when did kiki dee tour with elton john

Elton John, Dua Lipa, Brandi Carlile and Kiki Dee Rock Dodger Stadium for Sir Elton’s U.S. Tour Farewell

It's a tour finale for a friend as 'Cold Heart,' 'Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me' and 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' provide duet highlights in a show globally livestreamed on Disney+.

By Chris Willman

Chris Willman

Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic

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Two of the night’s collaborations had a sure place in the set list: Lipa would be joining John for “Cold Heart,” which he has been performing by himself in the final stretch each night on tour, and Dee was to have her spot on “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” recreating a moment that they shared when he last played Dodger Stadium in 1975.

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John sang the entirety of the set benched, as it were — except for the moments in-between songs when he would stand and spread his arms in exultation, then turn to get a sip of water (which also had the effect of showing off the glitzy, embroidered “Elton” on the back of his tuxedo jacket)… and also with the exception of the duets with Dee and Lipa, which placed him up close with them in “we’re still standing” position.

Apart from the set list, John had a few other closing-night wrinkles. In a nightly moment where he talked about L.A. being special because of what showcasing at the Troubadour did for him in 1970, this night he name-checked former Los Angeles Times rock critic Robert Hilburn for giving him the review there that caught the industry’s attention. And he brought out first the man without whom he said he wouldn’t be there, lyricist Bernie Taupin, and then the family for which he said he had to be leaving, husband and manager David Furnish and their children.

There was no name-checking of any of the celebrity attendees in the house, most of whom attendees and the media had little idea of, but a press release issued in the wee hours from Disney+ cited Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Taron Egerton, Jude Law, Billie Jean King, H.E.R. and Donatella Versace as well as Mitchell among those who were taking the concert in. Many celebs and entertainment personalities made their presence known earlier by stopping to pose on the red carpet, including Angela Bassett, Courtney B. Vance, Miles Teller, Kirsten Dunst, JoJo Siwa, Connie Britton, Christopher Lloyd, Heidi Klum, Lucy Hale, Jenna Dewan, John Stamos, Raven Simone, Sara Gilbert, Sophia Bush, Lisa Rinna, Diana Jenkins and Reed Horstmann.

Notably absent at the Disney+ pre-reception on the premises were a number of expected high-level Disney execs, some of them said to be turning around at the last minute to deal with even more pressing company issues than a big moment for their streaming service — namely, the shocking return of Bob Iger as Disney CEO and ousting of Bob Chapek, something that was announced right as partygoers were arriving for the Disney+ soiree.

For those around the world who missed the livestream, a message on screen at the end of the show promised that the concert would be up on Disney+ for on-demand viewing soon.

Read Variety ‘s full review of John’s opening night Thursday at Dodger Stadium here .

The “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour stretched to 183 shows in the U.S. and Canada, including the final three-night run in L.A. that was attended by 140,000 fans.

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Watch Elton John and Kiki Dee reunite on stage for 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart'

22 November 2022, 11:10

Elton John - Farewell Yellow Brick Road Trailer

By Mayer Nissim

Elton John and Kiki Dee join forces after nearly half a century after they first recorded their duet.

Listen to this article

Elton John is still enjoying his years-long Farewell Yellow Brick Road final tour , which will likely be the last chance we'll get to hear his incredible back catalogue of hits on stage.

Among them is his 1976 single 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart', which went to number one in both the UK and US on release.

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Elton originally recorded the song as a duet with Kiki Dee, and at his final US show at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday (November 20), she joined him on stage for a reunion performance.

John hadn't performed the hit single since 2016, and Elton and Kiki hadn't sung it together since way back in 2006.

Elton's last American show on his Farewell Tour was live-streamed on Disney+, and his hookup with Kiki wasn't the only special performance of the night.

Earlier in the evening, Elton sang 'Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Me' with Brandi Carlile.

Elton first released the song in 1974 on his Caribou album, and performed it as a duet with George Michael at Live Aid in 1985.

The pair reunited in 1991 on the final date of Michael's Cover to Cover tour, and this version was recorded and released as a single, going to number one in the UK and the US.

ELTON JOHN with KIKI DEE : "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" - DODGER STADIUM / LOS ANGELES (Nov 2022)

To open the encore at Dodger Stadium, Elton brought out Dua Lipa for a more recent hit duet, with the pair performing 'Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)'.

The full setlist for Elton John at Dodger Stadium on November 20 was as follows:

• Bennie and the Jets
• Philadelphia Freedom
• I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues
• Border Song
• Tiny Dancer
• Have Mercy on the Criminal
• Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time)
• Take Me to the Pilot
• Someone Saved My Life Tonight
• Candle in the Wind
• Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
• Burn Down the Mission
• Sad Songs (Say So Much)
• Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word
• Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me (with Brandi Carlile)
• The Bitch Is Back
• I'm Still Standing
• Don't Go Breaking My Heart (with Kiki Dee)
• Crocodile Rock
• Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting Encore:
• Cold Heart (PNAU remix) (with Dua Lipa)
• Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

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Elton John announces final dates for Farewell Yellow Brick Road: The Final Tour

By Mayer Nissim

Elton John brings out the special guests for the last US date on his Farewell Tour.

Listen to this article

Elton John and Kiki Dee reunited on stage for the first time in almost two decades at the weekend.

John was playing the last US date on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour when Kiki joined him to perform their classic duet 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart'.

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Elton and Kiki first joined forces to record the song way back in 1976, taking it to number one in the UK and the US.

They haven't performed it together since 2006, and Elton hasn't sung it in concert since 2016.

Elton's show at Dodger Stadium in LA was live-streamed on Disney+ and Kiki wasn't the only special guest,

ELTON JOHN with KIKI DEE : "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" - DODGER STADIUM / LOS ANGELES (Nov 2022)

Brandi Carlile joined Elton for 'Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me', which Elton previously performed live with George Michael at Live Aid in 1985 and again in 1991.

