Elton John took the "John" part of his stage name from which British blues singer?

Elton John took the “John” in his stage name from British blues singer Long John Baldry.

John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight and performed with Bluesology, a band led by Baldry in the 1960s. The group connected him with Britain’s emerging blues and rhythm-and-blues scene, where he worked alongside musicians including saxophonist Elton Dean.

When Dwight adopted his new professional name, he combined “Elton” from Elton Dean with “John” from Long John Baldry. The choice therefore honored two musicians associated with his early career, rather than being a random artistic invention.

A common mix-up is assuming that Elton John’s entire name came from one person. He later legally changed his name to Elton Hercules John in 1972; “Hercules” came from the horse character in the British sitcom Steptoe and Son.