This book details Sir Elton's formative years: from training as a classical pianist at the Royal Academy of Music; his time as a jobbing songwriter in London's Tin Pan Alley; performing his first live gigs; his eventual rise to superstardom in the '70s. With two picture sections of never-before-seen photos, this is the first biography to focus entirely on Elton's formative years from 1964 to 1979, and the only one that dares to get up close and personal to his private and public life. For Elton's army of fans this is a must.