March  25
 Reginald Kenneth Dwight's Birthday 
 


In 1964, Reginald Kenneth Dwight and his friends formed a band called Bluesology backing  touring American soul and R&B  performers such as the Isley Bothers and Patti LaBelle and The Bluebelles. In 1967, the 20-year old singer/pianist/composer  wrote his first recorded song "Scarecrow' with his new lyricist partner, Bernie Taupin, and changed his name to Elton Hercules John six months later. The rest, as the cliché goes, is history.

Elton Hercules John's real musical history, some might argue, began with his album Honky Chateau, in 1972 which became John's first American number one album, spending five weeks at the top of the charts and spawning the hit singles "Rocket Man" and "Honky Cat." The came Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player came out at the start of 1973, with the hits "Crocodile Rock" and "Daniel.""Crocodile Rock" became his first US Billboard Hot 100 number one hit.

But it was Goodbye Yellow Brick Road in 1973 that topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, remaining at Number one for two months with "Bennie and the Jets" and "Candle in the Wind" - the latter has sold over 33 million copies worldwide, and is the best selling single in Billboard history.

The milestones in Elton's include selling more than 250 million records, winning six Grammy awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Tony Award.  In 2008, Billboard magazine ranked him as the most successful male solo artist on "The Billboard Hot 100 Top All-Time Artists" (third overall, behind only The Beatles and Madonna).

Elton soon became one of first glam rock stars when he began wearing more and more outrageous costumes and his often flamboyant personal life was fodder for as many headlines in the tabloids as his songs made on Billboard magazine. He had well -publicized addictions to alcohol and cocaine and also battled bulimia. Elton married Renate Blauel in 1984 before he finally came to terms with the fact that he was  gay, and they were divorced four years later.  ohn was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in February 1998. He is also well- known as a dedicated campaigner for AIDS research. Elton and David Furnish entered into a civil partnership in December 2005. Their son Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John was born 25 December 2010 in California via a surrogate. J

As a tribute to his first US Billboard Hot 100 number one hit, "Crocodile Rock,"  here is an ideal dish to serve Sir Elton on his next birthday which we suggest pairing with Tommy  (1975) in which Elton appears is one of his few film roles.
 

  

 Crocodile with Mango

  

Ingredients
 
3/4 lbs crocodile steak, sliced thinly
3 TB peanut oil (never use butter or olive oil)
8 basil leaves
4 sprigs parsley
2 large cloves chopped garlic
 		 6 TB white wine vinegar
3/4 cup olive oil
1 mango, stone removed and peeled
salt & pepper to taste

 
 
Instructions  
 
Crocodile is an easy to cook meat and best cooked from frozen as if left to thaw, the process of thawing will cause a loss of moisture hence leaving the flesh dry after cooking and lacking in flavor. It is best cooked for two minutes each side then allowed to stand before serving. Try not to overcook.  You can order crocodile steaks from 1 800-Steaks.Com.
  1. Heat peanut oil  in a frying pan and sauté seasoned crocodile pieces for about 2-3 minutes (until lightly browned)  set aside and keep warm.
  2. Place basil, garlic, parsley, vinegar and olive oil in a food processor until smooth, put to one side. Peel and slice mango thinly and arrange on plate.
  3. Place meat in the center, drizzling basil sauce around the plate and garnish with fresh herbs.

Serves 2

  

© 2011 Gordon Nary and Tyler Stokes