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Elton John

Elton John — Photographs, 1970 to 1986

Elton John arrived in America in August 1970 as a songwriter few people had heard of, and within five years he was playing stadiums. The photographs in this collection follow that rise at close range, from the first London portraits and New York sittings of 1970 to the costumes, the arenas and the records that defined the decade after.

In London, Barrie Wentzell, then staff photographer at Melody Maker, photographed him in Soho Square and on Hampstead Heath with his lyricist Bernie Taupin in 1970, and on stage at the Sundown Theatre in 1973. That same year in New York, Jack Robinson made a quiet series of portraits, among them the frame of Elton John seen through the open body of a piano.

Bob Gruen followed the early American years, at the Fillmore East in 1971 and Carnegie Hall in 1972, and was at the Record Plant in 1974 when Elton John and John Lennon worked together in the studio. On the West Coast, James Fortune photographed him at The Forum in Los Angeles in 1974 and on stage with Diana Ross at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in 1975. Richard Aaron covered the Louder Than Concorde tour at Madison Square Garden in 1976.

The 1980s are seen through Lynn Goldsmith's portrait of 1982, a Polaroid by Martyn Goddard from the same year, Richard Aaron's photographs in Philadelphia in 1983, and two concerts in 1986: Brian Aris at Wembley Arena and Bob Gruen at Madison Square Garden.

Each work is printed from the photographer's original material, signed by the photographer or stamped by the estate, and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and a secure digital provenance record.

Photographers in this collection: Bob Gruen, Jack Robinson, Barrie Wentzell, James Fortune, Richard Aaron, Lynn Goldsmith, Martyn Goddard and Brian Aris. Related collections: John Lennon — The New York Years, David Bowie, Queen.

20 works
Elton John seen through the piano, New York City, 1970, photographed by Jack Robinson.
Elton John Seen Through the Piano, New York City, 1970TMPG·8870
Jack Robinson From $1,250
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Elton John photographed at Soho Square, London, 1970, by Barrie Wentzell.
Elton John, Soho Square, London, 1970TMPG·1814
Barrie Wentzell From $1,900
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Elton John and Bernie Taupin on Hampstead Heath, London, 1970, photographed by Barrie Wentzell.
Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Hampstead Heath, London, 1970TMPG·6806
Barrie Wentzell From $1,900
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Elton John in a star shirt, New York City, 1970, photographed by Jack Robinson.
Elton John in a Star Shirt, New York City, 1970TMPG·6102
Jack Robinson From $1,250
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Elton John in black leather, New York City, 1970, photographed by Jack Robinson.
Elton John in Black Leather, New York City, 1970TMPG·0566
Jack Robinson From $1,250
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Elton John close-up, New York City, 1970, photographed by Jack Robinson.
Elton John, Close-Up, New York City, 1970TMPG·2262
Jack Robinson From $1,250
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Elton John, Fillmore East, NYC. April 9, 1971, photographed by Bob Gruen.
Elton John, Fillmore East, New York City, 1971TMPG·3686
Bob Gruen From $1,200
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Elton John, Carnegie Hall, NYC. November 1972, photographed by Bob Gruen.
Elton John, Carnegie Hall, New York City, 1972TMPG·7926
Bob Gruen From $1,200
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Elton John performing at the Sundown Theatre in London, 1973, photographed by Barrie Wentzell.
Elton John, Sundown Theatre, London, 1973TMPG·0550
Barrie Wentzell From $1,900
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Elton John and John Lennon, Record Plant, New York City, 1974, photographed by Bob Gruen.
Elton John and John Lennon, Record Plant, New York City, 1974TMPG·8646
Bob Gruen From $1,200
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Elton John & John Lennon, NYC - 1974, photographed by Bob Gruen.
Elton John and John Lennon at the Piano, New York City, 1974TMPG·6598
Bob Gruen From $1,200
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Elton John singing at the microphone in pink sunglasses and a gold jacket at The Forum, Los Angeles, 1974, photographed by James Fortune.
Elton John at the Microphone, The Forum, Los Angeles, 1974TMPG·5942
James Fortune From $1,400
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Elton John in a green and lilac stage costume leaping on stage at The Forum, Los Angeles, 1974, photographed by James Fortune.
Elton John on Stage, The Forum, Los Angeles, 1974TMPG·4710
James Fortune From $1,400
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Elton John in a silver suit beside Diana Ross in a white feathered coat, photographed by James Fortune.
Elton John and Diana Ross, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1975TMPG·3494
James Fortune From $1,400
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Elton John, Louder Than Concorde tour, Madison Square Garden, New York City, 1976, photographed by Richard Aaron.
Elton John, Madison Square Garden, Louder Than Concorde Tour, New York City, 1976TMPG·1782
Richard Aaron From $850
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Elton John, 1982, photographed by Lynn Goldsmith.
Elton John, 1982TMPG·1542
Lynn Goldsmith Price on request
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Elton John in a cap and oversized glasses holding a Polaroid of himself, photographed by Martyn Goddard, 1982.
Elton John, Polaroid, 1982TMPG·9526
Martyn Goddard From $550
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Elton John, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1983, photographed by Richard Aaron.
Elton John, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1983TMPG·6774
Richard Aaron From $850
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18 of 20 works