Springsteen, Bruce (1949-…), is a popular American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. His fans often refer to him as “The Boss.” Springsteen is considered to be one of the most dynamic performers in rock music. He composes almost all the songs he performs. Springsteen has won many Grammy Awards for his music.
Springsteen’s sensitive and emotional lyrics explore the struggles, relationships, and dreams of ordinary people. His songs contain such traditional rock themes as youth’s desire for independence and love of cars. His songs also deal with the problems of unemployed workers and veterans of the Vietnam War (1957–1975). Many songs also carry a message of hope that life will be better in the future.
Bruce Frederick Springsteen was born on Sept. 23, 1949, in Freehold, New Jersey, and raised there. By the mid-1960’s, he was performing rock music in small East Coast nightclubs. He signed with Columbia Records in 1972. In the early 1970’s, he assembled the E Street Band, which accompanied him through the late 1980’s. Springsteen became well known with the release of his third album, Born to Run (1975). His most popular album was Born in the U.S.A. (1984). This included seven hit songs—”Born in the U.S.A.,” “Cover Me,” “Dancing in the Dark,” “Glory Days,” “I’m Goin’ Down,” “I’m on Fire,” and “My Hometown.” Other Springsteen hits include “Born to Run” (1975), “Hungry Heart” (1980), “War” (1986), and “Brilliant Disguise” (1987). A collection of his live performances was issued in 1986 as Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Live/1975-1985. Springsteen won an Academy Award in 1994 for his song “Streets of Philadelphia” from the motion picture Philadelphia. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.
Springsteen reunited with the E Street Band to make the album The Rising (2002), inspired by the terrorist attacks in the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. Springsteen and the E Street Band later reunited again to make the albums Magic (2007), Working on a Dream (2009), and Wrecking Ball (2012). All became hits. Springsteen has also recorded a number of successful solo albums, including Devils & Dust (2005) and We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (2006), a collection of songs made popular by the American folk musician Pete Seeger. Springsteen wrote the memoir Born to Run (2016). In 2018, he won a Special Tony Award for his one-man show, Springsteen on Broadway.
