Biography
Birth name: Madonna Louise Ciccone
Also known as: Madonna Ciccone, Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone
Born: August 16, 1958 (1958-08-16) (age 50)
Place: Bay City, Michigan, United States
Genre(s): Pop, rock
Occupation(s): Singer, songwriter, dancer, record producer, film producer, film director, fashion designer, author, actress, entrepreneur
Instrument(s): Vocals, guitar, percussion
Voice type(s): Mezzo-soprano
Years active: 1979–present
Label(s): Sire (1982–1995),
Maverick (1992–2004),
Warner Bros (1982–2008),
Live Nation Artists (2008-)
Associated acts: Breakfast Club, Emmy
Madonna (born Madonna Louise Ciccone on August 16, 1958) is an American recording artist, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan and raised in Rochester Hills, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977, for a career in modern dance. After performing as a member of the pop musical groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her self-titled debut album, Madonna in 1983 by Sire Records.
She attended St. Frederick's and St. Andrew's Elementary Schools (the latter is now Holy Family Regional School), and after that West Middle School. There she became known for her high GPA.
Madonna later went to Rochester Adams High School, becoming a straight-A student and a member of the cheerleading squad. Madonna received a dance scholarship to the University of Michigan after graduating from high school.
Her follow up album, Like a Virgin, became her first number one album on the Billboard 200 chart.
She performed the song at the first MTV Video Music Awards, wearing her then-trademark "Boy Toy" belt. Like a Virgin is listed by the National Association of Recording Merchandisers and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the Definitive 200 Albums of All Time.
In 1985, Madonna entered mainstream films, beginning with a brief appearance as a club singer in the film Vision Quest
In 1987, Madonna starred in Who's That Girl, and contributed four songs to its soundtrack; including the title track and the United States number-two single, "Causing a Commotion"
In 1988, city officials in the town of Pacentro began to construct a 13-foot (4 m) statue of Madonna in a bustier.
In 1990, Madonna starred as "Breathless" Mahoney in a film adaptation of the comic book series Dick Tracy.
In April 1990, Madonna began her Blond Ambition World Tour.
In November 1990, Madonna released her first greatest hits compilation album, The Immaculate Collection, which included two new songs called "Justify My Love" and "Rescue Me"
In December 1990, it was announced that Madonna had pulled out of the controversial Jennifer Lynch film Boxing Helena.
In 1991, Madonna starred in her first documentary film, Truth or Dare (known as In Bed with Madonna outside North America), which chronicled her Blond Ambition World Tour, as well as her personal life.
During 1993, she starred in two films. First was the erotic thriller Body of Evidence. The film contained S&M and bondage and was poorly received by critics.
In November 1995, Madonna released Something to Remember, a collection of her ballads which featured her cover of the Marvin Gaye song "I Want You" and the top ten hit song "You'll See". In 1996, Madonna’s most critically successful film, Evita, was released.
Madonna's 1998 studio album Ray of Light debuted at number two in the United States.
In 1998, Madonna was signed to play a violin teacher in the film Music of the Heart but left the project, citing "creative differences" with director Wes Craven.
Madonna followed the success of Ray of Light with the single "Beautiful Stranger", recorded for the 1999 Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me soundtrack. It reached number nineteen on the Billboard Hot 100 with airplay alone.
In 2000, Madonna starred in the movie "The Next Best Thing." She contributed two songs to the film's soundtrack, "Time Stood Still" and the international hit "American Pie", a cover version of the 1970s Don McLean single.
In 2003, Madonna collaborated with fashion photographer Steven Klein on an exhibition installation named X-STaTIC Pro=CeSS. It included photography from a photoshoot in W Magazine and seven video segments.
On June 14, 2004, the dispute was resolved when Maverick shares owned by Madonna and Ronnie Dashev were purchased.
That same year, Rolling Stone ranked her number thirty-six on their list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time"
In mid-2006, Madonna became the worldwide model for H&M.
In October 2006, Madonna traveled to Malawi to help build an orphanage, which she also funded as part of the Raising Malawi initiative.
In December 2007, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced Madonna as one of the five inductees of 2008.
In 2008, Madonna released her eleventh studio album, Hard Candy.
On March 2, 2009, Madonna was honored with the Japan Gold International Artist of the Year award at the RIAJ Gold Disc Awards for her album Hard Candy.[182] In April, Madonna donated $500,000 USD to the victims of the L'Aquila earthquake in Italy.
Madonna albums discography, Madonna singles discography, and Madonna: Music Video & DVD Videography:
* Madonna (1983)
* Like a Virgin (1984)
* True Blue (1986)
* Like a Prayer (1989)
* Erotica (1992)
* Bedtime Stories (1994)
* Ray of Light (1998)
* Music (2000)
* American Life (2003)
* Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)
* Hard Candy (2008)
