Biography of Madonna

Are you interested in a biography of Madonna, the material girl who started to rock the music scene in the 1980s and continues to do so today? Madonna is regularly bringing her fresh, controversial perspective to the entertainment scene, both shocking and provoking consideration while helping us dance the night away.

Madonna was born in a suburb of Detroit in 1958. Her given name is Madonna Louise Ciccone. Her mother is French Canadian and her father Irish American. Madonna was the third of six children. Madonna's mother died when she was quite young, so Madonna was raised by her stepmother and father. Madonna was a good student; she was known for her high GPA and mischievous spirit.

When she graduated from high school, Madonna went to college at the University of Michigan for dance. Inspired to pursue a career in dance, Madonna moved to New York City with little money and no clear plans. She managed to land jobs with dance troupes, but the pay was minimal, so she worked in a Dunkin' Donuts to survive. While trying to make it as a dancer, she discovered her singing talent might get her further than dance alone. She formed her first band, The Breakfast Club, and then a second band, called Emmy. It was while she was performing in nightclubs with Emmy that she caught the attention of DJ and producer Mark Kamins, who hooked her up with a recording studio.

Madonna's first single was produced in 1982, but it wasn't until 1984 when her Like a Virgin album was produced that she truly burst onto the pop music scene with flair. Suddenly everyone wanted to look like Madonna, with her fishnet stockings, bleached hair, deep red lips and huge crosses. Madonna tapped into the heart of American teens and young people as she sang about religion, sex and relationships, bringing with her a naughty but desirable style that made Americans throng to her performances.

After a couple years of success both on music video, touring musically, and appearing in a couple films, Madonna married actor Sean Penn. Madonna starred in the movies Who's That Girl and Shanghai Surprise before she launched her Who's That Girl concert tour.   She also starred in a theatrical performance that involved her husband, but their relationship soon ended with a 1989 divorce. Madonna claimed she was too focused on her career to make a marriage work with Penn at the time.

Since that time, Madonna's career has continued to blossom and evolve. She dove into controversial and sexually explicit themes for several years as she promoted True Blue, The Immaculate Collection, Sex and Erotica. When the Vatican urged Catholics not to view her movies or listen to her music, she came out publicly attacking the Catholic Church for only respecting sex when it was used for procreation. Madonna stood proudly as a sex symbol for liberated men and women who enjoyed their bodies and relationships for pleasure as well as procreation.

As time went by, Madonna toned down her look and message. She gave birth to a child named Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon and released a tame album titled Bedtime Stories. She adopted from Malawi and financially supported an orphanage in this impoverished country. Since then, she had produced consistently tamer music videos, songs and put out several books and documentaries, carefully walking the line between erotic and simply sexy. Madonna currently enjoys a strong, broad fan base.