He opened his encore with another duet – 'Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)' – together with Dua Lipa.

Elton brings his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour back to the UK in 2023 for a series of arena shows.

The final Elton John UK and Ireland tour dates are as follows:

• Tuesday, March 28 – 3Arena, Dublin, Ireland
• Wednesday, March 29 – 3Arena, Dublin, Ireland
• Friday, March 31 – The SSE Arena, Belfast
• Sunday, April 2 – The O2, London
• Tuesday, April 4 – The O2, London
• Wednesday, April 5 – The O2, London
• Saturday, April 8 – The O2, London
• Sunday, April 9 – The O2, London
• Wednesday, April 12 – The O2, London
• Thursday, April 13 – The O2, London
• Sunday, April 16 – The O2, London
• Monday, April 17 – The O2, London
• Wednesday, April 19 – Resorts World Arena, Birmingham
• Saturday, April 22 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
• Sunday, April 23 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
• Tuesday, May 30 – The O2, London
• Wednesday,, May 31 – AO Arena, Manchester
• Friday, June 2 – AO Arena, Manchester
• Saturday, June 3 – AO Arena, Manchester
• Tuesday, June 6 – First Direct Arena, Leeds
• Thursday, June 8 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham
• Saturday, June 10 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham
• Sunday, June 11 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham
• Tuesday, June 13 – P&J Live, Aberdeen
• Thursday, June 15 – P&J Live, Aberdeen
• Saturday, June 17 – The SSE Hydro, Glasgow
• Sunday, June 18 – The SSE Hydro, Glasgow

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Disney+’s “elton john live: farewell from dodger stadium” to feature musical powerhouses dua lipa, kiki dee, and brandi carlile in his final north american performance trailer for epic three-hour concert event revealed, from emmy awardⓡ-winning fulwell 73 productions and rocket entertainment, original concert event will be livestreamed exclusively on disney+ on november 20, at 11 pm et / 8 pm pt historical music moment captured in disney+’s livestream concert and ‘iheartradio presents elton john’s thank you to america: the final song’ on sunday, november 20.

(BURBANK, CA. – Nov. 14, 2022) Disney+ today announced that GRAMMY®-winning artists Dua Lipa, Kiki Dee and Brandi Carlile will join musical icon Elton John on stage during his final North American performance at Dodger Stadium, paying tribute to him and his legendary career. “Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium'' will exclusively be livestreamed on Sunday, November 20, at 11 PM ET / 8 PM PT on Disney+. The concert will begin with “Countdown to Elton Live,” featuring famous friends from around the globe wishing him well, interviews with Elton John and David Furnish and more excitement from Dodger Stadium!

Today, Disney+ also revealed the trailer to commemorate the upcoming historic three-hour livestream, from Disney Branded Television and produced by Fulwell 73 Productions and Rocket Entertainment. “Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium” will showcase Elton John as audiences have never seen him before, honoring the icon and the seminal moment in 1975 that cemented his global success.

Having collaborated with many chart-topping artists throughout the decades, Elton John made headlines around the globe in 2021. He returned to the recorded music charts when he teamed up with Dua Lipa on their recent smash hit Cold Heart (PNAU REMIX) , which hit #7 on Billboard’s Hot 100, #1 on its Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart and #1 on the UK singles chart upon its release. The song has been streamed over 1 billion times on Spotify worldwide and most recently won Top Dance/Electronic Song at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards. Cold Heart (PNAU REMIX) , is a combination of Elton John’s most iconic tracks, including Sacrifice and Rocket Man .

Kiki Dee and Elton John made waves nearly 50 years ago with their number-one song Don’t Go Breaking My Heart , which marked his third stand-alone single after Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds and Philadelphia Freedom.

Brandi Carlile has been a fan of the international legend since she was 11 years old and hosted his 30th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party. The two have formed a life-long friendship and in 2021 released Simple Things, which was part of Elton John’s The Lockdown Sessions album.

To amplify the excitement, the hourlong special “iHeartRadio Presents Elton John’s Thank you to America: The Final Song,” will broadcast across over 320 stations nationwide on Sunday, November 20 at 10 PM PT / 1 AM ET. The special will feature legendary moments from Elton John’s career and include a live simulcast of Elton John’s final song and closing remarks during his last performance in North America at Dodger Stadium.

As part of Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, presented by Alliance for Lifetime Income, “Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium” will spotlight the music icon as 50,000+ fans in person and countless admirers worldwide virtually cheer him on. The experience features special guests and performances of unparalleled global hits spanning decades, in one of the greatest send-offs in music history. The concert will be the culmination of his Disney Original Documentary, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: The Final Elton John Performances and The Years that Made His Legend.

From Disney Branded Television, “Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium” is produced by Fulwell 73 Productions and Rocket Entertainment. Fulwell 73 Productions has executed and captured some of the biggest moments in music history, including Elton John’s AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Party, “Adele: One Night Only,” “Bruno Mars: 24K Magic Live at The Apollo,” “GRAMMYS®,” and many more. Executive producers for Fulwell 73 Productions are Gabe Turner, Ben Winston, Emma Conway and Sally Wood, who also serves as showrunner. For Rocket Entertainment, Elton John, David Furnish and Luke Lloyd Davies are executive producers. RJ Cutler is executive producer. For Disney Branded Television, Marc Buhaj is vice president, unscripted and nonfiction, and Nicole Silveira is vice president, unscripted.

About Elton John: Elton’s career achievements to date are unsurpassed in their breadth and longevity. Elton is one of the top-selling solo artists of all time. In the UK and US charts alone he has 1 diamond, 32 platinum or multi-platinum, and 21 gold albums as well as over 70 Top 40 hits. He has sold more than 300 million records worldwide.

