| Madonna was born on August 16, 1958 in Bay City, Michigan, USA. She is the third child in the family, born after two brothers, Anthony and Martin. The girl was named after her mother (Madonna).
After successfully graduating from a catholic school she enrolled in ballet classes. With her elasticity and natural love towards dance, she easily received a scholarship in Michigan University as the best dancer.
And suddenly Madonna decided that she could make a career in New York. 19yr old Madonna did not listen to her father and took a flight to New York on a 1978’s warm July morning. It was her first flight. She descended from the ramp at the airport “La-Gardia”. Madonna carried a small suitcase, the clothes which she was wearing, ballet slippers and 37 dollars. Madonna took a taxi and without knowing Manhattan, simply ordered the taxi driver to take her to the centre. The taxi driver thought little of it and took her directly to the bustling, shabby, criminal Times Square. The travel from the airport to Times Square cost her 15 dollars - little less than half the money Madonna had with her. The future longed-for blonde did everything that came her way, in the “Yellow Devil” city! She even worked as a model. She lived half-starving and according to one of the biographers, at times, she even rummaged in garbage in search of meal. One of her distinctive advantages was the rare ability to communicate and was easy at making acquaintances.
After two successful singles, Madonna released her first album which was called “Madonna”. Honestly, the cover of the disc did not carry the image of Madonna since she sang in a Negro style and the recording company feared that seeing the image of a white-skinned Madonna on the cover, would make the black population not buy the disc. The album was released in July, 1983 and at once brought her recognition. Musical videos were made to the album and then, all America could see Madonna in a split vest with deep cut, with crucifixion ear rings and heavy chains on her neck.
The end of poverty! When she got her first cheque with six zeros she said - "Perfect, now I don't have to use the subway”. Within two years, she became the queen of pop and her financial condition continued to increase rapidly. By 1992, Madonna and popular American TV host Oprah Winfrey were declared the two richest women in show business. It was said that since the 1986 singer’s earnings crossed 20 million dollars per year. In recent times, her revenue has doubled. To this, a successful contract with “Time Warner” for 60 million dollars can be added.
She founded her own sound recording company “Maverick Records”, with which performers such as Alanis Morissette and Prodigy have contracts for recording. Now, an entire group of people work for her: managers, secretaries, bodyguards and trainers. And nevertheless, she directly participates in all financial affairs, squeezing out the last cent from numerous shows, videoclips, discs and video films. “NBC Nightly News” christened her as a “success industry” and magazine “Forbes” declared Madonna as the “Most beautiful business woman of America”, which are sufficiently confirmed by estimations of her income of about 65 million dollars in 1991.
In the meantime the career of the singer also grew. Songs written by Madonna invariably occupied the highest places in the ratings and charts. Though Madonna's s attempts to act in films were more failures than successes. Complete disasters such as “Shanghai Surprise” and the relatively successful “A League of Their Own” were filmed between her first picture “Desperately Seeking Susan” in 1985 and the huge success “Evita” in 1996. Madonna views that: “I do not think that I am a bad actress. More likely, I acted in bad films”.
About her personal sports trainer and beginning actor Carlos Leon, 30-year-old father of her daughter Lourdes, Madonna said that she does not see any necessity to marry him since she is “absolutely happy with the present state of affairs”.
Her brother called Madonna a “Marketing Genius”, probably, not without basis. Madonna says that she never ever wishes anything: “I did commit mistakes and I learnt from them”.
After achieving such great heights, Madonna does not want to stop there. During the MTV Music Awards 1998 ceremony, which took place on 10th September, clips of Ray of Light and Frozen won nominations such as “Best female video of year”, “Best direction”, “Best choreography, camera-work and special effects”. Only six awards but three times more than any other performer. Not a bad result in a career spanning 15 years.
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One of the most successful pop singers in history - Madonna Louise Veronica Ritchie - is turning 50 this Saturday. Raised in Detroit suburb, by Italian father and French-Canadian mother, Madonna wanted to pursue career in modern dance, so at the age of 19 she drops out of The University of Michigan and decides to move to New York. Later, Madonna will say on this move: "It was the first time I'd ever taken a plane, the first time I'd ever gotten a taxi cab. I came here with $35 in my pocket. It was the bravest thing I'd ever done."
It's hard to believe it was almost 24 years ago, when Madonna first performed "Like a Virgin" - the mega-hit that made her internationally famous. 24 years after she keeps amusing her fans with the new hits. Her latest album "Hard Candy" was released in April this year.
Happy 50th birthday, Madonna!
