News Articles

Sir Elton John Returns “Under African Skies” Featuring percussionist Ray Cooper

Share in the experience of this iconic performer, out in the open, under the stars. Join family and friends for an entertaining evening by this legendary SuperStar, accompanied by long-time collaborator and renowned percussionist, Ray Cooper.

His solo tour ‘Under African Skies” will be an intimate, picnic style affair of well remembered sounds of the past, bringing back memories and dreams of times gone by. Elton John’s music has never aged and has been enjoyed by all generations.

So this is a concert to share with the whole family, bring along your snack basket. Granny and Grampa, Oom Piet en Tant Bessie and little John and Suzy from next door.

Algoa FM, Talk Radio 702, East Coast Radio and 94.5 Kfm proudly present the return of Elton John to South Africa in March 2010.

Elton John’s musical career spans for over four decades. He was the biggest pop superstar of the early 70’s and forty years later remains one of the most entertaining, charismatic and energetic musicians and performers on the planet.

Elton John released his first album ‘Empty Sky’ in 1970, this was soon followed by the self titled ‘Elton John’ album, which included the tracks were ‘Border Song’ and the classic ‘Your Song’. This provided Elton with his first UK hit, reaching number Two on the charts, and thereby announcing the emergence of a major talent. Working with fellow songwriter Bernie Taupin they made an astonishing fourteen albums between 1970- 1976. Amongst these, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy was the first album ever to enter the Billboard Chart at Number One. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, with its string of American Number One hit singles and unbroken two month run at the top of the Billboard Top 100, became an all-time classic.

To date he has sold over 200 million records worldwide and had a multitude of hits including ‘Rocket Man’, ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ and ‘Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me’. He has also had success in film when he composed ‘Can You Feel The Love Tonight’ for Disney’s The Lion King, which won him both a Grammy and an Academy Award. Elton has gone onto compose various musical scores including Aida, Lestat and the award winning musical Billy Elliot, which has played to well over 2.5 million people in London, Sydney and in New York where it recently won 10 Tony awards including Best Musical.

In 1997 Elton John released ‘Candle In the Wind’ in tribute to his friend Princess Diana. It is still the biggest single of all time selling over 33,000,000 copies and helped to raise millions of pounds for Diana’s charities.

After in 1998 Elton received a knighthood from HM Queen Elizabeth II for "services to music and charitable services." He was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Recent reviews from the ‘Elton John featuring Ray Cooper’ European Tour had the following to say:

London – The Times – ‘He stood and received countless ovations; a hardcore and highly impressive display of the piano man’s craft’.

London – The Evening Standard – ‘His piano playing was powerful whilst his vocal reached master chef levels’.

London - The Daily Telegraph – ‘The power of Sir Elton john’s solo performance reminded his audience that he is a true original’.

London - The Independent – ‘This is Elton unplugged, unvarnished and punishingly impressive’.

London - The Guardian – ‘Elton John and Ray Cooper together were brilliant. John’s piano playing was dazzling’.

France - Le Figaro – ‘Music flows naturally through his veins’

TOUR ITINERARY

Johannesburg

Sunday 21st March 2010

Emmarentia Botanic Gardens,

Tickets R501

Durban

Wednesday 24th March

Moses Mabhida Outer Fields

Tickets R399

Port Elizabeth

Friday 26th March

NMMU Sports fields South Campus

Tickets R399

Cape Town

Sunday 28th March

Val De Vie Wine and Polo Estate, Franschhoek/Paarl Valley