Mills Music (former site)
Where a teenage Elton John worked as a tea boy
21 Denmark Street
Camden
London WC2H
England
On This Very Spot, 15-year-old Reg Dwight (the future
Elton John) got his first job in the music industry as a "tea boy" for music publisher Mills Music. His time here was referenced in the 1975 song "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" with the lines: "Two teas both with sugar please, in the back of an alley." While working on this very spot, Elton played with club band Bluesology, which released two singles, one of which featured him as lead vocalist.
On This Very Spot, Elton met fellow errand boy
Caleb Quaye, who, as studio manager at
Dick James Music several years later, would play a major role in landing Elton his first songwriting contract.
Related Spot: This spot is located on the legendary
Denmark Street, Britain's Tin Pan Alley, and is just around the corner from the former site of
Dick James Music, where
Elton John's career began.
Submitted By: Nigel Hessen
Condition: This sight looks essentially the same as it did at the time, but it is now occupied by different tenants.
Public Access: The ground floor is a music store open to the public. The rest is a private office building that is not open to the public.
Parking: Public parking is available along the street.
Location: Denmark Street is off Charing Cross Road in the Soho area of London, directly north of Trafalgar Square and northwest of historic London.
Nearest Major Airport: London Heathrow or London Gatwick
Nearest Rail: Charing Cross Railway Station
Nearest Subway: Tottenham Court Road
Directions: Go north on Charing Cross Road and turn right onto Denmark Street. 21 Denmark Street is on the left just a couple of buildings from Charing Cross.
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