Elton John Band

The Elton John Band is the band that backs singer, composer and pianist Elton John on both studio and live recordings. The band was formed in 1970 and has gone through several lineup changes, but Nigel Olsson, Davey Johnstone, and Ray Cooper have been members (albeit not continuously) since 1969, 1971 and 1974 respectively. John has performed with his band over 3,800 times since the group's formation.[1]

Elton John Band
The Elton John Band performing in 2012; Left to right: John, Johnstone, Birch, and (not pictured, right), Olsson and Cooper.
Background information
Years active1970-present
MembersElton John
Nigel Olsson
Davey Johnstone
Ray Cooper
Past membersDee Murray

Their most commercially successful period, 1970–1976, included Honky Château (1972), Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player (1973), Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) and John's first Greatest Hits compilation — the latter two among the official best-selling albums worldwide. Olsson left the band in 1984 but rejoined in 2000.[2] Cooper has worked on and off with the band, because he maintains obligations to other musicians as a session player and sideman as a road-tour percussionist.[3] The band is often not recognised as a formal entity, and is instead referred to simply as the Elton John Band.

Career
The Elton John Band in 1971, while still a trio; Left to right: John, Olsson and Dee Murray

The Elton John Band was formed in 1970, and initially consisted of Elton John on piano and vocals, Dee Murray on bass and Nigel Olsson on drums.[4][5][6] Murray and Olsson first appeared together on disc with John on "Amoreena" from the 1970 studio album Tumbleweed Connection. The following year, they were featured on the live album 17-11-70. While they were John's constant touring bandmates, his record company initially only allowed them to play on just one track per studio album. This changed with Honky Château in 1972 when John exerted some of his skyrocketing popularity at the time to convince DJM to allow Murray and Olsson to also become full-time recording members of his band. Davey Johnstone joined the band as the guitarist.[7] The band played on John's hit singles and albums, including the milestone album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and John's first Greatest Hits compilation.[8] They on world tours with John for several years. In 1975, after recording Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, Murray and Olsson were released from the band because John wanted to achieve a different sound.[9]

Murray and Olsson re-joined the band in 1980, starting with 21 at 33. He and Olsson backed John during his landmark concert in New York City's Central Park before more than 400,000 fans on the Great Lawn on 13 September 1980, and appeared on The Fox in 1981. Murray went on to contribute all the bass tracks on Jump Up! in 1982, and joined Olsson and guitarist Davey Johnstone for the Jump Up! Tour, followed by albums and tours for Too Low for Zero (1983) and Breaking Hearts (1984), and Reg Strikes Back (1988). Murray died in 1992. Olsson re-joined the band in 2004 to record Peachtree Road.

John and Olsson are the only members left from the band's original lineup in 1970, and are currently performing at the ongoing Farewell Yellow Brick Road concert tour, which was put on hiatus in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10][11][12][13][14] After it was announced in January 2022 that the tour had resumed, Olsson stated that the band would wear masks and have tests every two days during the tour.[15] Two shows in Dallas were postponed after John tested positive for COVID-19 and began experiencing mild symptoms.[16][17][18]

Members

Current members
  • Elton John – lead vocals, piano (1970–2023)
  • Nigel Olsson – drums, backing vocals (1970–1975, 1980–1984, 2000–present)
  • Davey Johnstone – lead guitar, musical director, backing vocals (1971–1977, 1982–present)
  • Ray Cooper – percussion (1973–1977, 1979, 1985–1987, 1993–1995, 2009–2012, 2016–present)
  • John Mahon – percussion, backing vocals (1997–present)
  • Kim Bullard – keyboards (2009–present)
  • Matt Bissonette – bass guitar, backing vocals (2012–present)

