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PHOTO GALLERY: Elton John in Mankato

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  • Elton John performs for the crowd Sunday night at the Verizon Wireless Center. Pat Christman

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April 22, 2012

(PHOTO GALLERY) Thousands turn out for Elton John show

Generations share memories that will last forever

By Mark Fischenich Free Press Staff Writer

MANKATO — From baby boomers with “Rocket Man” and “Daniel” on their minds, to teenagers of the ’80’s thinking of “Sad Songs (Say So Much)” and “Candle In The Wind,” to youngsters who discovered him through his soundtrack for “The Lion King,” thousands of southern Minnesotans poured into the Verizon Wireless Civic Center Sunday night to hear the voice, the piano and the song-writing talents of Sir Elton John.

“He’s just someone whose music is going to last forever,” said Robin Hughes of Mankato. “It’s just unbelievable somebody like that is going to be in Mankato.”

The 7,000 ticket-holders to the sold-out show created lines snaking all the way into Mankato Place and filling the plaza between there and the civic center as the 8 p.m. show time approached.

A buzz filled the air and song wish lists were on everyone’s lips.

“‘Crocodile Rock.’ I’d be really disappointed if I don’t hear that tonight,” Hughes said.

“‘Someone Saved My Love Tonight,’” said Stacie Gerhardt of Fairmont. “I have to have that song.”

“‘Your Song,’” said Cilla Hughes, who drove all the way from Lake Benton in southwestern Minnesota. “We just wanted to see Elton John. Huge fans.”

The house lights went down at 8:05 p.m. and the creator of more than 50 Top 40 hits, the Englishman who has sold more than 250 million records worldwide, the 1994 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, stepped onto the stage two minutes later.

As the crowd gave him a standing ovation, he stood at the front of the stage, offered some waves and small grins, did a bow, flipped back his shirttails and sat down at the piano — just John, no band to back him up.

Any doubts about whether his 65-year-old voice still had its potency or whether he would summon up enthusiasm for a concert in rural Minnesota were immediately banished as he launched into “The One.” Any questions about whether his voice and piano alone could fill the arena with sound also disappeared.

“Thank you, Mankato,” he said as the crowd provided its second standing ovation. “I’ve never been here before, as you know.”

He followed with “60 Years On,” and by the fourth song had already provided the gotta-hear-it tune for many in the crowd, including Cilla Hughes of Lake Benton, when he gave them “Your Song.”

Later, “Rocket Man” — with its extended piano solo at the end — brought a huge ovation.

John, provider of four decades of hits, also brought plenty of memories.

“Seventh grade, North Mankato, junior high dance, ‘Crocodile Rock,’” shouted Margaret Rengstorf upon hearing someone ask people in the pre-concert line if they remembered when they first heard an Elton John song.

For Al Hughes of Mankato, it was a series of songs from the early ’70s that made him aware that John was uniquely talented.

“‘Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting,’ ‘Bennie and the Jets,’ ‘Levon,’ ‘Your Song,’” he said.

Dianne King of Fairmont summed up the sentiment that most of the 7,000 would be feeling on the way out of the civic center: “We love him, love him, love him!”

Luther Philaya of Zimmerman — sitting front-row, center-stage — guaranteed that a few minutes before John took the stage.

“I don’t think he’s ever put on a bad show,” said Philaya, who has some authority on the topic. “This is my 63rd show.”

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