Madonna is an American singer, actress, dancer and movie star. She has sold over 300 million records worldwide, making her the best selling female artist of all time. She has had a profound influence on pop culture often courting controversy for upsetting religious and moral sensibilities.

Short Bio of Madonna

Madonna, born Louis Cicconi, in 1958, was brought up in Rochester Hills Michigan. Her mother died, from breast cancer, when she was only five; she was brought up by her grandparents. She was raised a Roman Catholic, though from an early age she displayed a rebellious streak. In 1978, she dropped out of college and moved to New York, with barely the clothes she was standing in. She got a job as a waitress at Dunking Donuts, and in her spare time learnt modern dance. She temporarily joined a rock band ‘ The Breakfast Club’ but tried to make a solo career and gaining the favourable impression with Sire Records, she was given a recording contract.
In 1982 she released her first single ‘Everybody‘ and in 1983, she launched her first album ‘Madonna‘ It sold very well, but it was her next album ‘Like a Virgin‘ which made her into an international superstar. The album sold over 12 million copies, helped by the hit single ‘Like a Virgin‘ which stayed at number one for 6 weeks.
As well as being a successful music recording artist, Madonna was very influential in influencing fashion and attitudes to life. Her trademark looks included fish net stockings, a Christian cross, bleached hair and Capri skirts.
madonnaThroughout her career, Madonna has courted controversy for her mix of sexuality and religious imagery. Her attitudes sparked criticism from the Vatican and the Vatican discouraged people from attending her concerts because of the eroticism. Madonna, generally, remained unapologetic and continued to perform her routines.
After forming her own company – Madonna, produced a book titled ‘Sex’. It featured nude photography and was quite controversial, especially in US; but it sold over half a million copies.
She has acted in a couple of films, without much commercial success – though her appearance in Evita about Eva Peron, the famous Argentinian wife of the President received good reviews.
She has now produced over 10 albums and remains a very influential artist still capable of hitting the top of the album charts. According to Billboard magazine, she is second only to the Beatles in terms of all-time best selling artist.
Her early Catholic roots influenced her music and videos, but, in the early 1990s she embraced Kabbalah a Jewish mystical sect. In 2004, she adopted the Kabbalah name ‘Esther’ which in Persian means star.