Elton John’s song from the roof

Mills Music Publishers were based at No 20. Elton John worked here as an office boy in the post room (or, as some sources say as a tea boy) in the early 60s, allegedly earning £4.50 a week. During that time, Elton was still known as Reg Dwight. Legend has it that Bernie Taupin and Elton John wrote "Your Song", John's first hit single, on the roof of Mills Music Ltd. Taupin wrote the lyrics while sitting on the roof ("I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss") while waiting for John one morning. They mentioned the street in their 1974 song "Bitter Fingers", on the semi-autobiographical concept album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy.

In the mid 60s Paul Simon who was based in London at the time unsuccessfully tried to sell his music to Mills Music. Mills Music told him that his songs "Homeward Bound" and "The Sound of Silence" were uncommercial.

Sources: Wikipedia

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