The Night Elton John Became A Star!
On a steamy night in West Hollywood, August 25, 1970, Elton John took the stage at The Troubadour for his very first U.S. performance, and the world was never the same.
In a club packed with just around 300 fans, he poured out early gems like “Your Song,” “Border Song,” “Take Me to the Pilot,” and even a cover of “Honky Tonk Woman”. Introducing Elton was none other than Neil Diamond, and the crowd, rock insiders included, watched in awe.
Famous faces flooded the room: Quincy Jones, Gordon Lightfoot, David Crosby, and Mike Love from The Beach Boys were among those witnessing the birth of a star. One attendee to this staggering performance later summed it up: “We knew within forty-five minutes that we had a superstar. It was electrifying”.
L.A. Times critic Robert Hilburn was there too. His rave review, “Rejoice. Rock music…has a new star”, turned whispers backstage into roaring acclaim. Elton himself later praised the moment as life-changing, crediting the Troubadour as where his American journey truly began.
That night solidified his career; he returned to the venue later that year as part of a full U.S. tour. From shy Brit to global icon, it all started in a tiny L.A. club with a piano and a spark.
Doug O’Brien
