Elton John Ranks Number One in Adult Contemporary on Billboard
by Shae Lynhttp://entertainment.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474979650812
July 16, 2011 11:00 PM EDT
John, who has about 30 albums to his credit, has had 16 number one records to date in adult contemporary music. This is a record.
Working in the music industry since 1967, Elton started his career when he was only 15 years old playing piano in the local tavern on the weekends. However, he actually has been playing since the tender age of 3.
John's sales have totaled over 250 million records. He has earned several Grammy Awards, as well as other similar accomplishments. This classifies him as one of the most successful musical artists ever.
Proactive in many charitable events, he has received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II herself for his selflessness and hospitality towards others. His time and generosity have helped others not as fortunate live better lives.
A musical icon, congratulations Elton John, you rock.
Croatian cellists on tour with rock icon Elton John
Luka Sulic, left, and Stjepan Hauser, right, are joining rock legend Elton John for worldwide shows. Marcus Selhoff/Sony Classical / HANDOUT/BLOOMBERG NEWS
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In January, Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser were two cello players ready to embark on a life in the world’s classical music halls. Then they decided to have some fun and record a rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” in front of a video camera.
Thousands quickly discovered it on YouTube. A month later, a talent scout from Sony Classical approached the duo with a recording contract. Then Elton John asked them to be the opening act on his current world tour.
“It’s like a miracle, what happened,” said Hauser, 25, in a telephone interview while en route to a Sarajevo gig. “Elton John expressed admiration for our music, and we were honored because he’s a living legend. One day we were unknown and now we’re living the American dream.”
The duo, known as 2Cellos, will bring their energetic playing style and pop-infused chamber music to New York’s Le Poisson Rouge. They will also celebrate the U.S. release of their self-titled CD. The 12 cuts are covers of radio-friendly songs that may make many classical purists shudder. They include Guns N’ Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle,” “Where the Streets Have No Name” by U2, Nirvana’s “Teen Spirit” and “Use Somebody” by Kings of Leon.
Like other kids in Croatia, Hauser said he and his partner, 23, grew up worshiping pop and rock gods such as Jackson, Sting and Bono. Embracing classical music doesn’t mean forsaking other genres.
“Classical music is not so popular, unfortunately, and what we’re doing is bringing classical music to a younger audience,” Hauser said.
The pair have also made a video of “Welcome to the Jungle,” which has lured more than 1.6 million viewers on YouTube. The melodic sound of the cello is prevalent, but the duo plays with a headbanger’s fervor.
“We are both very intense cellists, and we play with power,” said Hauser, the winner of 21 international and national prizes. “We are like animals on the cello. We break the strings and the bows when we play.”
Hauser grew up in the city of Pula, and Sulic was raised in Slovenia. Sulic went to London’s Royal Academy of Music, while Hauser enrolled in Manchester’s Royal Northern College of Music, where he was the last student of Russian cello legend Mstislav Rostropovich before he died in 2007.
The two met in a master class in Croatia. While it was natural to perform the classics, they decided to play duets of their favorite rock and pop songs as well.
Hauser once performed for Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace. Now he and Sulic play with Elton John in front of thousands. They have toured this month with him in Europe and will rejoin him in the fall for shows in the U.S., Brazil, Russia and Australia.
“We perform in front of all sorts of people, and there are a lot of screaming girls, and that’s the best part,” Hauser said.
Elton John tickets crashed Sydney network
CBC News
Posted: Jul 31, 2011 12:29 PM AT
Last Updated: Jul 31, 2011 12:29 PM AT
Fans began lining up outside Centre 200 two days before tickets went on sale. CBC
The ticket vendor behind the upcoming Elton John concert in Sydney says it has more information about why some people were charged for tickets they never received.
In a media release issued Saturday night, Centre 200 claims its computer network was overloaded when tickets went on sale July 22 and the system blocked internet traffic and closed some ordering sessions.
The media release made no mention of how much money was taken from customers.
It's estimated Centre 200 is dealing with about 1,000 complaints as result of the computer error.
Some people claim their credit cards were charged even though they didn't get tickets for the Sept. 13 show. Others say they bought tickets but never received them.
Mathew Campbell couldn't get tickets when the online ticket system crashed last Friday. On the ninth attempt he found out the show was sold out.
Campbell later discovered that his credit card had been charged $651 for four tickets. When he called Centre 200 he was told they didn't have any tickets for him.
"It's a flawed system and it's not being run efficiently," Campbell told CBC News last week.
Officials say anyone who paid for tickets but didn't get them can expect a refund.
