by tyler | Mar 11, 2024 | CNN, showbiz
Here is a look at the life of musician, music producer and philanthropist, Quincy Jones.
Birth date: March 14, 1933
Birth place: Chicago, Illinois
Birth name: Quincy Delight Jones Jr.
Father: Quincy Delight Jones Sr., a carpenter.
Mother: Sarah Frances (Wells) Jones
Marriages: Peggy Lipton (1974-1990); Ulla Andersson (1967-1974); Jeri Caldwell (1957-1966)
Children: with Nastassja Kinski: Kenya; with Peggy Lipton: Rashida and Kidada; with Ulla Andersson: Quincy III and Martina; with Carol Reynolds: Rachel; with Jeri Caldwell: Jolie
Jones and his brother, Lloyd, were raised by their father and stepmother, Elvera, in Seattle and Bremerton, Washington. Their mother had been institutionalized in Chicago when they were very young.
An automobile accident at age 14, where Jones saw four of his friends killed, left him so traumatized that he has never driven a car.
Met Ray Charles when they were both teenagers starting out in the music industry. Jones arranged and produced for Charles, and later Charles performed on Jones’ albums. They remained friends until Charles’ death in 2004.
As an arranger in the 1950s, Jones worked with music industry legends such as Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Lionel Hampton and Frank Sinatra.
As a music producer for more than 60 years, he has worked with Miles Davis, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, Lesley Gore, Jennifer Holliday, Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Barry White and many more.
Jones has 80 Grammy Award nominations and 28 wins, including a Grammy Legend Award. He has seven Oscar nominations and received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. He also has received four Emmy nominations, winning one.
Has scored over 30 movies and written the theme for television shows, documentaries and shorts.
Mid-1940s – Sings and plays trumpet with a gospel quartet.
1951 – Jones’ trumpet playing wins him a scholarship to the prestigious Schillinger House in Boston (now the Berklee College of Music). He leaves when the opportunity arises to join the Lionel Hampton Band.
1956 – Joins the Dizzy Gillespie band as trumpeter and musical director.
1957 – Moves to Paris to study. Works for Barclay Disques publishing music.
1961 – Jones is hired as a musical director for Mercury Records and a few months later advances to vice president.
1963 – Earns his first Grammy Award, Best Instrumental Arrangement for “I Can’t Stop Loving You.”
1963 – Produces “It’s My Party” for Lesley Gore on Mercury Records, his first pop single to reach number one.
August 1974 – Suffers a brain aneurysm, which forces him to stop playing the trumpet.
1977 – Wins an Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) for the film “Roots.”
1982 – Produces Jackson’s album, “Thriller.”
1985 – Conductor and producer for “We Are the World,” the song recorded to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. Producer and music composer for the film “The Color Purple.”
1991 – Receives the Grammy Legend Award.
1991-1993 – Co-produces the Montreux Jazz Festival. His association with the festival continues to present day.
1993 – Launches “Vibe” magazine.
1994-1999 – Chairman and CEO of Qwest Broadcasting, a minority-controlled television broadcasting company.
1995 – Receives the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
March 1996 – Executive Producer of the 68th Annual Academy Awards ceremony.
October 1, 2001 – Simon & Schuster publishes his autobiography, “Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones.”
2001 – Kennedy Center Honoree.
2008 – Publishes the book “The Complete Quincy Jones: My Journey & Passions.”
2008 – Establishes the non-profit Quincy Jones Foundation.
April 18, 2013 – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee.
July 11, 2017 – Jones’ 2013 lawsuit against Jackson’s estate goes to trial. Jones claims he is owed $30 million in unpaid royalties.
July 26, 2017 – Jones wins $9.42 million in damages in his lawsuit against Jackson’s estate.
September 21, 2018 – “Quincy,” a documentary about the life and legacy of Jones, debuts on Netflix. The film, directed by Alan Hicks and Jones’ daughter, Rashida Jones, wins a Grammy award in February 2019 for Best Music Film.
May 5, 2020 – An appellate court overturns a portion of Jones’ 2017 lawsuit against Jackson’s estate. The court rules that contract interpretation was a judicial function and not meant for the jury, which mistakenly awarded Jones $6.9 million. The $2.5 million award for fees stands.