He holds the record for the biggest-selling single of all time, “Candle in the Wind 1997”, which sold over 33 million copies. Released in 2017 ‘Diamonds’ the Ultimate Greatest Hits album, became Elton’s 40th UK Top 40 album and has spent over 200 consecutive weeks in the top 75 of the UK album charts, over 110 of these in the top 20, and in August 2022 surpassed the threshold for 1 million combined chart unites in the UK. This release celebrated 50 years of his songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin. August 2018 saw Elton named as the most successful male solo artist in Billboard Hot 100 chart history. At present, he has logged 70 Billboard Hot 100 entries, including nine No. 1s and 28 Top 10s. 2021 has seen Elton return to the recorded music charts. ‘The Lockdown Sessions’, an album of collaborations recorded during the COVID-19 Pandemic, was released in October 2021 and went straight to number 1 in the UK album Charts, becoming Elton’s 8th UK number 1 album in the process. His lead single smash hit “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix) with Dua Lipa” became a bona fide global hit, reaching number 1 in the UK and Australian singles charts, number 7 on Billboard’s Hot 100, number 1 on its Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart and number 1 on the UK singles chart upon its release – making Elton the first-ever solo artist to score a UK Top 10 hit single in 6 consecutive decades. The song has been streamed over 1 billion times on Spotify worldwide and most recently won Top Dance/Electronic Song at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards. His most recent release, “Hold Me Closer,” featuring Britney Spears debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, providing Elton with his tenth Top 10 hit. The song also climbed to #1 in Australia and Canada, #3 in the UK, and most notable, #1 on iTunes in over 40 countries upon release. In America, Elton John holds the record for longest span between Billboard top 40 hits at 50 years.

Elton announced the ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour, presented by Alliance for Lifetime Income, at New York’s Gotham Hall in January 2018. Encompassing 5 continents, and over 350 dates, this 5-year-long tour started in September 2018 and marks his retirement from touring after more than 50 years on the road. In 2019 it was named Billboard's Top Rock Tour and Pollstar’s Major Tour Of The Year. To date, Elton has delivered more than 4,000 performances in more than 80 countries since launching his first tour in 1970. 2019 also saw the release of ‘Rocketman’ and global bestselling autobiography, ‘ME’. An epic fantasy musical motion picture of Elton’s life, 'Rocketman' has been a commercial and critical hit, taking close to $200m at the box office. It has won an Oscar, two Golden Globe Awards and a Critics’ Choice Award and garnered BAFTA nominations. Its soundtrack was also nominated for a GRAMMY Award.

Among the many awards and honors bestowed upon him are six GRAMMYs, including a GRAMMY Legend award, a Tony and two Oscars, a Best British Male Artist BRIT Award, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Kennedy Center Honor, Legend of Live Award, 13 Ivor Novello Awards between 1973 and 2001 and a knighthood from HM Queen Elizabeth II for “services to music and charitable services”. Most recently, Elton was awarded the 2021 iHeartRadio “Golden Icon” Award in recognition of his incredible influence on music and pop culture. In February 2022, he topped the inaugural Pollstar Artist Power Index, a weekly rank of the world’s most popular artists based on streaming, touring, airplay, and social media metrics.

In 1992, Elton established the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which today is one of the leading non-profit HIV/AIDS organizations and has raised over $515 million to date in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. In June 2019 President Emmanuel Macron presented Elton the Légion d’honneur, France’s highest award, for his lifetime contribution to the arts and the fight against HIV/AIDS. Elton was awarded the Companion of Honor in the 2021 New Year Honors list. The highest acknowledgement in the list, Elton became one of only 64 people to hold the honor. September 2019 saw The Royal Mail issue a set of 12 stamps as a tribute to Elton being one of the most popular and enduring music artists of all time. Elton was only the second individual music artist to be featured in a dedicated stamp issue. In July 2020 the Royal Mint released an Elton John commemorative coin, the second in their music legends series to celebrate 'one of the most successful and enduring artists of all time'. Always a tireless champion of new artists, Elton has been a leading industry voice in lobbying the government for young artists visa-free touring rights in Europe post Brexit.

About Disney+ Disney+ is the dedicated streaming home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic, along with The Simpsons and much more. In select international markets, it also includes the general entertainment content brand, Star. The flagship direct-to-consumer streaming service from The Walt Disney Company, Disney+ is part of the Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution segment. The service offers an ever-growing collection of exclusive originals, including feature-length films, documentaries, live-action and animated series, and short-form content. With unprecedented access to Disney’s long history of incredible film and television entertainment, Disney+ is also the exclusive streaming home for the newest releases from The Walt Disney Studios. Disney+ is available as a standalone streaming service, as part of the Disney Bundle in the U.S. that gives subscribers access to Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, or as part of Combo+ in Latin America with Star+, the standalone general entertainment and sports streaming service in the region. For more, visit disneyplus.com, or find the Disney+ app on most mobile and connected TV devices.

About Disney Branded Television Disney Branded Television encompasses the creative storytellers, and production and marketing teams responsible for Disney-branded television series, movies and other programming spanning live-action, animated and unscripted formats. The group helps fuel the Disney+ streaming platform and Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior linear networks with content geared toward kids, tweens, teens and families, with stories that are imaginative, aspirational and reflective of their world and experiences. Recent projects include “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” “Monsters at Work,” “The Mysterious Benedict Society,” “Growing Up,” and “Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends,” as well as upcoming “Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium.” Disney Branded Television has created some of the most iconic and award-winning properties and franchises, including Peabody Award winners “Doc McStuffins” and “The Owl House”; Emmy® Award winners “Big City Greens,” “Turning the Tables with Robin Roberts,” and “Elena of Avalor”; the beloved “Mickey Mouse” cartoon shorts plus the Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) franchise, comprised of more than 100 titles.

