Madonna Born August 16, 1958 in Bay City, Michigan to a lower-middle class Italian-Catholic household, Madonna Louise Ciccone was the third eldest daughter born. Her father Chrysler engineer Sylvio (Tony) Ciccone and French-Canadienne Madonna Fortin, for whom the future superstar was named Veronica was added to her name for confirmation. While at a young age of five, Madonnas world fell apart as her mother struggled to a long process of breast cancer on December 1, 1963. Gathering strength from the tragedious loss of her mother, Madonna took a role of the head female of the house.
She constantly competed with her other siblings for attention and eventually became her fathers loved one. Madonna turned her perfect self into a bitter one when Sylvio married Joan Gustafson, the familys housekeeper, three years after his wifes death. The child resented her fathers betrayal and wouldnt accept her step-mother authority. While going through tough times, Ms Ciccone developed a passion for the arts. Madonna acted in high school productions, but ultimately dance became her interest in her childhood life. In addition to being a cheerleader, Madonna took up ballet classes while attending Rochester Adams High School.
She found a mentor in dance instructor Christopher Flynn, who introduced her to the world of spunkiness and sophistication at Detroit gay clubs. Madonnas wild sexuality made her fly sky high! She went on dates with guys, had her first rape encounter at 14 and toyed with the idea of lesbianism and practiced mutual things with her female classmate. Having excellent academic performance in addition to her dancing skills, Madonna graduated early in 1976 with a dance scholarship to the University of Michigan, where she studied poetry and dance. There, she had her first acquaintance with Steven Bray.
Bray was a black drummer in an R&b band , and she began to attend his gigs. Finally, after spending just five semesters at U of M and the encouragement of Flynn, the nineteen-year-old set off to realize her dream. Despite her fathers dreams, Madonna began her world wide adventure, looking for roles where she could not only dance but sing also. Later on back in Queens, the Gilroys started The Breakfast Club in the fall of 1979 with Madonna on drums. That failed when the lead guitarist stopped the band. Madonna went to write and record dance/disco-oriented tracks with Bray and performed them at downtown clubs.
She was quickly spotted by DJ Mark Kamins at the latter club. Madonna presented a four-track demo to him, he immediately made a deal and signed contracts. Madonnas self titled debut album was a mixture of sexy attitude, and streetwise sass. Her bare midriff, weird costume jewelry, and her I-dont-care attitude helped to make her unique personality that the world would get to know her as. Her first version of Everybody, released as Madonnas first single at the end of 1982. Her second single camde from the debut album, Physical Attraction also proved to be a club favorite.
In June 1983, Madonna had her 3rd club hit with the outstanding, Holiday, which was produced by her new boyfriend, dance pop mix-master John Benitez. The following month, Holiday became her first billboard Top 40 hit. After that happened, Madonna had been certified quadruple-platinum with sales 4. 4 million units in the US and 3. 3 million units internationally. By the end of 1884, Madonnas second studio album, Like A Virgin was ready to be released. This album featured her songs Material Girl and Dress You Up. The album scored her first #1 hit and gold single in Dec of 84.
To date, Like A Virgin has achieved 10 platinum certifications for sales exceeding 10 million units in the US. Late in 1984, Madonna began working on her first starring role in a film, Susan Seidelmans Desperately Seeking Susan, where she played a naive housewife. It was success in 1985 and brought out her musical talent to the world. In February of of 1985, Madonna made a brief appearance in Vision Quest as a nightclub singer, which scored her the second #1 hit and gold single for her career for the song Crazy For You, which also topped the charts in May.
One of Madonnas highlights was meeting Sean Penn in 1985 shooting the video for Material Girl. After the song hit #2, Madonna kicked off the Virgin Tour in Seattle. It was her first set of 35 US concert dates, with Patrick Leonard as musical director and the Beastie Boys as openers. Not only did Madonna have a wonderful voice and performance but she didnt stop her trademark of, rubber bracelets crucifixes, and colorful lacy lingerie. On August 16,1985, Sean Penn gave what Madonna thought was her best birthday present ever-his mind, body and soul. Seven Months after there first date, He proposed to her.
Almost right after the marriage, both Playboy, and Penthouse published the nude pictures she posed for in 1977 and sent them to Sean to brake there marriage. Nevertheless, Madonnas popularity continued with countless teenage girls adopting her sexy appearance, being nicknamed The Madonna wannabes. She created the third record True Blue. The album was released in June of 1986 it was #1 in both the UK and US. She now wanted to start excelling in the acting limelight. In early 1987, she got a part in Whos That Girl. She starred as Nikki Finn (a main character). Soon after her singles in the movie ran up to spots #1 & #2.
At the end of 1987, Madonna shot Bloodhounds of Broadway, a low-budget gangster comedy. She played a sexy, black haired, chorus girl Hortense Hathaway. The film crashed and it was doomed. It now seemed that Madonnas film career was in trouble at the time, she did not want to perform on stage for a while. She decided now to focus on her marriage. Madonnas marriage with Sean was turning into a very bumpy ride. In the winter of 1987, Madonna filed for divorce from Sean saying it was all about differences, later the papers were taken back. Thirteen months later she put in a complaint of assault against her husband after a violent dispute.
After trying to save there marriage after 3 years it failed.. Like a Prayer, had a lot to do with her life. The death of her mother (Promise to Try), Her experience with Sean (Till Death Do Us Part), (Oh Father), the mystery of Catholicism, all of these titles had to do with her life experiences. Express Yourself and Oh father hit the charts in 1990. She decided to go back to acting so in 1990 , Madonna began shooting Dick Tracy, a US $$23 million Walt Disney production released on June 15th, 1990. The movie was based on a newspaper comic strip, starred her diva self singing Mahoney. Dick Tracey turned out to be another box-office bomb.
Madonna made out good because her album was produced through Dick Tracy, and later became #1. To end up the decade Madonna released The Immaculate Collection on November 13, 1990. The album was dedicated to the Pope, it was a 17-song collection of her greatest hits from Holiday to Vogue and including the first time release for Crazy For You. Over 2 million copies were sold. It was her eight top #1 single she had produced. In the beginning of 1992 she signed a multimillion-dollar deal with Time Warner, guaranteeing release of all albums, films, and books under her Maverick production corporation.
The album Erotica which was #2, and produced the five Top Hits in 92. Madonna continued her success throughout her years being a diva till this day. She had many appearances on Late shows and on talk show host Oprah. Shes became a Multi Millionaire and is formally Best Friends with talk show host Roise ODonnell. From 93, and on shes been in various movies such as Evita and created some of her many Top hits listed below, She also gave birth on October 14th 1996 in Los Angeles to a baby girl Lourdes Maria Ciccone.