September 20, 2020 – Jones enters into a global publishing agreement with Warner Chappell Music. The deal covers administration of his current and future songwriting catalog. This includes over 2,000 compositions and work by songwriters Brothers Johnson, Siedah Garrett and others under his company.
September 27, 2023 – Jones is presented with the inaugural Peace Through Music Award by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Marson Jr. The awards recognize an American music industry professional who has played an invaluable role in cross-cultural exchanges and whose music work advances peace and mutual understanding globally.
by tyler | Mar 8, 2024 | CNN, showbiz
Here is a look at the life of musician, music producer and philanthropist, Quincy Jones.
Birth date: March 14, 1933
Birth place: Chicago, Illinois
Birth name: Quincy Delight Jones Jr.
Father: Quincy Delight Jones Sr., a carpenter.
Mother: Sarah Frances (Wells) Jones
Marriages: Peggy Lipton (1974-1990); Ulla Andersson (1967-1974); Jeri Caldwell (1957-1966)
Children: with Nastassja Kinski: Kenya; with Peggy Lipton: Rashida and Kidada; with Ulla Andersson: Quincy III and Martina; with Carol Reynolds: Rachel; with Jeri Caldwell: Jolie
Jones and his brother, Lloyd, were raised by their father and stepmother, Elvera, in Seattle and Bremerton, Washington. Their mother had been institutionalized in Chicago when they were very young.
An automobile accident at age 14, where Jones saw four of his friends killed, left him so traumatized that he has never driven a car.
Met Ray Charles when they were both teenagers starting out in the music industry. Jones arranged and produced for Charles, and later Charles performed on Jones’ albums. They remained friends until Charles’ death in 2004.
As an arranger in the 1950s, Jones worked with music industry legends such as Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Lionel Hampton and Frank Sinatra.
As a music producer for more than 60 years, he has worked with Miles Davis, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, Lesley Gore, Jennifer Holliday, Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Barry White and many more.
Jones has 80 Grammy Award nominations and 28 wins, including a Grammy Legend Award. He has seven Oscar nominations and received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. He also has received four Emmy nominations, winning one.
Has scored over 30 movies and written the theme for television shows, documentaries and shorts.
Mid-1940s – Sings and plays trumpet with a gospel quartet.
1951 – Jones’ trumpet playing wins him a scholarship to the prestigious Schillinger House in Boston (now the Berklee College of Music). He leaves when the opportunity arises to join the Lionel Hampton Band.
1956 – Joins the Dizzy Gillespie band as trumpeter and musical director.
1957 – Moves to Paris to study. Works for Barclay Disques publishing music.
1961 – Jones is hired as a musical director for Mercury Records and a few months later advances to vice president.
1963 – Earns his first Grammy Award, Best Instrumental Arrangement for “I Can’t Stop Loving You.”
1963 – Produces “It’s My Party” for Lesley Gore on Mercury Records, his first pop single to reach number one.
August 1974 – Suffers a brain aneurysm, which forces him to stop playing the trumpet.
1977 – Wins an Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) for the film “Roots.”
1982 – Produces Jackson’s album, “Thriller.”
1985 – Conductor and producer for “We Are the World,” the song recorded to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. Producer and music composer for the film “The Color Purple.”
1991 – Receives the Grammy Legend Award.
1991-1993 – Co-produces the Montreux Jazz Festival. His association with the festival continues to present day.
1993 – Launches “Vibe” magazine.
1994-1999 – Chairman and CEO of Qwest Broadcasting, a minority-controlled television broadcasting company.
1995 – Receives the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
March 1996 – Executive Producer of the 68th Annual Academy Awards ceremony.
October 1, 2001 – Simon & Schuster publishes his autobiography, “Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones.”
2001 – Kennedy Center Honoree.
2008 – Publishes the book “The Complete Quincy Jones: My Journey & Passions.”
2008 – Establishes the non-profit Quincy Jones Foundation.
April 18, 2013 – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee.
July 11, 2017 – Jones’ 2013 lawsuit against Jackson’s estate goes to trial. Jones claims he is owed $30 million in unpaid royalties.
July 26, 2017 – Jones wins $9.42 million in damages in his lawsuit against Jackson’s estate.