Previous band members

  • Dee Murray – bass guitar, vocals (1970–1975, 1980–1984, 1988, died 1992)
  • Kenny Passarelli – bass guitar, background vocals (1975–1976)
  • Roger Pope – drums, percussion (1975–1976, died 2013)
  • Caleb Quaye – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1975–1976)
  • James Newton Howard – keyboards, backing vocals, conductor, orchestrations (1975–1981)
  • Jeff Baxter – guitar (1975)
  • Cindy Bullens – backing vocals (1975–1976)
  • Jon Joyce – backing vocals (1975–1976)
  • Ken Gold – backing vocals (1975–1976)
  • Jo Partridge – guitar (1977)
  • John "Cooker" LoPresti – bass guitar (1977, died 2011)
  • Dennis Conway – drums (1977)
  • Richie Zito – lead guitar, backing vocals (1980)
  • Tim Renwick – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1980)
  • Fred Mandel – keyboards, rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1984–1990)
  • Charlie Morgan – drums (1985–1988, 1990, 1992–1998)
  • David Paton – bass guitar, vocals (1985–1988, fill-in 1995)
  • Alan Carvell – backing vocals (1985–1988)
  • Helena Springs – backing vocals (1985–1988)
  • Shirley Lewis – backing vocals (1985–1988)
  • Jody Linscott – percussion (1986–1987)
  • Romeo Williams – bass guitar (1988–1990)
  • Jonathan Moffett – drums (1988–1989)
  • Guy Babylon – keyboards (1988–2009, his death)
  • Marlena Jeter – backing vocals (1988–1993)
  • Natalie Jackson – backing vocals (1988–1993)
  • Alex Brown – backing vocals (1988)
  • Mortonette Jenkins – backing vocals (1988–1993)
  • Bob Birch – bass guitar, vocals (1992–2012, his death)
  • Mark Taylor – keyboards, rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1992–1993)
  • John Jorgenson – guitars, saxophone, pedal steel, mandolin, backing vocals (1994–2000)
  • Billy Trudel – backing vocals (1997-2000)
  • Jack Bruno – drums (1998–1999)
  • Curt Bisquera – drums (2000)
  • Ken Stacey – backing vocals, additional guitar (2000)
  • Tanya Balam – backing vocals (2010–2011)
  • Táta Vega – backing vocals (2010–2014)
  • Lisa Stone – backing vocals (2010–2014)
  • Jean Witherspoon – backing vocals (2010–2014)
  • Rose Stone – backing vocals (2011–2014)
  • Luka Šulić – cello (2011–2014)
  • Stjepan Hauser – cello (2011–2014)

Timeline

Discography
Main article: Elton John albums discography

References
  1. "The Band". Elton John. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  2. "Nigel Olsson Biography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  3. "Percussionist Ray Cooper Celebrates a Birthday Today". Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  4. "About". Elton John. Retrieved 2022-01-21.
  5. "Dee Murray Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 2022-01-21.
  6. "Elton John Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 2022-01-21.
  7. "Davey Johnstone Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 2022-01-21.
  8. Classic Albums: Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (2001) at IMDb
  9. Joe Bosso (2011-04-11). "Exclusive interview: Nigel Olsson - my career with Elton John". MusicRadar. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  10. "'Farewell Yellow Brick Road' tour announced". Elton John. Retrieved 2022-01-21.
  11. "Watch Elton John resume his 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road' tour in New Orleans". NME. 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  12. Rapp, Allison. "Elton John Resumes Yellow Brick Road Tour: Set List and Photos". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  13. Keith Spera. "Review: Elton John relished his goodbye to New Orleans at his farewell tour's relaunch". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  14. "Elton John reflects on retiring from the road: "I want to do something different with the rest of my life"". CBS News. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
  15. "Elton John guitarist says band and crew will be "super masked up and tested every two days" on tour". Everett Post. 2022-01-19. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  16. Rapp, Allison. "Elton John Resumes Yellow Brick Road Tour: Set List and Photos". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
  17. "COVID-19: Sir Elton John forced to delay shows after testing positive for coronavirus". Sky News. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
  18. "Elton John postpones Texas concerts after getting COVID-19". The Independent. 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
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