-- Elton John loves 'Family Fortunes'

Tuesday, April 15 2008, 12:11 BST

By Alex Fletcher<http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/a93853/elton-john-loves-family-fo...>,
Entertainment Reporter
 [image: Elton John loves 'Family Fortunes']

Rex Features
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/a93853/elton-john-loves-family-fo...

Les Dennis has claimed that Elton John is a huge fan of the game show *Family
Fortunes*.

According to Dennis, the singer admitted that he often imitates the show's
"uh uh" buzzer noise when anything goes wrong at his home.

The former presenter said that he was approached by the veteran popstar
while on a flight to America with his ex-wife Amanda Holden.

He told *Heart* radio: "Elton and David Furnish were up front and behind me
was George Michael and Kenny Goss.

"I was sat there with Amanda and about and hour in, David Furnish stood up
and stretched, looked back and then whispered something to Elton and I
thought, 'He's not talking about George being here' he's actually saying
'That bloke from *Family Fortunes* is behind us!'

"Then about five minutes later, Elton came down and went 'Hi, we love your
show. If anything goes wrong in our house we go 'uh uh'!'"

He also revealed that Spice Girls Victoria Beckham and Emma Bunton once
approached him about appearing on a celebrity version of the show

*FEC Asked to Investigate Fundraising Concert for Hillary Clinton
*By Susan Jones
CNSNews.com Senior Editor
April 15, 2008

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPolitics.asp?Page=/Politics/archive/200804...

*(CNSNews.com)* - A government watchdog group wants the Federal Election
Commission to investigate Elton John's fund-raising concert on behalf of
Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.

"Recent news reports suggest that Hillary Clinton and Hillary Clinton for
President have accepted an in-kind contribution from a foreign national, Sir
Elton John, in contravention of federal election laws," Judicial Watch
President Tom Fitton wrote in an April 14 letter to the Office of the
General Counsel for the FEC.

"On behalf of Judicial Watch and its supporters, I hereby request that the
FEC investigate this matter." The group filed a formal
complaint<http://www.judicialwatch.org/archive/2008/0408FECComplaintHRCElton.pdf>on
Monday.

Judicial Watch, a public interest group that investigates and prosecutes
government corruption, noted that Sir Elton John is not a citizen of the
United States and is therefore prohibited by federal law from making any
contribution to Sen. Clinton's presidential campaign.

"I've always been a Hillary supporter," Elton John told the audience at
Radio City Music Hall in New York. "There is no one more qualified to lead
America," he said. He described the Clintons as "true, loyal friends," said
he loved them "dearly," and added that "Hillary should be the next President
of the United States."

At one point, the British singer criticized the "misogynistic attitudes" of
some Americans: "And I say to hell with them... I love you Hillary. I'll be
there for you."

In a pre-concert press release issued by the Clinton campaign, Elton John
was quoted as saying, "I'm excited to support Hillary by performing at what
will be a truly memorable night." The singer also sent out a mass email --
through the Clinton campaign -- announcing the concert and soliciting
support, Judicial Watch said.

The concert, which took place on April 9, 2008, raised more than $2.5
million (from the sale of 5,000 tickets) for Hillary Clinton and Hillary
Clinton for President.

Under federal law governing "contributions and donations by foreign
nationals," it is illegal for any foreign national to "make a contribution
or donation of money or other thing of value...in connection with a Federal,
State or local election."

"It looks as if Elton John, a foreign national, gave a valuable, in-kind
contribution to Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, which is prohibited
by law. The FEC and other authorities need to take appropriate action and
investigate Hillary Clinton, her campaign, and Elton John," said Judicial
Watch President Tom Fitton

Apr 14, 2008 16:44
ET

*Judicial Watch Calls on FEC to Investigate Elton John's Fundraising Concert
on Behalf of Hillary Clinton's Presidential Campaign
"Sir Elton John Is Not a Citizen of the United States and Is Therefore
Prohibited From Making Any Contribution to Senator Clinton's Presidential
Campaign," Said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton*
*
http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=843623*
* *

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - April 14, 2008) - Judicial Watch, the public
interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption,
announced today that it filed a formal complaint with the Federal Election
Commission (FEC) related to a fundraising concert by musician Sir Elton John
on behalf of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. Elton John, a foreign
national, is prohibited by federal law from making any contribution to a
federal, state or local election campaign.

"Recent news reports suggest that Hillary Clinton and Hillary Clinton for
President have accepted an in-kind contribution from a foreign national, Sir
Elton John, in contravention of federal electon laws," Judicial Watch
President Tom Fitton stated in an April 14 letter to the Office of the
General Counsel for the FEC. "On behalf of Judicial Watch and its
supporters, I hereby request that the FEC investigate this matter."

