On this day: Bruce Springsteen is born
On 23 September 1949, Bruce Springsteen aka ‘The Boss’ was born in New Jersey. His life and music would go on to define post-war America, writes Eliot Wilson The way in which modern rock music developed means that the late 1940s are stuffed full of famous births. Take 1949 alone, and you will find enduring [...]
On September 23, 1949, Bruce Springsteen, known as 'The Boss', was born in New Jersey. His life and music would ultimately define post-war America. In the late 1940s, a plethora of famous births occurred, including Billy Joel, Lionel Richie, and Gene Simmons. However, Springsteen's fame stands out among them. Born to Douglas "Dutch" Springsteen, a WWII veteran and bus driver, and Adele Zerilli, a legal secretary from Brooklyn, Springsteen had a tumultuous upbringing.
He attended St Rose of Lima Catholic School and Freehold High School, where he exhibited disaffected behavior and dreamed of becoming a musician. Growing up during a prosperous post-war America, Springsteen witnessed Kennedy's assassination at age 14 and faced the realities of Vietnam when he failed the draft physical at 19. The 1970s economic downturns further shaped Springsteen's music, as he chronicled hardship, struggle, and working-class life in America.
With his unique authenticity and storytelling abilities, Springsteen has sold an estimated 150 million records worldwide.
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