About Fulwell 73 Productions Fulwell 73 Productions is a London- and Los Angeles-based production company making top-quality television programs and motion pictures that both entertain and inform. Born in 2005 from a lifelong friendship between founding partners Ben Winston, Leo Pearlman, Ben Turner and Gabe Turner, Fulwell 73 expanded in 2017 with the addition of partner James Corden.

On the television side, Fulwell 73 produces the AppleTV+ multi-Emmy Award-winning “Carpool Karaoke The Series,” Emmy and Critics Choice Award-winning “The Late Late Show with James Corden” and the hit Hulu series “The Kardashians.” They also produced the Emmy Award-winning CBS special “Adele: One Night Only” and BAFTA-nominated “An Audience with Adele,” for ITV, the Disney+ space series “Among the Stars” and Netflix unscripted series “Sex Unzipped,” hosted by Saweetie. For the second consecutive year Fulwell 73 produced the GRAMMY Awards, the biggest musical celebration on television, and are credited with revitalizing the awards program.

Additional television credits include Amazon documentary “All or Nothing Juventus,” Netflix documentary “Sunderland ‘til I Die,” BBC’s “Jack Whitehall’s Sporting Nation” and BAFTA winning feature doc “Bros: After the Screaming Stops,” Channel 4’s “Auschwitz Untold: In Colour,” the hit “Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special” for BBC One and the UK’s “Stand Up to Cancer” special, which raised more than 31 million pounds.

Film credits include Amazon’s retelling of “Cinderella,” starring Camila Cabello, which debuted as the number one streaming film on its opening weekend, and upcoming “Real Pigeons Fight Crime” for Nickelodeon. Additional film credits include Lionsgate’s critically acclaimed “In the Hands of God,” Universal Pictures’ football documentary “The Class of 92,” Sony Pictures’ box office hit “One Direction 3D: This is Us,” and Universal Pictures’ Usain Bolt documentary “I Am Bolt.” www.fulwell73.com

Facebook: @DisneyPlus Twitter: @DisneyPlus Instagram: @DisneyPlus TikTok: @DisneyPlus Hashtag: #EltonLive Hashtag: #DisneyPlus

MEDIA CONTACTS

Disney+ Media Relations Patrick O’Neil [email protected]

Disney Branded Television Chris Albert [email protected]

Jenn DeGuzman [email protected]

Tahli Kouperstein [email protected]

Sir Elton John Publicity Team Fran Curtis [email protected]

Jess Sciacchitano [email protected]

Smithhouse Strategy for ELTON JOHN LIVE: FAREWELL FROM DODGER STADIUM [email protected]

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Goodbye, Elton John: Inside the music legend’s final Dodger Stadium concert

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After a dazzling opener on Thursday and a triumphant encore on Saturday (“Saturday, Saaaaturday!”), Elton John returned to Dodger Stadium on Sunday for his final North American bow.

The legendary performer let the sun go down on Los Angeles one last time as he stepped back onto the stage that catapulted him to superstardom nearly 50 years ago . At Sunday’s performance of the North American leg of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, John was joined by collaborators Dua Lipa, Brandi Carlile and Kiki Dee.

But they weren’t the only stars who came out to support the renowned singer and pianist at his grand Dodger Stadium finale, which was available to stream live on Disney+ . Other celebrities in attendance included Joni Mitchell, Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Lizzo, Heidi Klum, Angela Bassett, Jude Law, Billie Jean King, H.E.R., Donatella Versace, Miles Teller, Kirsten Dunst, JoJo Siwa, Connie Britton, Christopher Lloyd, John Stamos, Raven-Symoné and Taron Egerton, who portrayed John in the 2019 biopic “Rocketman.”

“This is a very special night for me — a very emotional night for me — and it’s been a long journey,” John told the crowd.

“I first came here to America in 1970 to the City of Angels … and I played a club called the Troubadour … and it helped me by accelerating my career in America with a review I got from Robert Hilburn for the L.A. Times . So I’ll never forget that.”

From the Archives: Robert Hilburn’s 1970 review of Elton John at the Troubadour — ‘new rock talent’

The year was 1970 and Elton John, then just 23, was making his U.S. debut onstage at the Troubadour in West Hollywood.

May 23, 2019

In line with his previous Farewell Yellow Brick Road shows , John performed several of his greatest hits — from “Tiny Dancer” and “Bennie and the Jets” to “Saturday Night’s Alright” and “Your Song.” He also showcased his supporting acts by peppering in some duets: “Cold Heart” featuring Lipa, “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” featuring Carlile and, of course, “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” featuring Dee.

“In 1975, my next guest was here and sang with me, and we sang this song,” John said before introducing Dee.

“I thought it would be great to reenact that incredible moment. So I asked her to come over, and she did. Here is Kiki Dee!”

Elton John will take his final bow at Dodger Stadium. So let’s time travel back to his legendary 1975 concert

Beginning Thursday, Elton John will play his final U.S. concerts at Dodger Stadium, where, in 1975, he donned a sequined Dodgers uniform and made music history.

Nov. 16, 2022

Hordes of fans across generations arrived early to the ballpark to beat traffic, which was predictably nightmarish ahead of Thursday and Saturday’s shows. Sunday was no exception.

“I’ve been listening to him since my parents … and then going through the AIDS crisis, he stepped up and took the lead … which really meant a lot to me,” said concertgoer Sean Masse, a 53-year-old registered nurse from South L.A. who was dressed in his own extra-bedazzled version of John’s iconic Dodgers uniform from 1975. “Plus, everything he went through with his sobriety and his drug use … he’s been a beacon of light to everybody.”

“Elton John is an icon,” echoed concertgoer Thad Epting, a 51-year-old car salesman from Canyon Lake who wore a rainbow suit with a feather boa and flashing hat. “He’s one of the greatest songwriters ever, and as a kid I heard countless Elton John songs. … With my kids growing up, we were always singing Elton John songs in the car. So it’s been part of my childhood, part of my adulthood, part of my kids’ childhood.”

