Madonna is a versatile, commanding performer and her chameleon-like ability to evolve has kept the singer at
the top of the pop world for more than twenty years.
Beginnings
Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone was born to her French-Canadian mother and Italian dad on August 16,
1958 in Bay City, Michigan, one of seven children. She lost her mother to breast cancer at the age of five.
Madonna went on to attend Catholic school and later graduated from Rochester Adams High in 1976, where she
was a cheerleader. She performed well enough academically to earn a college scholarship. She studied modern
dance at the University of Michigan, later joining the Alvin Ailey dance troupe. For a time, Madonna lent her
considerable talents to The Bridgemen Drum and Bugle Corps.
Impatient to begin her dreams of stardom, Madonna left college after three semesters and moved to New York.
She landed some roles with small dance troupes, but it would be singing that would make her dreams come true.
Madonna went on to attend Catholic school and later graduated from Rochester Adams High in 1976, where she
was a cheerleader. She performed well enough academically to earn a college scholarship. She studied modern
dance at the University of Michigan, later joining the Alvin Ailey dance troupe. For a time, Madonna lent her
considerable talents to The Bridgemen Drum and Bugle Corps.
Impatient to begin her dreams of stardom, Madonna left college after three semesters and moved to New York.
She landed some roles with small dance troupes, but it would be singing that would make her dreams come true.
Breakthrough
The release in 1983 of her first, self-titled album caused very little stir. However, the songs were perfect for
the dance clubs, became popular there, and slowly began to receive airplay. The first hit off the album was the
catchy, upbeat Holiday, soon followed by Lucky Star and Borderline. Her number one hit Like a Virgin, from
the album of the same name, solidified her success. 1985 brought Madonna a sold out tour and two film roles,
in Desperately Seeking Susan and Vision Quest.
Other movie roles would follow, without much critical success, most reviewers suggesting strongly that Ma-
donna keep her day job. But the hits kept coming and the concerts kept selling out. At one of the pinnacles of
her career, Madonna married her boyfriend, actor Sean Penn in a lavish, star-studded ceremony on August 16,
1985. The marriage lasted four years.
At age 37, Madonna decided it was time for motherhood, and chose as the father her personal trainer, Carlos
Leon. She gave birth to Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon on October 14, 1986. Madonna named her daughter in
honor of her own mother, a devout Catholic who had always wanted to visit Lourdes, France, where the Vir-
gin Mary, the original Madonna, appeared in 1858. Madonna's song Little Star is dedicated to her daughter
Lourdes.
Despite her earlier public disparagements regarding the institution of marriage, Madonna decided to give it an-
other try in December, 2000 when she married Guy Ritchie. Her close friend Gwyneth Paltrow served as matron
of honour. Madonna and Ritchie had a three month old son, Rocco Ritchie, born in September, 2000.
As well as performing, writing, recording and being a wife, mother, Kabbalah proponent and active charity
worker, Madonna also owns and directs the record label, Maverick Records. As if she hadn't conquered enough
worlds, she has also penned two children's books: The English Roses and Mr. Peabody's Apple
