Bruce Springsteen is a legendary American rock singer, songwriter, and musician. He is also the leader of the E Street Band, which has accompanied him on most of his albums and tours.
His best-known albums are Born to Run, Born in the USA and The Rising.
He has won 20 Grammy Awards, 2 Golden Globe Awards, an Oscar and a Tony Award. He is also a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
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- Full name: Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen
- Nickname: Boss
- Date of Birth: September 23, 1949
- Age: 74
- Gender: Male
- Birthplace: Long Beach, New Jersey, USA
- Country: United States
- Occupation: singer, songwriter, musician
- Height: 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm)
- Parents: Douglas Frederick Springsteen (father), Adele Ann Zerilli (mother)
- Siblings: Virginia Springsteen Sheff (sister), Pamela Springsteen (sister)
- Spouse: Julianne Phillips (m. 1985, divorced 1989), Patty Scalfa (m. 1991)
- Children: Evan James Springsteen (son), Jessica Ray Springsteen (daughter), Samuel Ryan Springsteen (son)
- Marital status: Married
- Net worth: $500 million
Early life and education
Bruce Springsteen, 74, was born on September 23, 1949, in Long Beach, New Jersey, into a working-class family of Irish and Italian descent.
He grew up in Freehold, where he experienced financial and emotional hardship. His father, Douglas, was a bus driver and factory worker who suffered from mental health issues and alcoholism.
Bruce’s mother, Adele, a legal secretary, is fiercely supportive of him, and he has two younger sisters, Virginia and Pamela, who also pursue careers in music and photography, respectively.
Springsteen attended Holy Rosary of Lima Catholic School, where he was influenced by nuns and priests who taught him social justice and compassion.
He also fell in love with music and learned to play guitar. He was inspired by artists such as Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and the Beatles, who shaped his musical taste and vision.
He also read books by authors such as John Steinbeck, Flannery O’Connor, and Woody Guthrie, whose books influenced his lyrical style and themes.
Springsteen graduated from Freehold High School in 1967 and would have been a better student even without any interest in attending college.
He decided to continue his music career and joined various bands and clubs in New Jersey. He also evaded the draft for the Vietnam War by failing the medical examination.
Personal life
Springsteen has been in several relationships throughout his life, some public and some private.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he dated actress Joyce Hyser and had a brief romance with model Lynn Goldsmith.
In 1985, he married actress Julianne Phillips, but they divorced in 1989 after he fell in love with E Street Band member Patti Scalfa.
He married Scialfa in 1991 and has three children: Evan, a musician and singer, Jessica, an equestrian and Olympic hopeful, and Sam, a firefighter. Springsteen and Scialfa have been together for more than 30 years and live in Colts Neck, New Jersey.
Springsteen is also a devoted father and family man who values privacy and relationships, and he has said that his family is the source of his greatest achievement and happiness.
He remains close to his mother and sisters, who still live in New Jersey and often join him on stage, and he also maintains friendships with bandmates and collaborators such as Steve Van Zandt, Clarence Clemons, Max Weinberg and Jon Landau.
Springsteen is also a philanthropist and activist, supporting various social and political causes such as the anti-war movement, the Obama campaign, Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, the Black Lives Matter movement, and LGBTQ+ rights.
He has also donated millions of dollars to charities and organizations such as the MusiCares Foundation, the Bob Woodruff Foundation, the Monmouth and Ocean County Food Banks, and the Kristen Ancar Foundation.
Profession
Springsteen’s career has spanned more than six decades and has garnered critical acclaim, commercial success, and cultural impact.
He has released 20 studio albums, 4 live albums, 12 compilations, 70 singles and 23 music videos. He has also performed over 2,000 concerts in more than 50 countries.
He has sold more than 150 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time, and has won 20 Grammy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, an Oscar and a Tony Award.
He is also a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Springsteen’s career can be divided into several phases, each reflecting his artistic evolution and his response to changing times.
His early albums, Greetings from Asbury Park, New Jersey, Wild, Innocent & E Street Dancing, and Born to Run, established him as a poetic and passionate storyteller who celebrated the dreams and struggles of working-class America.
