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.
Indigo Girls on the History of Queer Women Musicians Who Shaped Them
“Music is a galvanizing force,” the Indigo Girls’ Emily Saliers says about the power of song to create communal experiences and inspire activism.
Certainly, for many who’ve ever experienced an Indigo Girls show with the audience belting along to classics “Galileo,” “The Power of Two,” and the ultimate sing-along, “Closer to Fine,” the vibe is nothing short of a revival, and one that centers queer women.
The Indigo Girls — Saliers and Amy Ray — have been a part of queer consciousness for 35+ years now, with a through line from queer and women musicians who came before them like Cris Williamson, Holly Near, and Joan Armatrading to the next generation that includes Brandi Carlile and Janelle Monáe.
When asked to name their earliest queer women inspirations, there’s one they emphatically cite: Ferron.A lesbian musician from Canada, Ferron began to rock the music scene in the late 1970s with her 1977 self-titled album.
