Born September 23: Bruce Springsteen, The Boss of the USA

Bruce Springsteen was born on September 23, 1949, in New Jersey, to an Italian mother and an Irish father.

As a teenager, he fell under the spell of Elvis Presley and became passionate about the star. Seeing his determination to make it in the music industry, his mother gave him his first guitar, purchased from a pawn shop. He then began writing his lyrics while strumming his instrument, inspired by the writings of Bob Dylan.

In 1972, he was spotted by talent scout John Hammond, who led him to sign with Columbia Records. He brought with him his band of musician friends, most of whom would go on to form the E Street Band. "Greetings from Asbury Park, New Jersey," his first album with a postcard-perfect title, met with only minor local success but was already winning over critics. Affectionately nicknamed "The Boss" by his musicians, Bruce Springsteen was nevertheless convinced that success was just around the corner. His second album, "The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle," was not yet the breakthrough album.

It wasn't until 1975 with "Born to Run" that Springsteen's dreams came true. The album was a huge success, earning him simultaneous covers of Time and Newsweek. A legend with 140 million albums sold was born.

At the same time, the singer composed for other artists. In 1977, he wrote "Fire" for his idol Elvis Presley, who sadly died without having been able to sing it. The following year, he offered Patti Smith his famous "Because the Night."

In 1978, the singer released a darker album, "Darkness on the Edge of Town," followed by "The River" in 1980, which included the hit "Hungry Heart."

In 1982, "Nebraska," his first album without the E Street Band, saw him affirm his commitment. In this album, recorded with only a guitar, a harmonica, and a tambourine, the singer denounces the excesses of American society and policy in Vietnam. "Born in the USA" has the makings of a hit in the form of a statement and enjoys considerable popular success. Several politicians attempted to appropriate the song, such as George Bush, who used it as his 1988 campaign anthem. Much to the chagrin of its author, who constantly emphasised that it was not a patriotic song, but rather the story of a Vietnam veteran and his difficult return to the United States.

The following years were devoted to extensive world tours, always accompanied by his loyal musicians. In 1987, "Tunnel of Love" was released, a compilation of lyrics about love in various forms. A year later, The Boss performed in front of 300,000 young Germans in East Berlin. "I came to play rock 'n' roll for you in the hope that one day all barriers will be abolished," he told the crowd. The fall of the Berlin Wall occurred two years later.

He recorded "Human Touch" and "Lucky Town" solo in 1992. While the audience didn't quite see it this time, the track "Streets of Philadelphia," from the soundtrack of the film "Philadelphia" starring Tom Hanks, earned him an Oscar for Best Song of the Year and remains one of the most recognisable songs to this day.

The second half of the 1990s notably saw the release of "The Ghost of Tom Joad," a "Greatest Hits" album, and a compilation of previously unreleased tracks. On this occasion, he performed on stage at Madison Square Garden with the E Street Band. 2022 marked the release of a new album, "The Rising," the first recorded live in the studio for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, who were now only performing live on stage. Shaken by the September 11 attacks, the singer included many songs that evoked the tragedy. Four years later, "Devils and Dust" saw him return to a more intimate style. The album was followed by a new solo world tour.

A year later, tireless, he released "We Shall Overcome," with a more folk-oriented sound. A tour with the "Seeger Session Band" followed, featuring classics from the North American folk repertoire.

A new tour was held in 2007, this time again with his E Street Band colleagues, to herald "Magic." His 17th studio album, "Wrecking Ball," was released in March 2012, six months after the death of Clarence Clemons, the band's saxophonist.

"High Hopes" was released in January 2014, as was his first book, an autobiographical novel entitled "Outlaw Pete." In 2016, he published his autobiography, "Born to Run," which quickly became a bestseller.

In 2019, "Western Stars" drew inspiration from Californian pop. The following year, "Letter to You" was recorded in just four days, again with his fellow members of the E Street Band.

In 2021, the singer published a book with Barack Obama entitled "Born in the USA." Having become close since the future president's first presidential campaign, the two men share their conversations about topics close to their hearts and their life stories.

The year 2023 saw him forced to cancel his concerts, as he became the victim of a health problem that forced him to take a rare break. A few months later, the renowned magazine Forbes announced that he was now part of the highly sought-after club of billionaire musicians. His fortune largely contributed to by the sale of the rights to his immense music catalog with Sony. Today, The Boss has resumed his tours and will soon be seen on the big screen in a biopic entitled "Deliver Me from Nowhere", a film in which Jeremy Allen White will play the role of the legend. No goodbyes are on the agenda for the hyperactive singer: "We're not doing a farewell tour. I'm not going anywhere!" he declared this summer. And the artist also continues his battles, responding tactfully to the treacherous insults by Donald Trump, a President he loathes. It's hard to blame him!

(MH with Céline Massart - Photo : Etienne Tordoir)

Photo: Bruce Springsteen with the E Street Band on stage at Feyenoord Stadium in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on June 13, 1985