taupin, who'd answered the same ad. In terms of songwriting, the rest is history.
Six months later, Dwight began going by the name Elton John – in homage (according to Wikipedia) to Bluesology's saxophonist, Elton Dean (later of Soft Machine) and the aforementioned Long John Baldry. His first single (I've Been Loving You) was released on 1 March 1969, but failed to chart. It was soon withdrawn, although in 1976 a Canadian band named Wednesday had a Top Ten hit with it in their home country, under the title Loving You Baby.
Elton John's first album, Empty Sky, (released in June 1969) also failed to chart – except in Canada and the Netherlands, where it made No. 30 and No. 31 respectively. His self–titled second album did better: it was a Top Ten hit in the UK, Australia, Canada, Netherlands and USA, and Your Song – the only single from it – did similarly in all those countries and several others.
It was on 7 January 1972 – between the release of his third and fourth albums (Tumbleweed Connection and Madman Across the Water) – that Reginald Kenneth Dwight legally changed his name to Elton Hercules John.
© Haydn Thompson 2023