Back to This Week in Music History: June 17 - 23
June 17, 1977: Elton John Plays Neighborhood Gig For Wine
Robin Jones, Hulton Archive
American soul singer Jimmy Helms backed out of a gig at Shoreditch College in Surrey, England, so student promoters went and asked the rather-more-famous Elton John -- who lived up the road -- if he'd be willing to sub-in. He was. And he did the gig for two bottles of wine.
