Bruce Springsteen

In 1949, Bruce Springsteen was born in New Jersey. His childhood was ordinary until he discovered The Beatles, which proved to be a life-affirming moment as he dedicated his life to music. In total, Springsteen has released over 20 studio albums in his career to date, mainly alongside the E Street Band.

At 19, Springsteen dodged the draft to serve in the Vietnam War and began pursuing his music career more seriously. His first band, Steel Mill, were moderately successful and played for large crowds in New Jersey but ultimately failed to receive national attention.

Springsteen released his debut album, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J., in 1973, which wasn’t a success initially. After struggling for two years, Springsteen’s fortunes changed with ‘Born To Run’, which made him a superstar.

After more commercial success with the E-Street Band, Springsteen released the seminal solo album, ‘Nebraska’, in 1982 before reuniting with the E Street Band on ‘Born To Run’. The LP has sold over 30 million copies worldwide, including 17 million in the United States alone. In total, Springsteen has sold more than 71 million records in the United States and over 140 million worldwide.

In 1999, Springsteen was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He has also won 21 Grammys, two Golden Globes, an Academy Award, and a Tony Award during his illustrious career. In 2023, The Boss was given the National Medal of Arts by President Joe Biden for his services to the music industry.