Elton John's singing is double phoney!
When I first heard him I knew that he was hugely influenced by Jose Feliciano.
Jose had broken big in the UK a couple of years before Elton appeared.
And, Jose, himself, had adopted an American soul inspired voice.
Back then Jose spoke with a distinct " Puerto Rican" ( ?) accent.
So Elton is a copy of a copy..." a double phoney"