Springsteen, Bruce

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Bruce Springsteen

Singer, songwriter

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and rock legend Bruce Springsteen has framed the working man's concerns with a combination of muscular, hard-driving rock and a poet's sensitive flair for phrasing. Time and Newsweek magazines ran simultaneous, competing cover stories on him in 1975 and, like Elvis Presley in the 1950s, Springsteen embodied rock and roll in the American culture of the 1980s. His 1984 release, the multi-platinum Born in the U.S.A., was a rock landmark which featured on the cover the back of a man standing before a U.S. flag wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans, with a red bandanna tucked into his back pocket. This Springsteen album cover was a cultural image as familiar to 1980s America as then-president Ronald Reagan. It was one of the biggest-selling records in history, and launched seven top ten singles.

Springsteen won an Academy Award and four Grammy Awards for his haunting ballad "Streets of Philadelphia," which was penned for the film Philadelphia in 1993, and in 1995 he won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album for The Ghost of Tom Joad. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 15, 1999. A reviewer for Billboard described Springsteen as "a veteran who has successfully juggled the roles of rock star, pop icon, folk hero, social activist, and everyman. As devoted as his fans are to him, the ‘Boss’ is just as committed to them, keeping their wishes uppermost in mind at every step in his illustrious career."

Springsteen was born in Freehold, New Jersey, in 1949; his mother, Adele, worked as a secretary and his father, Douglas, took odd jobs and was noted for being a superb pool player. Although Springsteen is a Dutch name, he was also Italian, and his ancestors were from the Neapolitan region of Italy. Both of his parents wanted him to pursue a career route other than music, and his father was particularly strident about the topic. As a result, Springsteen and his father often experienced a clash of wills. Some of Springsteen's material would reflect their battles and reconciliations, in such songs as "Adam Raised A Cain" from Darkness on the Edge of Town, "Independence Day" from The River, and "Walk Like A Man" from Tunnel of Love.

Springsteen told Billboard's Melinda Newman about the time his mother bought an electric guitar for him, "The guitar was $60. That was an enormous, enormous amount of money at the time. … So [buying] the guitar was a great, a very meaningful gesture of faith at that time from her." Springsteen never wavered from his goal of becoming a musician, and in 1965 he joined his first rock band, The Castiles, at the age of 16. Springsteen's parents relocated to California when he was 15, but he chose to remain behind in New Jersey. He briefly took classes at Ocean County Community College, and had some poems published in the school's literary magazine, but his heart was in performing and playing music. He began playing in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and in New York City, and led a variety of groups in the late 1960s and early 1970s, including Steel Mill, The Rogues, Dr. Zoom and the Sonic Boom, and the Bruce Springsteen Band, where he met many of the musicians who would later comprise his E Street Band.

In 1972, at the age of 23, Springsteen signed a management deal with a fledgling songwriter/producer named Mike Appel and his partner, Jim Cretecos. The contract started Springsteen's career and helped him in the short run. Appel was wholeheartedly devoted to Springsteen's career. He fought to have the musician's material played over the radio and to provide him with the largest concert audiences possible. Appel set up an audition for Springsteen with legendary Columbia Records Artist and Repertoire (A&R) executive John Hammond, who quickly signed him to the label. Springsteen told Newman, "I just stood up and sang the best songs I had. I was incredibly excited. I felt very confident about what I was doing and being there, and nervous at the same time."

Springsteen released Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ, in 1973, but sales and airplay were minimal. A few critics, however, noted and publicized Springsteen's early talent. When The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle was released later in 1973, the critics approved, but DJs gave it minimal play. In the meantime, Springsteen's concerts were growing more and more popular, and he was learning how to connect with and energize his audiences. After seeing a show at Cambridge's Harvard Square Theatre, music critic Jon Landau penned the memorable line, "I saw rock and roll's future and its name is Bruce Springsteen," in The Real Paper. Landau's review was posted in a Boston concert venue/bar's window. One day Landau encountered Springsteen standing outside reading the review, and the two became friends. Springsteen wanted Landau to co-produce Born to Run in 1975, which displeased and displaced Appel. Born to Run was an immensely popular record, and as a result of its popularity, Springsteen was featured simultaneously on the covers of both Newsweek and Time in 1975. Born to Run featured a Phil-Spector-like "wall of sound" production, combined with rich, urbane lyrics. Springsteen followed the album's release with tours in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. He also sued to break his contract with Appel in order to regain control of his finances and his songs. Appel counter-sued to keep Springsteen from recording with Landau, and the lawsuits kept Springsteen away from the recording studio for two years. Springsteen finally won his case, Landau became his manager and producer, and Springsteen took control of his catalogue and career.

For the Record …

Born in 1949 in Freehold, NJ; son of Adele (a secretary) and Douglas; married Julianne Phillips, 1987; married Patti Scialfi, 1991; children (with Scialfi): Evan, Jessica, Sam. Education: Attended classes at Ocean County Community College.

Released Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ, 1973; The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle, 1973; Born to Run, 1975; released Darkness on the Edge of Town, 1978; The River, 1980; Nebraska, 1982; Born in the U.S.A., 1984; 3-CD set Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: Live 1975-1985, 1986; Tunnel of Love, 1987; simultaneously released Human Touch and Lucky Town, 1992, both without the E Street Band; recorded theme song "Streets of Philadelphia" for film Philadelphia, 1993; released Greatest Hits, 1995; The Ghost of Tom Joad, 1995; made first solo acoustic tour, released 4-CD box set Tracks, 1998; released The Rising, 2002; toured with "Vote For Change," 2004; released Devils and Dust, 2005, We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions, 2006, and Magic, 2007.

