From Session Work to Stardom: The Story of Elton John's Humble Beginnings
Even the biggest stars have humble beginnings. In the late 1960s, a young artist named Reginald “Reggie” Dwight was making a name for himself in London by taking on session work. On this day in 1969, he played piano on the Hollies’ cover of “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” for a mere 12 pounds. Little did anyone know that Reggie Dwight would later become the legendary Sir Elton John, who would go on to perform five sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden in New York City that same year.
The first artist to record “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” was Kelly Gordon, known for producing Bobbie Gentry’s hit “Ode to Billie Joe” in 1967. The song was born out of a chance meeting between songwriters Bobby Scott and Bob Russell, facilitated by Capitol Records co-founder Johnny Mercer. Despite Russell’s illness, the two managed to create the emotional ballad that would become a classic.
The Hollies’ guitarist, Tony Hicks, recalled the band’s initial hesitation to record “He Ain’t Heavy”. Despite the rough demo they heard, Hicks was drawn to the song’s emotional depth and decided to speed it up and add an orchestra to enhance its impact. The band didn’t have a piano player at the time, so they enlisted the help of a young artist named Reg Dwight, who would later change his name to Elton John.
The session with Elton John went smoothly, with drummer Bobby Elliot recalling the ease of playing alongside the talented pianist. The collaboration resulted in a successful recording of “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” that would go on to top the U.K. charts years later. The song’s enduring popularity is a testament to the talent and creativity of all those involved in its creation.