Elton John defends himself from paparazzi.

2012 Music Industry Trusts Awards held at the Grosvenor House Hotel.

November 6, 2012

Elton John sings for Telethon

Elton John sings for Telethon
Jayne Rickard, The West Australian

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/15249112/

Legendary singer Elton John will do a live cross to Telethon from his Rocket Man 40th anniversary concert at Perth Arena.

After several months of negotiations, Telethon organisers yesterday celebrated confirmation that the singer would play two songs live from his Perth concert to the Statewide Telethon audience.

Telethon general manager Steve Mummery said the show would cross to the English singer's concert spectacular on Saturday November 10.

"Elton has agreed to perform two songs exclusively for Telethon at his concert," he said.

"We'll cross to the concert live for a couple of songs.

"It's pretty exciting to have somebody of the calibre of Elton John on Telethon.

"He has a child himself and knows how important it is for us to be looking after our kids.

"He's going to bring all of WA into his concert.

"It's going to be a great event and fantasic for Telethon."

Sir Elton is the opening act for the new 15,000 seat Perth Arena in Wellington Street.

Telethon will run over the weekend of November 10-11.

Schmidt shows support for Elton John

Schmidt shows support for Elton John

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/schmidt-shows-support-for-elton-john-20121107-28y62.html

Life couldn't be better for 22-year-old German, Elisa Schmidt. Only a week after the Australian release of her debut album Femme Schmidt, she's home in Berlin taking in all the complimentary remarks comparing her to a modern day Marlene Dietrich or the new ''pearl of pop noir.'' Schmidt is entering one of the most exciting phases of her career where people start to recognise her gifts and understand what all the fuss is about. A trained singer, she left home at 16 to attend a music academy in South London, having realised at the tender age of 10 that singing had to be a central part of her life.
''To be honest my life didn't give me a chance to think about doing something else.'' Schmidt says. ''I guess when you're 10 years old it's a big children's dream to become a singer but I guess from that point I just looked at every opportunity to be on stage to sing and do music. I went to boarding school in London, which was very musical and it was there that I started working on my first songs and I finished my school and three months later I got signed by Warner - so I didn't really have a chance to think about doing something else, luckily.''
In just a short time Schmidt's bohemian ballads and a musical combination of 1920s jazz and modern pop has enraptured a wide audience and if things couldn't get better, she's about to support Elton John on his November shows here.
''It's all so surreal - to be able to play with him on the same stage,'' Schmidt says. ''I am just so super excited to go to Australia with my band and to play for all the people. I had several gigs in LA in April and I was very lucky at one of those concerts the tour promoter for Elton John was there and he came to me after the show and said 'I want you to support Elton John in Australia.'
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''I was like, 'what?' and I didn't really believe them 'cause I thought they are like an American and they always talk a lot but it turned out he was an Australian. So we are all really happy and excited.''
Happiness was also Schmidt's heartfelt emotion when producer Guy Chambers (best known for his work with Robbie Williams) offered to make the first record with her. Particularly given it's the only album since Robbie Williams' Escapology to be fully managed by him.
''We were only meant to do one song with each other and we had two days scheduled to go into the studio to do this one song and then we went into the second day he said come on let's write another song,'' Schmidt says. ''And it was all going so well he asked me if we could do the whole album together which I think was the best thing that could have ever happened to me cause he's not just the most amazing artist, he's so talented and musically it was just a perfect match.''
Elisa Schmidt
WHERE: Canberra Stadium (supporting Elton John)
WHEN: Wednesday, November 14
TICKETS: ticketek.com.au
■ Sean Palmer is a Canberra writer and a severe tunes enthusiast


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/schmidt-shows-support-for-elton-john-20121107-28y62.html#ixzz2BhwyxboO

Engelbert Humperdinck has teamed up with Sir Elton John on a track

'Eltonbert' team up for duet

Sunday, 4 November 2012


Engelbert Humperdinck has teamed up with Sir Elton John on a track

 ENLARGE

Chart veteran Engelbert Humperdinck has teamed up with Sir Elton John for the first time to work on a duet.
The pair popped into a studio in Los Angeles to work on the track which is due to be released early next year.

The "Eltonbert" collaboration will appear on an album of duets being assembled by 76-year-old Engelbert.

His new album will come 45 years after his first massive number one single, his signature tune Please Release Me.

Engelbert - the UK's entry for Eurovision earlier this year, although the track flopped - said: "This album is a true labour of love. We have a few more recordings to go, but what a cast. I'm keeping most of it under my hat but was so excited about working with Elton who I have admired ever since first hearing him that I just couldn't keep it to myself.

"I'm honoured that he has contributed to this album.

Sir Elton said his new recording pal was "one of the sweetest and nicest people I have ever worked with".

He went on: "We had a great time singing together and he is so quick, what I call a 'one-take singer' - 76 years old and still sounding as good as ever".



Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/eltonbert-team-up-for-duet-16233739.html#ixzz2Bhuv6iua