Where did Elton John play his first show?

Answer 1

He started out as a pub pianist in 1962 at the age of only 15, playing at The Northwood Hills Hotel in London. He covered songs by ray Charles and Jim Reeves, as well as singing some material he'd written himself. During the end of his time here, he was in a short-lived band called The Corvettes.

In '64 he and some friends formed an R & B band called Bluesology; over the next two years he divided his time between doing solo gigs at a London hotel bar, working as a courier for a music publishing company, and working with Bluesology. By the mid-'60s, the band was backing American soul and R & B musicians such as The Isley Brothers, Doris Troy and Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles. In '66, they were invited to become the main backing group for Long John Baldrey, and played 16 gigs with him at London's Marquee Club.

After failing auditions for lead singer in the bands King Crimson and Gentle Giant, John (then still known as Reginald Dwight) answered an advert placed in the New Musical Express placed by Ray Williams, then the A&R man for Liberty Records. When they met, Williams gave Dwight a stack of song lyrics written by Bernie Taupin which needed melodies written for them. Dwight duly wrote tunes for some of the songs, posted them to Taupin who was impressed with them, and this cemented their musical partnership which still continues today. in '67, the two recorded Scarecrow, which was to become the first Elton John single. Six months later, Dwight changed his name to Elton John in tribute to Bluesology saxophonist ELTON Dean and to Long JOHN Baldry.

The team of John and Taupin became staff songwriters for DJM Records in '68, writing material for artists like Roger Cook and Lulu. By the following year, John was acting as session pianist for band such as The Hollies, Roger Hodgson, and The Scaffold. On the advice of music publisher Steve Brown, the duo began writing more complex songs for Elton to sing, which included 'I've Been Loving You' and 'Lady Samantha'. On 3rd June '69, Elton released his first album Empty Sky. The follow-up album, called simply Elton John, came out in April 1970, and thenceforth, his musical career took off and has gone from strength to strength.

Answer 2

I believe it was at the Troubadour club in America