Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone
Born:
August 16, 1958
Place of Birth:
Bay City, Michigan
Major Notes:
Madonna is considered one of the most successful female recording singers of all time.
One of six children, her father was an engineer for the Chrysler Corporation and her French-Canadian mother died when Madonna was only five.
Her father was interested in music and he encouraged his daughter to take piano lessons and then, at the request of Madonna, ballet lessons.
She was a very good dance student and showed early impressive skills in this discipline.
In high school, Madonna was very good as a student who excelled in sports and cheerleading.
After graduation, she enrolled at the University of Michigan where she continued her ballet lessons.
Only a year later, Madonna left university to follow a career in professional dancing.
She went to New York in 1977 and studied dancing under the supervision of Alvin Ailey, a noted choreographer.
Madonna worked to support herself by playing and singing in bands along with some modeling.
After two years, she joined the Patrick Hernandez Revue, a disco outfit, and she traveled with Hernandez to Paris.
In Paris, Madonna met Dan Gilroy and the two moved to New York forming the "Breakfast Club", a singing and dance group.
In 1982, with the help of a New York music producer, Mark Kaminsshe, Madonna signed a singing contract with Sire Records.
Her first album titled "Madonna" led to a string of hits and she rapidly rose in her career.
She wanted and got control over the productions of her diva image which has led to several transformations over the years.
This ability to re-invent herself has kept Madonna at the top with a varied career of recording sales, movies, and concert tours.
Madonna has been nominated and won many awards including a Premios Amigo Award for Best International Female Artist.
For detailed research and more information, check out any of the following:
Absolutely.net
AbsoluteMadonna
The A to Z of Madonna
Vh1.com
Wikipedia
Tiscali.Music
KidsWorld
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Last Updated: June 17, 2006
© USA-Hero/Don Jones 2004