Sir El Tom
From the pub
to Carnegie Hall
in three years.
Tom Cridland, known as Sir El Tom, is an Anglo-Portuguese musician from London. He began performing Elton John's music in January 2022 in a New Orleans juke joint, as part of his recovery from alcoholism. Three years later he had played Carnegie Hall, the Adelphi Theatre and Teatro Tivoli.
Tom first met Sir Elton himself at his Oscars party and thanked him for saving his life. He is also close friends with Nigel Olsson, Elton's drummer since 1969, who has performed live onstage with Tom on multiple occasions.
54 years later,
Nigel came back
to the Troubadour.
In August 1970, Nigel Olsson — Elton John's drummer since 1969 — played the legendary American debut of the Elton John Band at The Troubadour in West Hollywood. On August 5th 2024, nearly 54 years to the day, Nigel returned to that same stage to perform with Sir El Tom.
Nigel — still Sir Elton's drummer today — has since joined Tom onstage at Capitólio in Lisbon and The Belasco in Los Angeles, and recorded with him in the studio. The endorsement is unique in the tribute world.
2026/2027 Tour
SLO ReviewRead the full review →“Rejoice. Tribute band music, which has been going through a rather uneventful, overly-saturated period lately, finally has a legitimate star.”
“He's Tom Cridland, a 33-year-old Englishman whose Central Coast debut at the Performing Arts Center SLO was, in almost every way, magnificent.”
What they're saying.
“Tom's playing style is as close to Elton's own concert style you will get from a tribute”
— Elton John Online“Learning to play the piano — especially Elton John's music — helped him overcome a life-threatening drinking problem”
— Men's Health“Learned piano in lockdown and now gigs around the world in tribute to his idol”
— Daily Mirror“It was learning the piano and all Elton's songs that kept him sober and lead to a successful new career as a tribute act”
— BBC“Tours the world as an Elton tribute act”
— Daily Express“Cridland got to meet his idol at the star's buzzy Oscar party”
— New York Post“I love Tom and Deborah Cridland”
— Nigel Olsson“From first piano note in late 2020 to performing a concert in front of 1,500 people at McKelligon Canyon Amphitheatre in Texas in 2023”
— The Guardian“Olsson — who is still Sir Elton's drummer today — took to the stage at the Troubadour to perform with Elton tribute act”
— Virgin Radio