In a giant sing-along, the sun goes down on Elton John at Dodger Stadium

One of music’s greatest living showmen returned to the site of perhaps his most famed concert as part of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour.

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Before saying his final goodbyes, John still had a few more tricks up his sparkly sleeves. Near the end of the show, he welcomed to the stage his longtime songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin, who embraced his friend and gave a warm shout-out to John’s band.

“We’ve been writing together since 1967, and we … love each other more than we’ve ever done before,” John said. “He’s amazing.”

Up next was John’s husband, David Furnish, and their two sons, Elijah Joseph Daniel and Zachary Jackson Levon, who waved to the audience amid thunderous applause. John explained that he has decided to stop touring in order to spend more time with his family, who he brought out “to show you why I am retiring.”

With his Dodger Stadium swan song behind him, John is gearing up for the epilogue of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour — which will resume abroad next year and conclude in Stockholm in July.

“Thank you all for dressing up. It makes me so happy to see when you wear the most fantastic costumes,” John said during his final speech of the night.

“I became successful first in America, and you bought the singles and the albums … the cassettes, the CDs — and more importantly you bought tickets to the shows, which I love more than anything … I want to thank you for that because you made me. Without America, I wouldn’t be here. … I wish you health and love, prosperity. Be kind to each other, OK? And farewell.”

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The Story of Elton John’s First U.K. No. 1, ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’

For all the massive fame he had achieved by 1976, Elton John had yet to place a song at the top of the charts in his native Great Britain. That changed when he teamed up with Kiki Dee for "Don't Go Breaking My Heart."

Although Dee, born Pauline Matthews in 1947, had broken through a few years earlier, she already had more than a decade of recording experience under her belt. She'd began working with Fontana Records in 1963 when she was in her mid-teens, signing with the same label that gave John's early band Bluesology a shot. Her five-year tenure resulted in a handful of singles and a 1968 album, I'm Kiki Dee , none of which charted. But she gained a name for herself as a backup singer (appearing on Dusty Springfield's "Some of Your Lovin'" and "Little by Little") and a featured performer on radio and television.

That led to her becoming the first white British artist signed to Motown and while 1970's Great Expectations didn't match that lofty title, it proved fortuitous in another way. The music manager for Motown in the U.K. was John Reid, who was also managing Elton John. He convinced her to sign with the label they were forming, Rocket Records, and Loving & Free arrived in 1973 with her first U.K. Top 20, “Amoureuse.” A year later, Dee had a hit on both sides of the Atlantic with "I've Got the Music in Me." Her next project would involve her boss.

Elton John and Bernie Taupin used the pseudonyms Ann Orson and Carte Blanche – a bit of wordplay on the phrases "a horse and cart" and "carte blanche" – for "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," just as they had done on Rock of the Westies . According to producer Gus Dudgeon, John came up with the music first and then had Taupin pen the words, a different process from how they traditionally worked .

“Elton didn’t have a lyric for it," Dudgeon said, according to John's official website . "It was so weird to see him writing a song in the studio with no lyric. I’d never seen him do it before. And all he was singing was ‘Don’t go breaking my heart. Don’t go breaking my heart. Don’t go breaking my heart. Don’t go breaking my heart. Don’t go breaking my heart…’ That’s what he sang all the way through!”

For inspiration, they looked to Marvin Gaye's run of hit duets with Tammi Terrell and Kim Weston ("Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "It Takes Two," "You're All I Need to Get By"), which combined uptempo R&B with an orchestra. With the help of percussionist Ray Cooper, John's keyboardist James Newton Howard was given the opportunity to write the arrangement. He came up with a chart that used 20 strings (12 violins, four violas, four cellos).

"I wrote the arrangement on piano and then wrote it down on paper: the old-fashioned way," Howard recalled to EltonJohn.com. "There were no sequencers back in the day. Well, there were, but there was no way to sync them to tape. So, I just plunked it out on the piano, wrote it down, sent it to the copyist and that was it. ... The one thing I remember Elton saying is, ‘You should do a string solo.' The solo in the middle is full orchestra, so that was kind of fun."

John and his band recorded the track in Toronto during the sessions for Blue Moves and sent it to London for Dee to add her contribution. “I remember getting a copy of it with Elton singing his vocal," she also told EltonJohn.com, "and also doing my part in a high voice! I worked hard on my parts. Elton had already stamped the song with his vocal, which in a way is quite good, ‘cos it gives you a groundwork on how you’re gonna sing it. The precedent has already been set by him, and the writing and production of the song. I seem to remember working quite hard to get the right attitude. Good vocals are always hard work.”

She continued: "It was pretty informal. It’s interesting how something you approach with such a casual attitude – like the video (which was done in a couple of takes for a TV show), who would have thought that would have been played so much over the years?”

Released as a standalone single in June 1976, "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" went to No. 1 in both the U.S. (four weeks) and the U.K. (six weeks). That ranked as his sixth song to top the Billboard Hot 100 in four years, it was also Elton John's last until 1986, when he sang on Dionne Warwick's charity single "That's What Friends Are For." One of John's own compositions wouldn't reach No. 1 until another duet, George Michael 's live remake of "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" did so in February 1992.

In honor of their success on "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," John gave Dee a gold heart necklace with the song's title engraved on it; as of 2011, she said she still had it. And even though he's revisited "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" on several occasions, including singing it in high-profile situations with Miss Piggy on The Muppet Show , the Spice Girls, Minnie Mouse, RuPaul and actor/comedian Steve Coogan, John has never forgotten his original duet partner. They recorded a cover of the Four Tops' "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" for her 1981 record Perfect Timing , she joined him onstage at Live Aid for "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" and they interpreted Cole Porter's "True Love" for his 1993 Duets album.

