Barack Hussein Obama II (born August 4, 1961) is an American politician and attorney who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Barack Obama was the first African-American president of the United States. He previously served as a U.S. senator from Illinois from 2005 to 2008 and an Illinois state senator from 1997 to 2004.
Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is an English singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer. Collaborating with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967 on more than 30 albums, John has sold more than 300 million records, making him one of the best-selling music artists. He has more than fifty Top 40 hits in the UK Singles Chart and US Billboard Hot 100, including seven number ones in the UK and nine in the US, as well as seven consecutive number-one albums in the US. His tribute single "Candle in the Wind 1997", rewritten in dedication to Diana, Princess of Wales, sold over 33 million copies worldwide and is the best-selling single in the history of the UK and US singles charts. He has also produced records and occasionally acted in films. John owned Watford F.C. from 1976 to 1987 and from 1997 to 2002. He is an honorary life president of the club.
Elton John joins POTUS Joe Biden at opening of Stonewall Monument Center
Elton John joined US President Joe Biden at the opening of the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center.It opened on Friday (June 28) at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, New York City, to mark the 55th anniversary of the Stonewall riots.
John and Biden were joined by Governor of New York Kathy Hochul.John spoke at the event, with the iconic singer urging the LGBTQ+ community to keep fighting. “55 years ago, in this sacred spot of the Stonewall Uprising, gay activists stood strong and ignited a movement that has changed history for the better,” he said, per Associated Press.He continued, to rapturous applause, “As President Biden has reminded us today … do we stand up for our vision and our values, or let misinformation and senseless scapegoating turn back the clock?
No fucking way.”He closed the event with a performance of his hits ‘Bennie And The Jets’, ‘I’m Still Standing’, and ‘Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me’.Fellow singer Katy Perry also took to the stage to call the centre “a destination full of love to honour a community that deserves so much respect.”Former President Barack Obama designated Stonewall Inn as a national monument in 2016, and the new visitor centre is part museum, part educational space.
Its opening came ahead of NYC’s Pride March today (June 30).Meanwhile, a documentary about John is set to premiere at the Toronto Film Festival later this year.