September 21, 2018 – “Quincy,” a documentary about the life and legacy of Jones, debuts on Netflix. The film, directed by Alan Hicks and Jones’ daughter, Rashida Jones, wins a Grammy award in February 2019 for Best Music Film.
May 5, 2020 – An appellate court overturns a portion of Jones’ 2017 lawsuit against Jackson’s estate. The court rules that contract interpretation was a judicial function and not meant for the jury, which mistakenly awarded Jones $6.9 million. The $2.5 million award for fees stands.
September 20, 2020 – Jones enters into a global publishing agreement with Warner Chappell Music. The deal covers administration of his current and future songwriting catalog. This includes over 2,000 compositions and work by songwriters Brothers Johnson, Siedah Garrett and others under his company.
September 27, 2023 – Jones is presented with the inaugural Peace Through Music Award by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Marson Jr. The awards recognize an American music industry professional who has played an invaluable role in cross-cultural exchanges and whose music work advances peace and mutual understanding globally.
by tyler | Mar 7, 2024 | CNN, showbiz
Here is a look at the life of musician, music producer and philanthropist, Quincy Jones.
Birth date: March 14, 1933
Birth place: Chicago, Illinois
Birth name: Quincy Delight Jones Jr.
Father: Quincy Delight Jones Sr., a carpenter.
Mother: Sarah Frances (Wells) Jones
Marriages: Peggy Lipton (1974-1990); Ulla Andersson (1967-1974); Jeri Caldwell (1957-1966)
Children: with Nastassja Kinski: Kenya; with Peggy Lipton: Rashida and Kidada; with Ulla Andersson: Quincy III and Martina; with Carol Reynolds: Rachel; with Jeri Caldwell: Jolie
Jones and his brother, Lloyd, were raised by their father and stepmother, Elvera, in Seattle and Bremerton, Washington. Their mother had been institutionalized in Chicago when they were very young.
An automobile accident at age 14, where Jones saw four of his friends killed, left him so traumatized that he has never driven a car.
Met Ray Charles when they were both teenagers starting out in the music industry. Jones arranged and produced for Charles, and later Charles performed on Jones’ albums. They remained friends until Charles’ death in 2004.
As an arranger in the 1950s, Jones worked with music industry legends such as Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Lionel Hampton and Frank Sinatra.
As a music producer for more than 60 years, he has worked with Miles Davis, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, Lesley Gore, Jennifer Holliday, Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Barry White and many more.
Jones has 80 Grammy Award nominations and 28 wins, including a Grammy Legend Award. He has seven Oscar nominations and received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. He also has received four Emmy nominations, winning one.
Has scored over 30 movies and written the theme for television shows, documentaries and shorts.
Mid-1940s – Sings and plays trumpet with a gospel quartet.
1951 – Jones’ trumpet playing wins him a scholarship to the prestigious Schillinger House in Boston (now the Berklee College of Music). He leaves when the opportunity arises to join the Lionel Hampton Band.
1956 – Joins the Dizzy Gillespie band as trumpeter and musical director.
1957 – Moves to Paris to study. Works for Barclay Disques publishing music.
1961 – Jones is hired as a musical director for Mercury Records and a few months later advances to vice president.
1963 – Earns his first Grammy Award, Best Instrumental Arrangement for “I Can’t Stop Loving You.”
1963 – Produces “It’s My Party” for Lesley Gore on Mercury Records, his first pop single to reach number one.
August 1974 – Suffers a brain aneurysm, which forces him to stop playing the trumpet.
1977 – Wins an Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) for the film “Roots.”
1982 – Produces Jackson’s album, “Thriller.”
1985 – Conductor and producer for “We Are the World,” the song recorded to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. Producer and music composer for the film “The Color Purple.”
1991 – Receives the Grammy Legend Award.
1991-1993 – Co-produces the Montreux Jazz Festival. His association with the festival continues to present day.
1993 – Launches “Vibe” magazine.
1994-1999 – Chairman and CEO of Qwest Broadcasting, a minority-controlled television broadcasting company.
1995 – Receives the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
March 1996 – Executive Producer of the 68th Annual Academy Awards ceremony.
October 1, 2001 – Simon & Schuster publishes his autobiography, “Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones.”