"I love working with him because as well as being hugely talented he's such a hoot," Dee said in 2013 . "He's a fascinating person, incredibly loyal and one of the funniest, most quick-witted people I've ever met. As we were born just three weeks apart; we always do birthdays. He sends me an orchid and two bottles of champagne every year."

For Dee, it was the commercial high mark of her career, but it was a stepping stone for Howard. Since 1985, he's scored more than 100 movies, including Major League , Glengarry Glen Ross , Lady in the Water and The Dark Knight . He's also been nominated for eight Academy Awards.

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Elton John’s Farewell Tour Books Dua Lipa, Kiki Dee, and Brandi Carlile

Elton John is saying “ Goodbye Yellow Brick Road ” — and the yellow brick road is North America. The legendary singer will be closing out his final performances on the continent in style: as an L.A. lay-day . To do so, the bitch is back at the old stomping grounds of his legendary 1975 concert — Dodger Stadium. But while living up to that iconic show seems like an impossible task, John isn’t taking any chances and is reminding us all what friends are for : making your concert great. The Rocket Man will be joined by his duet partners Dua Lipa and Kiki Dee on “Cold Heart” and “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” respectively, plus Brandi Carlile, who we’re pretty sure just kind of shows up whenever any iconic rocker over 70 years old performs . John will prove he’s still standing on November 17, 19, and 20, but if you can’t make your way to L.A. for it, have no fear. Disney+ won’t let any sun go down on John without as many eyeballs on him as possible, by broadcasting the concert live on November 20 at 11 p.m. ET. His gift is his song , and this last one’s for everybody.

• elton john live: farewell from dodger stadium
• dodger stadium
• brandi carlile
• coming soon

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Watch Elton John Reunite with Kiki Dee at Final North American Tour Date

Elton John returned to Dodger Stadium on Sunday for his final North American show, bringing on special guest stars Dua Lipa, Brandi Carlile and Kiki Dee to commemorate the occasion.

“This is a very special night for me — a very emotional night for me — and it’s been a long journey,” John told the audience.

“I first came here to America in 1970 to the City of Angels … and I played a club called the Troubadour … and it helped me by accelerating my career in America with a review I got  from Robert Hilburn for the L.A. Times . So I’ll never forget that.”

The last bow of John’s “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour — which was  available to stream live on Disney+ – was attended by celebritie s Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Jude Law, Billie Jean King, Taron Egerton, H.E.R, Joni Mitchell, Donatella Versace, Lizzo, Heidi Klum, Lisa Rinna, Lucy Hale, Sophia Bush, JoJo Siwa, Sara Gilbert, Christopher Lloyd, Jenna Dewan, Amanda Kloots and Angela Bassett .

The set list was packed with hits, including “Tiny Dancer” and “Bennie and the Jets,” “Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting),” “Rocket Man,” and “Your Song.” He also included his new hit, “Cold Heart” featuring guest Lipa, “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” featuring Carlile and, of “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” featuring Dee.

“In 1975, my next guest was here and sang with me, and we sang this song,” John said before introducing Dee.

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Elton John to Perform with Dua Lipa, Brandi Carlile and Kiki Dee at Live-Streamed Farewell Concert

Nearly 50 years ago, Dee and John shot to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with the hit duet "Don't Go Breaking My Heart"

Ryan Parker is the former Senior News Editor, Weekends for PEOPLE. He left PEOPLE in 2023.

Elton John will have some high-profile special guests when he plays his highly-anticipated Dodger Stadium concert — the final date of his farewell tour — on Sunday.

The living legend rocker will be joined by Grammy-winning artists Dua Lipa , Brandi Carlile and Kiki Dee for the final evening of three shows in Los Angeles as part of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour — which will stream live on Disney+.

All three artists have previously released collaborations with John. Nearly 50 years ago, he and Dee shot to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Don't Go Breaking My Heart." Last year, he collaborated with Lipa on the top-ten hit "Cold Heart (Pnau Remix)" and Carlile on "Simple Things," both of which were featured on his The Lockdown Sessions album.

In a recent interview, John's manager and husband David Furnish told Variety the "Rocket Man" singer on Sunday will wear a recreation of his iconic sequined Dodgers uniform from the classic 1976 tour.

John is playing Dodger Stadium on Thursday and Saturday, but the live-streamed Sunday show will be a spectacle, Furnish said.

"We're going to have a few more bells and whistles for the Sunday show just to give the real sense of grandeur and spectacle that is so befitting of Elton John for his last show at Dodger Stadium," Furnish told Variety . "We have to give it that little extra bit of lift."

As for the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, which concludes in July, Furnish reaffirmed John was truly done on the road thereafter.

"This will definitely be the end of all touring without question," Furnish said. "I hope he still does a one-off every now and then or maybe, like not in Vegas, but a small residency at some point."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium will live stream on Sunday at 11 p.m. ET on Disney+. The concert will begin with "Countdown to Elton Live," featuring famous friends from around the globe wishing him well, according to the streamer.

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The Meaning Behind “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” by Elton John and Kiki Dee and the Unconventional Method Used to Compose It

by Thom Donovan March 27, 2024, 2:00 pm

Before his famous duet with Kiki Dee, Elton John had yet to top the singles chart in his home country. Astonishingly, neither “Rocket Man” nor “Tiny Dancer” reached No. 1 in the UK.

Videos by American Songwriter

So, John looked to the past when he created his timeless duet, “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” featuring Dee. Surprisingly, the recording happened in separate countries, with an ocean separating John and Dee’s intimate vocal performances.

The song also developed in a reverse process from how John usually composed music. His unconventional method worked, and he finally reached the elusive milestone.  

A Timeless Duet

“Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” is a tender love song that’s both vulnerable and pleading, styled after the classic ’60s soul duets. John’s upbeat soft rock hit has hints of disco, turning his anxiety into something hopeful.