His songs, such as “Thunder Road,” “Born to Run,” and “Jungle Land,” became anthems of hope and freedom for his fans. His later albums, such as “Darkness on the Edge of Town,” “The River,” and “Nebraska,” showed a darker, more realistic side of him, exploring themes of loss, despair, and violence.
His songs, such as “Bad Land,” “The River,” and “Atlantic City,” reflected his disillusionment with the American Dream and his sympathy for the marginalized and oppressed. His most popular album, “Born in the USA,” was released in 1984, catapulting him to superstardom.
The album spawned seven top 10 singles, including the title track “Dancing in the Dark”, “Glory Days” and “I’m on Fire”.
The album sold over 30 million copies worldwide, making Springsteen one of the most successful and influential artists of the decade. He also performed at the Live Aid festival and won a Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance.
His subsequent albums such as Tunnel of Love, Human Contact and Lucky Town experimented with different styles and genres such as pop, soul and folk.
He has also dealt with his own issues, such as divorce, marriage, and fatherhood. His songs “Brilliant Disguise,” “Human Touch,” and “Better Days” express his emotions and insights.
In 2002, his comeback album, The Rising, was released in response to the 9/11 attacks. The album included songs such as “Lonesome Day,” “The Rising,” and “My City of Ruins,” expressing his grief, resilience, and solidarity with the victims and survivors.
The album was a huge success and won a Grammy for Best Rock Album. He also performed at the Super Bowl halftime show and won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Philadelphia Streets” from the film Philadelphia Story.
His recent albums such as Devils & Dust, We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions, Magic, Working on a Dream, Wrecking Ball, and High Hopes continue to demonstrate his versatility and relevance as he explores subjects as diverse as the Iraq War, the global financial crisis, the Obama presidency, and the Trump era.
His songs “Devils & Dust”, “The Ghost of Tom Joad”, “Radio Nowhere”, “Working on a Dream”, “We Take Care of Our Own” and “American Skin (41 Shots)” demonstrated his political and social awareness and commitment to his ideals.
His latest album, “Western Stars”, “Letter to You”, “Only the Strong Survive”, shows an introspective and reflective side of him, looking back on his life and career. His songs “Hello Sunshine”, “Letter to You”, “Only the Strong Survive” express his gratitude, nostalgia and optimism.
Springsteen has also ventured into other fields such as film, theater and literature. He has appeared in many films and documentaries such as “The Broken Heart List”, “The Wrestler”, “Springsteen and Me” and “Blinding Lights”.
He has also written and sung songs for several films such as JJ Maggie, A Man Called Dead, The Departed and The Irishman.
He also wrote and performed the one-man show Springsteen on Broadway, which ran from 2017 to 2018 and again in 2021.
During the show, he sang some of his songs and told stories about his life and career. In 2016, he also released a memoir, Born to Run, and a companion album, Chapter and Verse.
net worth
Springsteen has amassed a significant amount of wealth through his music and other endeavors. His net worth is estimated at $500 million.
He earns an average of $80 million per year from album sales, touring, royalties, and endorsements.
dispute
Springsteen has faced controversy and criticism throughout his career, mostly related to his political and social views.
Some conservative groups and media outlets have accused him of being unpatriotic, anti-American, or anti-military, particularly for his songs such as “Born in the USA”, “American Skin (41 Shots)”, and “We Take Care of Ourselves”.
He has also been sued by some of his former managers and producers, such as Mike Appel and Jon Landau, over contract disputes and royalties.
He has also been involved in a legal dispute with his ex-wife, Julianne Phillips, and some of his fans, who claim he broke a promise or violated their rights.
However, Springsteen has received praise and support from many people and organizations who recognize his artistic merit and humanitarian efforts.
He has received various awards and honors such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
He has also been praised by many celebrities and politicians, such as Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Hanks and Bono. He is also admired by many fans and critics, who hailed him as a hero and a legend.
Social Media
- Instagram account: @springsteen
- Twitter: @springsteen
Discography
- I’m popular
- Streets of Philadelphia
- Dance in the Dark
- My hometown
- growing up
- Stronger than other products
- Glory Days
- River
- Waiting for sunny days
- Pay the money first