2001 – Kennedy Center Honoree.
2008 – Publishes the book “The Complete Quincy Jones: My Journey & Passions.”
2008 – Establishes the non-profit Quincy Jones Foundation.
April 18, 2013 – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee.
July 11, 2017 – Jones’ 2013 lawsuit against Jackson’s estate goes to trial. Jones claims he is owed $30 million in unpaid royalties.
July 26, 2017 – Jones wins $9.42 million in damages in his lawsuit against Jackson’s estate.
September 21, 2018 – “Quincy,” a documentary about the life and legacy of Jones, debuts on Netflix. The film, directed by Alan Hicks and Jones’ daughter, Rashida Jones, wins a Grammy award in February 2019 for Best Music Film.
May 5, 2020 – An appellate court overturns a portion of Jones’ 2017 lawsuit against Jackson’s estate. The court rules that contract interpretation was a judicial function and not meant for the jury, which mistakenly awarded Jones $6.9 million. The $2.5 million award for fees stands.
September 20, 2020 – Jones enters into a global publishing agreement with Warner Chappell Music. The deal covers administration of his current and future songwriting catalog. This includes over 2,000 compositions and work by songwriters Brothers Johnson, Siedah Garrett and others under his company.
September 27, 2023 – Jones is presented with the inaugural Peace Through Music Award by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Marson Jr. The awards recognize an American music industry professional who has played an invaluable role in cross-cultural exchanges and whose music work advances peace and mutual understanding globally.
by tyler | Feb 21, 2024 | CNN, showbiz
The truck that rear-ended comedian Tracy Morgan’s limo was speeding 20 mph over the limit, and its driver was approaching federal limits on how long he could be behind the wheel, according to investigators.
The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report Thursday on the New Jersey Turnpike crash that badly injured Morgan and killed one of his friends, comedian James McNair, in the early morning hours of June 7.
Morgan, 45, suffered broken ribs, a broken nose and a broken leg. His condition has been upgraded from critical to fair, his publicist Lewis Kay said this week. The condition of another limo passenger, Jeff Millea, has also improved to fair, Kay said.
Hospitalized Tracy Morgan upgraded to fair condition
A criminal complaint filed by police said driver Kevin Roper had been awake for more than 24 hours at the time of the crash. Roper, 35, pleaded not guilty to charges that include vehicular homicide and assault by auto. He is free on $50,000 bond.
The NTSB report said the 2011 Peterbilt truck owned and operated by Walmart was speeding at 65 mph for the 60 seconds before the crash. Roper allegedly ignored a sign a mile earlier warning that lanes were closed ahead for construction and another sign a half-mile later reducing the speed limit from 55 mph to 45 mph, the report said.
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter limo carrying Morgan and five other passengers had slowed down because of congestion caused by the center and right lanes being shut down to allow contractors to work on a large overhead sign nearly 3 miles down the road, the NTSB said.
The truck struck the rear of Morgan’s limo, and the “two vehicles moved forward and were involved in secondary impacts with other vehicles that were slowed in the traffic queue,” the report said. “The limo van rolled over and came to rest on its left side, facing east, across the center and right lanes.”
Roper, who lives in Georgia but was based in Delaware, reported for work at 11:22 a.m. on June 6, according to the NTSB report. He made deliveries to Walmart stores in New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania before the wreck 13 hours, 32 minutes later, it said. Federal rules limit interstate commercial drivers to 14-hour shifts before they must rest, the report said.
His total driving time that day was 9 hours, 37 minutes, which is below the 11 hours allowed by federal limits, the report said.
The NTSB, however, is also looking at how long Roper was awake and driving before he reported to work the day before the crash, officials told CNN on Thursday. He lives in Georgia and commutes to his job more than 700 miles away in Smyrna, Delaware, NTSB spokesman Keith Holloway said.
Federal investigators based their preliminary findings largely on the small computer on board the truck that records speed, engine performance, brakes and other information, the report said.
Walmart said last week that it believed Roper was operating within federal rest guidelines but said it would take full responsibility if the investigation shows its truck was to blame. “The details are the subject of the ongoing investigation, and we are cooperating fully with the appropriate law enforcement agencies,” said Brooke Buchanan, a spokeswoman for the company.