Nobody knows it When I was down I was your clown Nobody knows it Right from the start I gave you my heart

The call and response of John’s “Don’t go breaking my heart” and Dee’s “I won’t go breaking your heart” ends with the duo harmonizing the title.

So don’t misunderstand me You put the light in my life You put the spark to the flame I’ve got your heart in my sights

The Writers Worked in Reverse

John collaborated with his longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin, using the pseudonyms Ann Orson and Carte Blanche. They intended to write a Motown-style duet similar to Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “You’re All I Need to Get By.”  

Producer Gus Dudgeon said John wrote the music first, a departure from how he usually worked with Taupin. Dudgeon said John repeated the phrase, “Don’t go breaking my heart,” throughout the song as he worked out the arrangement.

Typically, John wrote music to Taupin’s lyrics. But John asked Taupin to write words to the title he’d improvised in the studio. Taupin’s original lyrics didn’t make the final cut, and he mentioned in his memoir that he tried to write something simple, though not trite.

In 1977, “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” earned John and Taupin an Ivor Novello award for The Best Pop Song.

Motown’s Orchestra

Keyboardist James Newton Howard wrote the orchestral score, once again inspired by Gaye and Terrell’s Motown recordings. Howard said, “I wrote the arrangement on piano and then wrote it down on paper the old-fashioned way.” John also wanted a string solo, which Howard added to the score.

Unlike most duets, the two singers recorded separately, with John and his band in Toronto and Dee in London.

Elton John’s “High Voice”

Dee recalled on John’s website that he added a “high voice” so she would know which part to sing. Initially, John sang nearly the entire song before Dudgeon reminded him it was supposed to be a duet.

She also described the makeshift video accompanying the song, filmed quickly for a TV show. “Who would have thought that would have been played so much over the years?” Dee said.

Chart-Topping Collaborations

Released as a standalone single in 1976, “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” reached No. 1 in the U.S. and became John’s first No. 1 song in the UK. It was also Dee’s commercial peak.

Still, it would be another 10 years before John’s next U.S. No. 1. The charity recording with Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, and Glady Knight, “That’s What Friends Are For,” topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986.

In 1992, another John duet, this time with George Michael—“Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me—topped the Billboard chart.

Dee and John again revisited the Motown sound with their cover of the Four Tops’ “Loving You is Sweeter than Ever” for her 1981 album Perfect Timing . However, their version reimagines the driving mid-tempo soul song as a ballad with fretless bass and smooth jazz keys.

The duo reconnected in 1993 with a cover of Cole Porter’s “True Love” on John’s album Duets . It reached No. 2 in the UK.

Reminiscing about John to the Daily Express , Dee said, “I love working with him because as well as being hugely talented, he’s such a hoot. He’s a fascinating person, incredibly loyal, and one of the funniest, most quick-witted people I’ve ever met.”

An Ageless Duet

Elton John wanted a timeless duet reminiscent of Motown’s enduring hits. With “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” he not only reached No. 1 for the first time in his home country, but he also created an equally classic duet with Kiki Dee.

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Did Elton John and Kiki Dee Have a Relationship?

Elton John and Kiki Dee famously had a hit with their song “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” in 1976. But was their chemistry real? And did Elton John and Kiki Dee have a relationship?

Elton John and Kiki Dee did not ever engage in a romantic relationship. The duo deeply cared about each other but were never more than close friends. Her longest-running relationship, however, was with one of Elton’s guitar players, Davey Johnstone.

And Elton met his future wife during the time of that song’s recording.

In fact, Kiki described to a British magazine that she “didn’t want to be somebody caged by celebrity” . Life in a village suits her more where she can enjoy watching kids on their walk to school in the mornings and stay comfortable in her home.

She doesn’t refute the idea that her relationship with Elton was authentic. But what has she been up to these days? Where is she now? Is she going to be working with Elton anytime soon?

Let’s find out!

????On August 7, 1976, ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ by Elton John & Kiki Dee reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 pic.twitter.com/6FdxwgKEax — RetroNewsNow (@RetroNewsNow) August 7, 2019

Is Elton John still friends with Kiki Dee?

Elton John is Kiki Dee’s longest and greatest friend. The iconic duo live two different lifestyles these days. But the pair are “as close as cousins,”-Kiki Dee insists.

Kiki told The Sydney Morning Herald:

“I don’t see him a lot these days-we’re like cousins who only see one another rarely. But whenever we do, we get straight back into our friendship. His life is extraordinary, whereas mine is quite a bit more down-to-earth now.”

Despite living in different worlds now, Dee reassures she’s friends with John. She recently told Mirror UK that she receives an orchid plant on her birthday every year from John.

Kiki is well-known for her iconic duet with Elton.

The duo is quite artistic and keeps coming up with new ideas to create music. It’s been over four decades since she recorded her duet with Elton, which reached No.1 in the UK, Australia, and the US.

While for Dwight (aka Elton), the track- “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” was his first chartbuster, for Pauline Matthews (aka Kiki Dee), it remains the song most of her fans associate with her.

But did Elton write the lyrics on this track as he was famous for not frequently contributing lyrics to his songs?

Luckily, I covered Elton’s songwriting process in a recent article . I get into why Elton uses Bernie Taupin to write his lyrics and the real reason he DIDN’T use Bernie for the Lion King soundtrack.

Just click to read it on my site.

Elton John and Kiki Dee, 1976. pic.twitter.com/7TQNOltiyB — Classic Rock In Pics (@crockpics) November 19, 2021

Were Elton John and Kiki Dee Married?

Kiki Dee was never married to Elton John. In fact, Kiki Dee has never been married to anyone. Elton John was married to a woman, Renate Blauel, from 1984 to 1988, and to his current husband, David Furnish, whom he married in 2014.

