Rocket Man - by Claude Bernardin (Paperback)

About the Book

An impeccably-researched, comprehensive exploration of the music and life of one of rock's most prolific and successful stars. Rocket Man focuses on the musical contribution of Elton John, first as a singer, then as a film score composer. Photos.

Book Synopsis

Grammy winner for Can You Feel the Love Tonight from Disney's 1994 blockbuster movie ^The Lion King, Elton John is a musician who has transcended generations. Since his U.S. debut 26 years ago, E.J. has had a top-40 hit every year. This first reference dedicated to the legendary singer/songwriter, who has been enchanting fans for nearly three decades, contains hundreds of anecdotes on people, places, and things related to his career. It includes a behind-the-scenes look at every album, a comprehensive list of all songs written or recorded (dozens never released), and the most extensive look ever at E.J.'s pre-career life. Well researched, the volume's rich detail offers a gold mine of Elton John trivia gathered by one of the artist's premier historians and the editor of the international Elton John fan magazine East End Lights. Fans and popular music buffs will enjoy the comprehensive treatment more than a quarter century since Elton John's U.S. debut.

There are four sections to this encyclopedia: Elton A-Z, featuring explanations, details, and anecdotes related to aspects of his career and life, with entries on celebrity friends, important places, and a wide variety of other topics; Albums, giving a chrononlogical, behind-the-scenes look at his more than 35 albums up to and including 1995's Made in England; Performances, listing his concert tours year by year, highlighting major performances such as John Lennon's final stage appearance in a 1974 show, a 1979 concert in Russia, and a little-publicized 1992 tribute; and Songs, listing alphabetically more than 500 songs recorded or written by Elton John.

Review Quotes

?[Elton John's] fans will welcome this slim volume as a definitive fact finding tool. Want to know about those funky frames the Elton wears on stage? The entry under 'Glasses' gives the entire history. Can't remember which album 'Philadephia Freedom' was on? Every song that Elton has recorded and information about it is included in the song section...highly recommended for public libraries...?-Library Journal

?Rocket Man is a much needed addition to the study of this popular artist....filled with fascinating facts and trivia...belongs in major public libraries and those academic libraries with large popular culture and music collections. Anyone interested in the career of this enduring popular artist would also find it a welcome addition to a personal library.?-H-Net Reviews

"ÝElton John's¨ fans will welcome this slim volume as a definitive fact finding tool. Want to know about those funky frames the Elton wears on stage? The entry under 'Glasses' gives the entire history. Can't remember which album 'Philadephia Freedom' was on? Every song that Elton has recorded and information about it is included in the song section...highly recommended for public libraries..."-Library Journal

"Rocket Man is a much needed addition to the study of this popular artist....filled with fascinating facts and trivia...belongs in major public libraries and those academic libraries with large popular culture and music collections. Anyone interested in the career of this enduring popular artist would also find it a welcome addition to a personal library."-H-Net Reviews

"[Elton John's] fans will welcome this slim volume as a definitive fact finding tool. Want to know about those funky frames the Elton wears on stage? The entry under 'Glasses' gives the entire history. Can't remember which album 'Philadephia Freedom' was on? Every song that Elton has recorded and information about it is included in the song section...highly recommended for public libraries..."-Library Journal

About the Author

CLAUDE BERNARDIN is a nationally honored watercolorist and a parochial school teacher. He is well known in rock-fan circles as one of the premier Elton John historians.

TOM STANTON is publisher of the Elton John fan magazine East End Lights and is a nationally honored journalist. He is the co-owner and editor of five suburban Detroit weekly newspapers. He hosts the international Elton Expo.