The NTSB also released new images of the truck and van based on 3-dimensional scans of them after the crash.
Morgan was a regular on “Saturday Night Live” for seven years and later received an Emmy nomination for his role in the comedy series “30 Rock.”
Funny man Tracy Morgan has known fame and foibles
by tyler | Feb 21, 2024 | CNN, showbiz
Gerry Goffin, a hit songwriter and former husband of Carole King, died early Thursday. He was 75.
Together with King, he wrote such classics as “The Loco-Motion,” “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” and “Up on the Roof.”
King described Goffin as her first love.
“He had a profound impact on my life and the rest of the world. Gerry was a good man and a dynamic force, whose words and creative influence will resonate for generations to come,” she said in a statement.
“His words expressed what so many people were feeling but didn’t know how to say. If you want to join his loved ones in honoring him, look at the names of the songwriters under the titles of songs,” King added.
The lyricist died at home of natural causes, according to a statement from his publicity agency.
Goffin’s repertoire of hits ran across decades, from the early 1960s through the late 1990s, and includes some of the most familiar songs of modern times.
Born in Brooklyn, Goffin met King when they were students at Queens College, according to a biography on the Songwriters Hall of Fame website. They married in 1959.
Their big break came soon after with “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” which was recorded by The Shirelles. Luminaries like The Beatles and Whitney Houston also performed his songs.
Among Goffin’s other hits are: “Saving All My Love For You” with Michael Masser, “Who Put The Bomp” with Barry Mann and “I’ve Got To Use My Imagination” with Barry Goldberg.
He is survived by his wife, Michele Goffin, five children and six grandchildren.
People we have lost in 2014
by tyler | Jan 17, 2024 | CNN, showbiz
Here’s a look at the life of Elton John, award-winning singer, composer and pianist.
Birth date: March 25, 1947
Birth place: Pinner, Middlesex, England
Birth name: Reginald Kenneth Dwight
Father: Stanley Dwight, a Royal Air Force officer
Mother: Sheila (Harris) Dwight
Marriages: David Furnish (2014-present); Renate Blauel (1984-1988, divorced)
Children: Born via surrogate with Furnish: Elijah Joseph Daniel, Zachary Jackson Levon
Won a piano scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music at age 11.
Officially changed his name to Elton John in 1967. The name was inspired by members of his early band, Bluesology. The saxophone player was named Elton Dean, and the lead singer was named Long John Baldry.
Nominated for four Academy Awards and has won twice.
Nominated for 35 Grammy Awards and has won five, plus received a Grammy Legend Award.
Nominated for four Tony Awards and has won once.
Nominated for one Emmy Award and won.
Early in his career, he was known for whimsical costumes and wild glasses. He’s taken the stage wearing a duck suit, a sequined baseball uniform and a Ronald McDonald outfit. He wore the colorful clothes to help create a spectacle and offset his shyness onstage.
He is ranked third on Billboard’s list of Greatest of All Time Artists. Only The Beatles and The Rolling Stones rank higher.
John’s tribute to Princess Diana, “Candle in the Wind 1997,” sold more than 10 million copies in the United States. Proceeds from record sales were donated to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, which issued grants to a variety of charities.
1967 – Starts working as a songwriter for Liberty Records. This is the beginning of his songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin.
1970 – Launches his first world tour.
1973 – Reaches the top of the Billboard singles chart for the first time with “Crocodile Rock.” He also releases the double album, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” which spawns a series of hits including the title track, “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” and “Bennie and the Jets.” The album also features “Candle in the Wind,” originally written as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, later adapted into a song for Princess Diana after her death.
1975 – Appears in a movie based on the Who’s rock opera, “Tommy.” John performs the song, “Pinball Wizard,” in the film. That same year, John’s album, “Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy,” becomes the first LP in Billboard history to debut at No. 1 on the charts.
1976 – John duets with Kiki Dee on the number one hit, “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.”
1979 – Becomes the first rock or pop star from the West to perform in the Soviet Union.
July 13, 1985 – Performs at the Live Aid benefit concert in London for famine relief. Other featured artists at the all-star show include Paul McCartney, Queen, David Bowie and U2.
February 24, 1987 – Wins the Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal – “That’s What Friends Are For” – with Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder.
