Pre - reading
Do you know Reginald Kenneth Dwight singer? And the Corvettes band? Why not? He had a lot sucess in 60’s and 70’s.
Ok, I will give you three hints: he is homosexual, sing the song “Candle In the Wind” and has another name. And now? Who is he?
When read the title “Early Life and Carrer” you consider that text is a______________.
Which is the function of this gender?
Early life and career
Elton John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in Pinner, England, the son of Squadron Leader Stanley Dwight, RAF, and his wife, Sheila Dwight. Reginald was raised primarily by his mother and other female relatives, and saw little of his father as a boy. Stanley and Sheila divorced in 1962, when Reginald was 15.
Reginald began playing the piano when he was four. Something of a child prodigy, he was able to play by ear any melody he heard on the radio or phonograph. At 11, he won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music. He stayed at the Academy for six years, leaving before graduation to focus on his professional music.
In 1960, Reginald and some of his friends formed a band called the "Corvettes", which evolved into "Bluesology". By the mid-1960s, "Bluesology" was backing touring American soul and R&B musicians like the Isley Brothers, Major Lance, Doris Troy, and Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles. In 1966 the band became musician Long John Baldry's supporting band and began touring cabarets with him throughout England. Reginald left soon after, as Baldry's control had increased. After failing lead vocalist auditions for both "King Crimson" and "Gentle Giant", Reginald answered an advertisement in the New Musical Express placed by Ray Williams then the young A&R manager for Liberty Records. There, Ray gave him lyrics written by Bernie Taupin who had answered the same ad. Reginald wrote music for the lyrics, and then mailed it to Taupin. Thus began a partnership that continues to this day. When they met six months later, Reginald had changed his name to "Elton John", by deed poll, in homage to Bluesology saxophonist Elton Dean and Long John Baldry. In 1967 the first Elton John/Bernie Taupin song, Scarecrow, was recorded.
Elton and Bernie, now partners, joined Dick James's DJM Records as staff songwriters in 1968, and over the next two years, wrote songs for pop singers like Roger Cook and "Lulu", while also recording their own songs. Taupin would write a batch of lyrics in under an hour, and give it to John who would write music for them in half an hour, disposing of the lyrics if he couldn't come up with anything quickly.
In June 1969, Elton John released Empty Sky, his first album, for DJM. Despite good reviews, it failed to click with the record buying public.
Scanning
Who was Elton John’s partner?
When did Elton and Bernie record their first song?
Inference
When Elton John rerecord “Candle In the Wind” song he wants commemorate what personality?
Grammar questions - Past tense:
Wanted Passed Cooked Cleaned Helped
Offered Discovered Played Corrected Turned
01. He always ______________ his examination when he was young.
02. I _____________ my room before going to school.
03. They _____________ the piano very well years ago.
04. The teacher_____________ ours tests last night.
05. Columbus_____________ America in 1492.
06. Tom _____________ to go movies alone.
07. Susan _____________ me a piece of chocolate cake.
08. We _____________ him with his exercises.
09. Mother _____________ black beans yesterday.
10. I _____________ off the Tv because it was very late.
