Genres: Seasonal,Electronica/Dance,Pop,Instrumental,Soundtracks,Rock,WorldMadonna Louise Ciccone was born on August 16, 1958, in Bay City, Michigan. While in high school she was persuaded by her dance teacher to continue dancing and she enrolled at the University of Michigan. She left the small town life to pursue a career as a dancer in New York in 1977.
Madonna
“I better not take my jacket off, I don’t want them to hold it against me ten years from now.” Pop-punk style, seductive lyrics and creative genius. Known simply as Madonna, she is a singer/songwriter, dancer, actress, film and record producer.
A virgin
Madonna Louise Ciccone was born on August 16, 1958, in Bay City, Michigan. While in high school she was persuaded by her dance teacher to continue dancing and she enrolled at the University of Michigan. She left the small town life to pursue a career as a dancer in New York in 1977. In 1979, Madonna landed gig as a dance with Patrick Hernandez, a French disco artist. She later started the Breakfast Club with Dan Gilroy, in which she was the lead singer. By the end the year, they disbanded and Madonna started Emmy, but that band also fizzled out.
She later caught the ear of a Mark Kammins, record producer. He later sent her demo to Seymour Stein, the founder of Sire Records. Madonna signed a recording contract Warner Bros. Records subsidiary label, Sire Records in 1982 and released the single, “Everybody.” Her self-titled debut album, reached #8 on the Billboard 200 with “Borderline” and “Lucky Star.”
Ambition
In 1984, Madonna released her second album, Like a Virgin, which reached #1 in the U.S. and the U.K. The first single off the album “Like a Virgin” and the subsequent MTV Video Music Awards performance boosted her album sales and the album went diamond selling more than 20 millions records worldwide. Around the same time, nude photos of the budding start were published in Playboy and Penthouse magazines. True Blue, Madonna’s third album was released in 1986; the album is in the Guinness Book of World Records for topping the charts in over 28 countries.
The singles, “Live to Tell,” True Blue,” “Papa Don’t Preach,” La Isla Bonita,” and “Open Your Heart” were all top five and better hits. In total, Madonna has released 11 studio albums, Like a Prayer (1989), Erotica (1992), Bedtime Stories (1994), Ray of Light (1998), Music (2000), American Life (2003), Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005) and Hard Candy (2008).
All around entertainer
Madonna is not only taken over the music industry, but she has also done here fair share of acting. She had a minor speaking role in Vision Quest. Madonna is in Desperately Seeking Susan, released her first song to reach #1 in the U.K., “Get Into the Groove.” In 1985, Madonna married Sean Penn and that same year they starred in Shanghai Surprise together. In 1987, she had a leading role in Who’s That Girl, later that year the couple filed for divorce only after a little less than a year of marriage.
Madonna starred in the 1990, film, Dick Tracey, with Warren Beatty. She scored a role in the iconic film, A League of their Own, with Tom Hanks and Rosie O’Donnell. She also recorded the movie theme song, “This Used to Be My Playground.” In 1996, she won a Golden Globe for leading role in the musical film, Evita.
Too Ambitious
Madonna was protested by The Vatican in 1989, for her commercial fro Pepsi which featured her song, “Like a Prayer.” Pepsi eventually removed the commercial from circulation and allowed Madonna to keep her endorsements for her participation. During a live performance, Madonna seemed to pass out on stage. She was in the middle of a routine and she just collapsed. One of her back up dancers caught her before she hit the ground and within seconds she came too and never missed a beat.
Did You Know…
… Like A Virgin is listed as one of the 200 Greatest Albums of All Time by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
… The photographer sold the nude pictures of Madonna for $100,000, but he only paid her $25.