According to a press release issued by the Clinton campaign, the expressed
intent of the concert was to raise funds for Hillary's campaign for
president. In the release, Elton John is quoted as saying, "I'm excited to
support Hillary by performing at what will be a truly memorable night."

Press reports also show that Sir Elton John, on March 17, 2008, through the
Clinton campaign, sent out a mass email announcing the concert and
soliciting support. The Elton John concert took place on April 9, 2008 and
raised more than $2.5 million (from the sale of 5,000 tickets) for Hillary
Clinton and Hillary Clinton for President.

However, according to 2 U.S.C. § 441e, "Contributions and donations by
foreign nationals," it is illegal for any foreign national to "make a
contribution or donation of money or other thing of value... in connection
with a Federal, State or local election." The Washington Times reported
March 27, 2008, that a "1981 FEC decision prohibited a foreign national
artist from donating his services in connection with fundraising for a U.S.
Senate campaign."

"It looks as if Elton John, a foreign national, gave a valuable, in-kind
contribution to Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, which is prohibited
by law. The FEC and other authorities need to take appropriate action and
investigate Hillary Clinton, her campaign, and Elton John," stated Judicial
Watch President Tom Fitton.

To read Judicial Watch's FEC complaint in its entirety, please see
highlighted link.

 Amazing Music, Extraordinary Luck Sir Elton, Up Close and Personal
http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/sir_elton/3099/

When Elton John first came to Missoula last September I had a myriad of
excuses for missing the show – too expensive, too far, too much hassle – but
I was plagued by a nagging sense of regret after missing it. For my
boyfriend a similar regret has haunted him since high school when he turned
down the opportunity to see Sir Elton and Billy Joel performing together in
his hometown of Memphis. So when we found out Elton was coming back just six
months later for seconds, the decision to buy tickets was easy.

But last week I was beginning to doubt that choice. As I hustled to get my
work done a little early on Friday, drove through slow construction in Pablo
and ate a grocery store dinner (half of which I ended up giving to a
homeless man on the UM campus pedestrian bridge), it all seemed like a
hassle. As I stood in line outside the Adams center before the concert,
watching hordes of middle-aged women dressed in boas and sparkly sunglasses
chat excitedly, I kept telling myself it would be worth it.

Oh, and it was.

As we went through the security line, a man reached over the rope and tapped
my boyfriend on the shoulder. "Can I talk to you when you get through the
line?" he asked. I thought we were going to be kicked out. Instead, after
asking several questions assessing our Elton fanaticism, the man, a member
of Elton's staff, nonchalantly handed us two front row center tickets. I was
so surprised I'm not even sure if I said thank you.

You couldn't hit a golf ball from our new seats, right in front of the
piano, to where our original seats were located – six rows from the rafters.
But, as my boyfriend said, we could have spit on Elton John. (We didn't.)

Even without the lucky seat change, the concert was amazing, and it exceeded
any of my original expectations. While I realized that Elton has several
rock tunes, I'd always associated him with crooning ballads. The rockin'
atmosphere, especially from older musicians, blew me away.

I think Missoulian reporter Jamie Kelly got it right in his
review<http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2007/09/30/news/local/znews02.txt>:
"John stormed through his repertoire of songs, spanning nearly four decades
of music. And never once did the music seem cheap, forced or hackneyed. At
some level, I anticipated a Vegas-style letdown, watching some old performer
far past his prime give me some "My Way" schmaltz straight out of the
geriatric playbook. Nope. Smoking piano solos. Authenticity. World class,
just like the musician."

Elton John, in my mind, is part of an elite group of musicians – those that
transcend generations, and without theatrics or fireworks can repeatedly awe
you with unworldly musical talent. True superstars. I had the same feeling
after watching a Tom Petty concert in high school. Friday night it didn't
matter that Elton's first international hit came 14 years before I was even
born. I left in awe. After all, I'd just experienced one of the world's best
musicians and one of the luckiest nights in my life.

  Elton John Performs at Clinton Fundraiser; Ashlee Simpson Announces
Engagement

http://www.voanews.com/english/Entertainment/2008-04-14-voa38.cfm

By Mary Morningstar
Washington
*14 April 2008  [image: Elton John hugs Hillary Rodham Clinton during
fundraiser at Radio City Music Hall, 09 Apr 2008] Elton John hugs Hillary
Rodham Clinton during fundraiser at Radio City Music Hall, 09 Apr 2008On *

9, Elton John performed a concert at New York's Radio City Music Hall to
raise money for Senator Hilary Clinton's presidential campaign. The show
brought in $2.5 million. Last October, Senator Clinton celebrated her 60th
birthday with a fundraising concert at New York's Beacon Theater. Performers
included the Wallflowers, Elvis Costello and actor/comedian Billy Crystal.
That event raised more than $1.5 million for her campaign.

Robson Vianna.