1990 – Seeks treatment for drug and alcohol addiction.
1992 – Establishes the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
February 25, 1992 – Wins the Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition for “Basque.”
January 19, 1994 – Is inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
July 1994 – John teams up with Billy Joel for a series of concerts called “Face to Face.” The two piano mavens tour together repeatedly over the course of 16 years.
March 1, 1995 – Wins the Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.”
March 27, 1995 – Wins the Academy Award for Best Music (Original Score) for “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” from Disney’s “The Lion King.”
September 6, 1997 – Performs “Candle in the Wind 1997” at Princess Diana’s funeral.
February 24, 1998 – Queen Elizabeth II names John an Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
February 25, 1998 – Wins the Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for “Candle in the Wind 1997.”
February 23, 2000 – Is presented with the Grammy Legend Award.
June 4, 2000 – Wins the Tony Award for Best Original Musical Score for “Aida.”
February 21, 2001 – Wins the Grammy for Best Musical Show Album for “Aida.”
2004-2009 – Performs a series of shows at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas called “Elton John and the Red Piano.”
December 21, 2005 – John and Furnish have a civil partnership ceremony, after 12 years together.
November 13, 2008 – “Billy Elliot: The Musical,” featuring a score composed by John, opens on Broadway and goes on to win 10 Tony Awards including Best Musical.
September 28, 2011 – John begins a second residency at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, with a series of concerts called “The Million Dollar Piano.”
May 2012 – During a “Million Dollar Piano” performance, John becomes seriously ill. He is hospitalized in Los Angeles for a respiratory infection.
July 2013 – Cancels European tour dates due to an upcoming surgery for appendicitis.
November 10, 2016 – The Tate Modern museum in London opens an art show called “The Radical Eye: Modernist Photography from the Sir Elton John Collection.” The exhibition features highlights from John’s trove of 8,000 prints of vintage photos dating back to the turn of the 20th century.
January 24, 2018 – Announces that his next world tour will be his last. “I’ve been touring since I was 17 with various bands,” John says. “I thought the time is right to say thank you to all my fans and say goodbye.”
September 8, 2018 – Begins his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
May 31, 2019 – The film, “Rocketman,” depicting the life of John and starring Taron Egerton, debuts at the US box office. John is a producer.
June 2019 – “Diamonds,” a compilation of John’s greatest hits, reaches No. 7 on the Billboard 200, making it his 20th top 10 album on the list. John becomes the 10th musician to do this.
October 15, 2019 – His autobiography “Me” is published.
February 9, 2020 – Wins the Academy Award for Best Music (Original Song) for “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from “Rocket Man.”
February 16, 2020 – John announces that he has been diagnosed with walking pneumonia while on tour in Auckland, New Zealand.
March 16, 2020 – John postpones portions of his tour in North America due to concerns over coronavirus.
March 29, 2020 – John hosts a benefit special, “Fox Presents the iHeart Living Room Concert for America”, that pays tribute to front line health care workers and first responders amid the coronavirus pandemic.
October 22, 2020 – Mattel releases a limited edition Barbie doll styled in John’s likeness. The doll is released to mark the 45th anniversary of the singer’s record-breaking, two day performance at the Dodgers Stadium in October 1975.
February 2021 – John and actor Michael Caine, backed by the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), release a video encouraging individuals to get vaccinated for Covid-19.
September 16, 2021 – John announces that he will undergo hip surgery due to a fall over the summer. John has surgery in October.
January 25, 2022 – According to a statement from American Airlines Center in Dallas, John’s concerts at the arena are postponed after he tested positive for Covid-19. “Fortunately, Elton is fully vaccinated and boosted, and is experiencing only mild symptoms,” the venue writes in a statement.
September 23, 2022 – US President Joe Biden presents John with the National Humanities Medal, surprising the musician following a performance on the South Lawn of the White House.
November 20, 2022 – Disney+ presents an exclusive livestream of John’s final North American performance, “Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium.”
July 8, 2023 – John performs the last concert of the final tour of his career in Stockholm, Sweden.
January 15, 2024 – John wins an Emmy for his Disney+ special “Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium” and becomes an EGOT winner – the acronym reserved for those who win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony.
