Elton John Fast Facts
Personal
Birth place: Pinner, Middlesex, England
Birth name: Reginald Kenneth Dwight
Father: Stanley Dwight, a Royal Air Force officer
Mother: Sheila (Harris) Dwight
Other Facts
Won a piano scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music at age 11.
Officially changed his name to Elton John in 1967. The name was inspired by members of his early band, Bluesology. The saxophone player was named Elton Dean, and the lead singer was named Long John Baldry.
Early in his career, he was known for whimsical costumes and wild glasses. He’s taken the stage wearing a duck suit, a sequined baseball uniform and a Ronald McDonald outfit. He wore the colorful clothes to help create a spectacle and offset his shyness onstage.
Kids who collected (and resisted ripping the tags off) Beanie Babies in the 1990s were promised a massive return on their investment when they grew up. Decades later, the majority of the Ty toys aren’t worth much more money today than when they first hit shelves at the height of Beanie mania. But that doesn’t mean you should throw away the toys in your attic without giving them a second look. While they re hard to come by, there are a few rare Beanie Babies out there, like Valentino the bear, that can still earn you a small fortune on eBay. Here are the most valuable stuffed collectibles to look for.