Elton John

Outlaw gang leader Jesse James is killed aged 34 in St. Joseph, Missouri, USA, by Robert Ford, a member of the gang living in the James house, hoping to collect the substantial reward on James' head. Numerous songs will tell the story of James' life and death, including Jesse James [1944] by Woody Guthrie; Jesse James [1961] by The Kingston Trio; Frank And Jesse James [1976] by Warren Zevon, and as an analogy in I Feel Like a Bullet [In the Gun of Robert Ford] by Bernie Taupin and Elton John.

Helen Barbara Kruger, aka Bobbie Nudie, is born in Mankato, Minnesota, USA. She and her husband Nudie Cohn will find fame as designers of extraordinary rhinestone apparel for country music stars including Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Roy Rogers and Gram Parsons. They will also make Elvis Presley's famed $10,000 gold lame suit, as well as outfits for John Lennon and Elton John.

Bluesology play at The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire, England, UK. Their pianist, Reg Dwight, will find fame as Elton John.

Steam Packet play at the Club A'Gogo, Newcastle, England, UK, Europe. (The group includes Rod Stewart, Long John Baldry, Julie Driscoll and Brian Auger.)

Elton John releases a new single, Border Song, on DJM Records in the UK.

Elton John plays at St. Mary's College, Twickenham, London, UK.

Newly emerging singer-songwriter Elton John plays the first of three nights at The Boston Tea Party, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Newly emerging singer-songwriter Elton John plays the second of two nights at The Fillmore East, New York City, USA.

Newly-emerging singer-songwriter Elton John plays at The Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.

Elton John releases a new single, Your Song, in the UK on DJM Records.

Elton John releases a new single in the UK, a version of The Beatles' I Saw Her Standing There, featuring John Lennon.

Elton John releases his new single, Blue Eyes, in the UK.

Elton John plays the last of three nights at The Odeon, Birmingham, England, UK, Europe.

Elton John plays in Alpine Valley, East Troy, Wisconsin, USA.

Freddie Mercury and Roger Taylor of Queen spend a night on the town with Elton John in Sydney, Australia, Oceania.

Elton John plays the second of six nights at The Omnisport, Bercy, Paris, France, Europe.

On his Sleeping With The Past tour, Elton John plays the second of two nights at Poplar Creek Music Theater, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, USA.

In the High Court in London, UK, it is alleged by Mark Hapgood QC, that Elton John once spent £30m in just under two years - an average of £1.5m a month. Mr Hapgood suggests that Sir Elton went "spending mad" following a £42m deal with recording company Polygram in February 1996. The claims are made during a court case in which the singer is suing Andrew Haydon [former MD of management company John Reid Enterprises] for negligence. Sir Elton also accuses City accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers of negligence in managing his affairs.

Elton John and Ryan Adams perform together at a studio in the back of the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, Tennessee, USA, in a taping for the tv show CMT Crossroads. Among their collaborations are duets on Jim Reeves' He'll Have To Go and Jerry Lee Lewis' Great Balls Of Fire.

Sir Paul McCartney marries his girlfriend Heather Mills, in St Salvator's Church, Castle Leslie, Glaslough, County Monaghan, Ireland. The 300 guests include Ringo Starr, Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders, Twiggy, Sir George Martin, Eric Clapton, Sir Elton John and David Gilmour of Pink Floyd.

Mary J. Blige, Kenny Chesney, Al Green, Elton John, Norah Jones, B.B. King, Reba McEntire, Usher and Stevie Wonder play a concert in memory of Ray Charles at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Elton John, Keane, Interpol, Bloc Party and Ray Lamontagne perform live on UK tv show Later With Jools Holland.

Elton John plays at Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, UK.

Elton John plays at the SECC, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.

Elton John plays in Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scotland, UK.

Elton John plays at The Colosseum, Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Elton John plays at The Colosseum, Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Elton John plays a live gig outside the Colosseum, Rome, Italy, Europe.

Elton John plays at Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA.

American music trade publication Billboard reports that U2 had the top-grossing tour of 2005. More than three million people attended their sold-out 90-date Vertigo tour which grossed $260m (£146.6m). The Eagles took $117m (£66m) from 77 shows and Neil Diamond grossed over $71m (£40m). The Top ten is rounded out by Kenny Chesney in fourth place with $63m (£35.5m), Paul McCartney $60m (£33.8m), Rod Stewart $49m (£27m), Elton John $45.5m (£25.6m), The Dave Matthews Band $45m (£25.3m), Jimmy Buffett $41m (£23m) and Green Day $36.5m (£20.5m).

The Sunday Times Rich List is published, showing that Elton John, Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger suffered significant drops in their earnings in the last year because of the global economic downturn. Sir Elton John's wealth decreased by more than a quarter - a loss of about £175m. Former Beatles' member Sir Paul McCartney lost about £60m from his £500m fortune, while Sir Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones is said to have lost around 16%, leaving him with a personal stash of £190m.

Robert Kirby dies in hospital in West London, England, UK, Europe, aged 61, following emergency heart surgery. Kirby was a talented and much-loved string arranger for rock and folk music. First known for his work on his university friend Nick D rake's albums Five Leaves Left and Bryter Later, Kirby went on to work with Elton John, Elvis Costello, Paul Weller, The Strawbs, The Magic Numbers and more. @EltonJohn @ElvisCostello

Billy Joel and Elton John play a Face 2 Face concert at the Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado, USA.

Elton John spends his 63rd birthday visiting the Football For Hope Centre, an HIV awareness facility in Khayelitsha in the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa, to monitor how a $15m contribution has been used.

Part of a stage being built for an Elton John concert at the world-famous Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza in Mexico, collapses during construction, injuring three workers.

Elton John and Leon Russell perform together at The BOK Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.

On his 'final' tour, entitled Farewell Yellow Brick Road, Elton John plays at Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

On his 'final' tour, entitled Farewell Yellow Brick Road, Elton John plays at The Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

On his 'final' tour, entitled Farewell Yellow Brick Road, Elton John plays at The Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida, USA.

On his 'final' tour, entitled Farewell Yellow Brick Road, Elton John plays the second of two nights at The State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

On his 'final' tour, entitled Farewell Yellow Brick Road, Elton John plays the first of two nights at The American Airlines Center, Dallas Texas, USA.