In addition, Kiki suffered a life-threatening illness that stopped her from being able to reproduce, although she adored children.

A UK-based newspaper also confirmed that she sacrificed her personal life for her career- an unusual choice for a woman of her time. She always worked hard for her music and has never regretted her decision.

In 2019 when Kiki sat down to discuss what it was like to work with Elton John, she answered:

“I met John in his rock-star flat in London.” She found John highly intelligent and super sharp. 

The duo went on to work together and enjoyed a good friendship. But when it came to marriage, it never happened. John had an extraordinary life, and Kiki was more grounded.

The only serious relationship she ever had was with Elton John’s guitarist Davey Johnstone. Davey became a big part of her life and remained her friend to date. And as for Elton, he had a profound influence on her career.

Elton John and his bride, Renate Blauel, 1984. pic.twitter.com/yPqkhZqXtc — Groovy History (@GroovyHistory) October 13, 2019

Who was Elton John’s wife?

Three days after announcing his engagement, Elton John married Renate Blauel (a German sound engineer) on Valentine’s Day in 1984. Before this, many of Elton’s friends were convinced that he was gay.

John was 36-year-old, and Renate was 30-year-old when the couple got married. As per media coverage, the couple tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in 1984.

According to the movie Rocketman (Elton John’s documentary), John met Blauel while recording “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”, which became the ultimate karaoke duet with Kiki Dee.

According to multiple articles, I read online, “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” became the track from which Elton and Blauel’s personal & professional friendship grew.

Before this, Blauel worked on Elton’s 1983 album, Too Low for Zero.

She also joined him on his tour to Australia in 1984. The couple’s marriage lasted for four years. Years later, Elton revisited the chapter of his life, and this is what he wrote:

“I went to Australia for my wedding to a wonderful woman whom I have so much admiration for.” And more than anything, he wanted to be a good husband, but he denied who he was – which caused his wife more sadness.

Now Playing: I’ve Got the Music in Me by Kiki Dee – Listen at https://t.co/inAKQ9dgBg Buy it https://t.co/VIH3DIGFaP pic.twitter.com/bXIPsxvfiB — Hit Music Network 70 (@HitMusic70s) May 3, 2022

Where is Kiki Dee now?

Kiki Dee lives in a small village in Hertfordshire in the UK. She lives her life away from the spotlight but still records her music, with her most recent release having been 2019’s “Gold”, a greatest hits album.

Kiki’s life has a different flavor because she has moved away from the buzz world.

According to a report published by Great British Life, “Kiki has moved away from the spotlight to the sweet stress of a small village of Ashwell called Hertfordshire.”

“That period was very exciting because up to that point, I’d been this kid who had been discovered in Yorkshire, who had been working with much older people. When I met Elton, I worked with people my generation, my own age”

Kiki kept busy the next couple of decades, contributing to Elton’s music and finding her footing in the industry.

Meanwhile, she collaborated with other artists. And at present, she finds fulfillment in country life. Music is her driving force, and she seems to be just doing her own thing with her music partner Carmelo Luggeri.

Elton John and ???????? filmmaker David Furnish form one of the best known power-couples in the world! A proud Canadian and international activist, Furnish also fights to refocus and re-energize the LGBT fight against AIDS #PrideMonth pic.twitter.com/ozs3XkvpYa — Canada #StandWithUkraine???????? (@Canada) June 12, 2018

Who has Elton John had relationships with?

Elton John has been married twice to both David Furnish and Renate Blauel, But he has also had romantic relationships with Gary Clarke, Linda Woodrow, and former manager John Reid. 

Let’s look at some of these in greater detail.

David Furnish:

Elton tied the knot with longtime partner David Furnish in 2014. According to a website, the pair had formerly had a civil partnership in 2005 before gay marriage became legal in the UK.

Renate Blauel:

Elton married Renate in Australia on Valentine’s Day in 1984. But the pair’s marriage only lasted for four years, and she settled for the divorce for $45 million.

Gary Clarke:

Elton shared a relationship with Clarke between 1982 to 1984. They were legally together till days before John announced his engagement to Renate.

Elton met his former manager John Reid at a Christmas party and hit off instantly.

They struck up a romance soon and lived like “lovers” for five years. Reid also performed duties as Elton’s manager (as well as Queen’s manager) for 25 years. But the pair’s relationship came to a bitter end due to a misunderstanding.

The matter stretched to the extent of John accusing Reid of “negligence and breach of duty” with millions of dollars.

This was also when Reid was rumored to have ripped Elton apart in court.

But since one was privy to the details of the court proceedings, the matter has remained a subject of controversy.

Luckily, I made sure to bring some clarity to it in a recent article . I have also discussed the rumored amount John paid to Reid to settle the case.

Just click that link to read it on my site.

Among two marriages, three proposals, and multiple affairs, Elton’s relationship with Kiki Dee stands out from the rest-especially because Elton recorded his first track to hit number one position in the UK with Dee.

The massive fame that the track brought for the pair is yet to be replaced by any song at the top. But it is pretty hard to re-imagine the craze that the music created. The duo became an instant hit, and they were immediately seen as a great collaboration pair.

After a few years under their belt, the duo was said to have enjoyed a romantic relationship. But according to the musicians, it is not true.

They were more like cousins who rarely saw each other, but they had great chemistry whenever they did.

Photos that require attribution under CC2.0 or Public Domain and were cropped, edited, merged, and had a text overlay added:

Elton John 2011 Shankbone 2 by David Shankbone and SAS Band – Kiki Dee 2 by Mark Kent

Jeff Campbell

Hi, I'm Jeff Campbell, a former DJ, music journalist, musician, and music lover. I'm old enough to have seen all the cool bands and young enough to still remember them. Click Here to learn more about Jeff Campbell. Click Here to learn more about my site. Editorial Policies

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