Awards: Academy Award and four Grammy Awards for title theme song "Streets of Philadelphia," from film Philadelphia, 1993; Grammy Award, Best Contemporary Folk Album, for The Ghost of Tom Joad, 1995; inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, March 15, 1999; Grammy Awards: Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, Best Rock Song, and Best Rock Album, all for The Rising, 2002; Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal (with Warren Zevon), for "Disorder in the House," 2003; Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance, for "Code of Silence," 2004; Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance, for "Devils and Dust," 2005; Best Traditional Folk Album, for We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions, 2006; Best Long Form Music Video, for Wings for Wheels: The Making of Born to Run, 2006.

Addresses: Record company—Columbia Records, 2100 Colorado Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90404, telephone: (310) 449-2100. Web site—http://www.brucespringsteen.net/news/index.html.

Springsteen released Darkness on the Edge of Town in 1978, followed by The River in 1980 and Nebraska in 1982. The hit single "Hungry Heart" was included on The River, and it became his first album to reach Billboard 's number one spot. Springsteen's all-acoustic Nebraska featured the stories that Springsteen held dear to his heart: bleak, haunting, wistful tales of those alienated from the American dream. He told Newman, "I enjoyed making Nebraska so much, I pursued it before I went back to making Born in the U.S.A." Nebraska reached number three on the Billboard album chart. The multi-platinum Born in the U.S.A. was released in 1984, and became one of the biggest-selling releases in rock history. It spawned seven top ten singles, including "Dancing in the Dark," which peaked at number two on the Billboard singles chart. The album's success led to sold-out tours and to the release of the 3-CD set Live: 1975-1985, which entered the Billboard charts at number one in 1986. Springsteen wed model/actress Julianne Phillips in 1986, released Tunnel of Love in 1987, and then became romantically involved with backup singer/guitarist Patti Scialfa. After leaving Phillips, Springsteen had a son with Scialfa in 1990, and they were married in 1991.

In 1992 he simultaneously released Human Touch and Lucky Town, both recorded without the E Street Band. The albums entered the charts at number two and number three. In 1993 Springsteen recorded the theme song "Streets of Philadelphia" for the Jonathan Demme film Philadelphia, which starred actor Tom Hanks. The haunting, poignant ballad earned Springsteen an Oscar and four Grammy Awards. He released Greatest Hits in 1995, which included three new songs recorded with the E Street Band.

The first incarnation of the E Street Band was formed in 1972 and included saxophone player Clarence Clemons, organist Danny Federici, drummer Vini Lopez, keyboard player David Sancious, and bassist Garry Tallent. Federici and Lopez had also played with Springsteen in the band Steel Mill. The E Street Band was named after a street in Belmar, New Jersey, where the band rehearsed in a basement. Lopez left the band first, followed by Sancious, and they were replaced by keyboard player Rolf Bilton and drummer Max Weinberg. The E Street Band broke up in 1989, but continued to play with Springsteen on and off throughout the 1990s.

Springsteen released The Ghost of Tom Joad in 1995, an album reminiscent of his earlier acoustic release Nebraska. The album won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album, and its single "Dead Man Walking" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. Springsteen followed the album's release with his first solo acoustic tour. Springsteen attended his thirtieth high school reunion in 1997 at the Holiday Inn in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, underscoring his reputation as an "average guy."

Springsteen released the four-CD box set Tracks in November of 1998. Tracks was the first box set ever to debut at number one on the Billboard charts. The set featured 66 songs, 56 of which had never been released. Springsteen had once helped induct Bob Dylan into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and his own turn came on March 15, 1999, when he was formally inducted. Springsteen told Newman, "Hopefully when I go into my work, there are things that help my fans sort through their own struggles and their own issues. You know, that's just what I've always tried to do, and that's what I still try to do."

In the wake of Tracks, Springsteen and the E Street Band joined forces once again for an extensive tour that began in 1999 and extended into the summer of 2000. In the final concerts of the tour, Springsteen and the band sold out ten shows at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Following up the concerts with CD and DVD versions of Live in New York City, Springsteen and the E Street Band then went on to record their first studio album together in 18 years. A popular and critical success, The Rising was reflective of the American experience following 9/11. "The Rising is one of the very best examples in recent history of how popular art can evoke a time period and all of its confusing and often contradictory notions, feelings, and impulses," wrote Thom Jurek in All Music Guide.

In 2004 Springsteen became more active on the U.S. political scene, encouraging citizens to vote against George W. Bush and joining the "Vote for Change" tour with artists like the Dixie Chicks and R.E.M. In 2005 he issued Devils and Dust, an album that resembled earlier recordings such as Nebraska and The Ghost of Tom Joad. According to David Fricke in Rolling Stone, "Devils and Dust is, in striking and affecting ways, Springsteen's most audacious record since the home-demo American Gothic of 1982's Nebraska."

Springsteen surprised fans by releasing yet another new album in 2006, We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions. Unlike other Springsteen albums, however, he chose to forego his own songs in favor of traditional songs popularized by folk music icon Pete Seeger. "And even if you have no patience for (or interest in) the history of the songs, or their possible meanings," noted Stephen Thomas Erlewine in All Music Guide, "it's easy to enjoy We Shall Overcome on pure musical terms: it's a rambunctious, freewheeling, positively joyous record unlike any other in Springsteen's admittedly rich catalog." In 2007 Springsteen recorded Magic with the E Street Band, their first recording together since The Rising in 2002. "Not only is Magic Springsteen's most accessible album, start to finish, since 1987's Tunnel of Love," wrote Glenn Gamboa in Newsday, "it is closest thematically to Born in the U.S.A., a slice of American life and its mix of ups and downs."

Speaking of his work in Spin, Springsteen said, "I want people to look onstage and see themselves. That idea of the band as a representative community—all the bands I like have some element of that. It's thrilling when you see that communication."