In 2007, for his 60th birthday, Elton John put together a bash at Madison Square Garden (his record-setting 60th performance at the arena) and subsequently released the epic 35-song concert on DVD.

He opened with “Sixty Years On,” naturally, played all the usual hits, and of course closed with “Your Song,” but as with that lead-off song he dusted off tons of great stuff: “Ballad of a Well-Known Gun,” “Hercule,” “Holiday Inn,” “Better Off Dead,” “Empty Garden.” Surely among the greatest of his 3,000-plus shows.

Nothing nearly so elaborate will be happening to mark his 65th year today, March 25. So, similar to how we celebrated Bob Dylan’s career last week, we thought we’d help ring in the occasion with a 65-pic look back on Sir Elton’s life, from aspiring breakout songwriter at the dawn of the ’70s to one of the world’s most recognizable and honored entertainment icons.

It’s hard to stuff a legendary life into such a narrow package, and some photos we’d like to have included (one of him with Ryan White, for instance) weren’t entirely at our disposal. But along the way we’ve tried touch on his many highs and occasional lows, the tragedies he’s endured and the comebacks he’s mounted.

Click here or the photo above to go back in time with forever young Reggie Dwight.

For more music news and reviews go to the Orange County Register’s Soundcheck Blog.

Photo by Carlo Allegri, Getty Images.

More O.C.  Nightlife:

• Review: Half Past Two fans go wild at the Spring Break Ska Social in Anaheim
• Review: Orgy spirited but rusty on tour closer at Observatory
• Video: Mayday Mayday at King’s Inn at Memphis Cafe
• Music News: Kiss & Motley Crue tour invades Irvine in August
• Orange Pop: Midnight Hour goes slow and steady
• Interview: Seven years later, a new Orgy returns to O.C.
• Music News: Jack White to play two shows at the Wiltern
• Slideshow: Half a century of Bob Dylan
• Review: Game goes late at the Observatory 
• Slideshow: WonderCon draws fans, artists, stars to OC

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