Who is Bruce Springsteen?
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen is an American singer, musician, and songwriter well known for being one of the best-selling artists in the world.
Between the 1960s and 1970s, Springsteen performed alongside numerous bands and gained traction for his phenomenal songwriting abilities. In 1972, he walked into CBS Studios, auditioned for Columbia Records, and secured a record label deal that changed his life.
His debut studio album, released a year after he was signed, did not sell as quickly as expected, although it got several positive reviews. Similarly, his second studio album sold slowly despite the positive reviews.
Although things seemed bleak, Springsteen was determined to keep pushing and trying until he got the success he deserved. In 1975, he was finally able to achieve massive commercial success with his third studio album.
Springsteen has sold over 135 million records worldwide and has earned multiple awards, nominations and accolades for his musical prowess.
Quick Facts
| Full Name: | Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen |
| Popular Name: | Bruce Springsteen |
| Gender: | Male |
| Birth Date: | September 23, 1949 |
| Age: | 73 years |
| Parents: | Adele Ann Springsteen (mother) and Douglas Federick Springsteen (father) |
| Siblings: | Pamela Springsteen (sister) and Virginia Springsteen Shave (sister) |
| Birth Place: | Long Branch, New Jersey, United States of America |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity: | Dutch, Irish, and Italian |
| Education: | Freehold High School |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Wife/Spouse: | Julianne Phillips (1985-1989), Patti Scialfa (1991-date) |
| Children: | Evan James Springsteen (son), Jessica Rae Springsteen (daughter), and Samuel Ryan Springsteen (son) |
| Dating: | N/A |
| Net Worth: | $650 million |
| Source of Wealth: | Music |
| Height: | 5ft9 (1.77m) |
| Weight: | 72kg (159lbs) |
Early Life and Career Information
On September 23, 1949, Bruce Springsteen was born to Adele Ann and Douglas Federick Springsteen in Long Island, New Jersey. Springsteen became interested in creating music when he was seven after watching Elvis Presley perform on The Ed Sullivan Show.
In 1967, Springsteen graduated from Freehold High School but skipped the ceremony because he had been a loner during his time in school. He was enrolled in Ocean County College but dropped out before long.
When he was 23, Springsteen’s interest in music was ignited after watching The Beatles appear on The Ed Sullivan show. They so inspired him that he decided to purchase his first guitar and officially began his career as a musician playing with a band called “The Rogues” in Freehold.
The following year, he became the lead guitarist and singer of a young band called “The Castiles.” Between the late 1960s and early 1970s, Springsteen performed alongside other bands such as “Earth,” “Steel Mill,” “Sundance Blues Band,” and “The Bruce Springsteen Band.”
He quickly gained much traction and popularity for his overwhelming genius and phenomenal songwriting skills. In 1972, Springsteen walked into CBS Studios to audition for Columbia Records with the hope of securing support on his musical journey. He piqued the interest of Clive Davis, a music director at Columbia Records, and was soon signed to the record label.
For his first album, Springsteen gathered several of his New Jersey musical colleagues and formed the E Street Band. A year after he was signed, he released his debut studio album, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. However, the album did not do as well as expected, both on the charts and in sales. His second album also received the same treatment, which should have greatly discouraged him.
Nonetheless, Springsteen was determined to make things work. He spent over fourteen months working on his third studio album, battling anger and frustration. In 1975, he released Born To Run, his third album, which eventually became the breakthrough album that propelled him into the limelight.
Unfortunately, he could not completely bask in his success since he was engaged in a lengthy legal battle with his former manager, Mike Appel, while his songs were topping charts across the world.
As soon as Springsteen had settled with his former manager, he went back into the studio to continue creating music. His most popular album, Born In The U.S.A, has sold over 30 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time. During his career, Springsteen has won twenty Grammy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and was nominated for three Emmy awards.
In 1985, Springsteen married Julianne Phillips despite their opposing backgrounds and eleven-year age gap. However, the pair separated and divorced four years later due to irreconcilable differences. Soon after, he began dating Patti Scialfa, got married in 1991, and had three children.
Bruce Springsteen’s Net Worth
Well known for his musical prowess and unique songwriting skills, Bruce Springsteen amassed most of his wealth from live performances and album sales. He has sold over 135 million records worldwide and is undoubtedly one of the best-selling artists of all time.
As of 2023, the award-winning musician’s net worth is estimated to be $650 million.
Lessons From the Life Of Bruce Springsteen
Create Your Luck
“When it comes to luck, you create your own.” ~ Bruce Springsteen.
Considering Springsteen’s evident talent and zeal, it is amazing to note that he only began to gain massive commercial success after releasing his third studio album, even though the two preceding albums received many great reviews.
Despite the slow sales he made during the beginning of his career at Columbia Records, he never gave up. He worked harder, created his luck, and paved his way to success.
Life Comes with Challenges
“I think life goes through a cycle of losing and refinding yourself all the time. Everyone has disappointments all the time, some of them pretty small, some of them pretty big.” ~ Bruce Springsteen.
Although Springsteen is no doubt one of the most successful musicians of all time, he has had his share of adversities and disappointments during his lifetime. Asides from the huge discouragement he faced during his debut years, he was also engaged in a lengthy legal battle when he had finally started gaining traction.
Life will always be filled with obstacles. However, you can rise above these barriers and find yourself amid the chaos.
