Bruce Springsteen Biography

Fast Facts

• Recipient of a Kennedy Center Honor in 2009
• Took a break from touring in the late '80s and '90s to write songs for motion picture soundtracks and would eventually go on to win an Academy Award for his contribution to the award-winning film, "Philadelphia"
• Inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the American Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1999
• Began to take an interest in music after seeing Elvis Presley perform on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in the early '60s and would go on to buy his first guitar at 13-years-old
• Quote: "[Regarding his renewed success in the 2000s after four decades in the business] "When I hit fifty, I became very prolific․""
• Quote: "[Regarding his struggles early on as an artist] "You have to understand the limitations of your own life and keep pushing through it․""
• Began to gain widespread recognition while touring colleges in 1970 as a member of Steel Mill and would eventually audition for Columbia Records executives two years later
• His first two records, both released in 1973, would gain high critical acclaim, but lack commercial success
• Also gained prominence in the '70s as one of the industry's top songwriters, as he penned singles for Manfred Mann, Patti Smith, The Pointer Sisters and dozens of others
• Gained international acclaim following the release of one of his most popular albums to date, Born in the U․S․A․ which would eventually go on to earn numerous accolades
• Hit mainstream success following the publication of a critique by music reviewer Jon Landau in Boston's The Real Paper in 1974, which touted Springsteen as "․․․rock and roll's future․"
• Continues to reside in New Jersey and enjoys running a family-owned horse ranch nearby, as he has stated his distaste for Los Angeles and paparazzi in the past
• Failed his physical examinations required for induction at 18-years-old because of a severe motorcycle accident he suffered only one year prior, an event that would later help him from getting out of serving in Vietnam
• Gained his nickname "The Boss" as a teen, as he was responsible for collecting money from club managers after gigs