Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen, born on September 23, 1949, in Long Branch, New Jersey, is an iconic American rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Known as "The Boss," he has released 21 studio albums over a career spanning six decades, most of which feature his backing band, the E Street Band.

He is a pioneer of heartland rock, combining a commercially successful rock sound with poetic and socially conscious lyrics reflecting the issues of working-class American life.

His energetic concerts, which sometimes last over four hours, are legendary. He released his first two albums, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. and The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle, in 1973. Although both were well received by critics, neither earned him a large audience. He achieved worldwide popularity with Born to Run in 1975, followed by Darkness on the Edge of Town in 1978 and The River in 1980, his first album to top the Billboard 200 chart.

After the solo effort Nebraska in 1982, he recorded Born in the U.S.A. in 1984 with the E Street Band, which became his most commercially successful album and the 23rd-best selling album of all time as of 2024. All seven singles from Born in the U.S.A. reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, including the title track.

Bruce Springsteen mostly hired session musicians for the recording of his next three albums, Tunnel of Love in 1987, Human Touch in 1992, and Lucky Town in 1992. He reassembled the E Street Band for Greatest Hits in 1995 and recorded the acoustic album The Ghost of Tom Joad in 1995 and the EP Blood Brothers in 1996 solo.

He dedicated The Rising in 2002 to the victims of the September 11 attacks. He released two more folk albums, Devils & Dust in 2005 and We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions in 2006, followed by two more albums with the E Street Band, Magic in 2007 and Working on a Dream in 2009. The next albums, Wrecking Ball in 2012 and High Hopes in 2014, topped album charts worldwide.

In 2017, 2018, and 2021, he performed the critically acclaimed show Springsteen on Broadway, in which he performed songs and told stories from his 2016 autobiography; an album version from the Broadway performances was released in 2018. He released the solo Western Stars in 2019, Letter to You in 2020 with the E Street Band, and a solo covers album Only the Strong Survive in 2022.

His personal life has been as eventful as his career. He was married to actress Julianne Phillips from 1985 to 1989. He then married Patti Scialfa, a member of the E Street Band, in 1991. The couple has three children together: Evan James, Jessica Rae, and Samuel Ryan.

He and Scialfa have been known for their strong partnership both on and off the stage. They often perform together, and their relationship has been a source of inspiration for many of Springsteen's songs.

His lifestyle reflects his working-class roots and his love for the American landscape. He is known for his down-to-earth personality and his commitment to social justice. His best songs include "Born to Run," "Thunder Road," "Badlands," "Dancing in the Dark," "Born in the U.S.A.," "The River," "Hungry Heart," "Glory Days," "Streets of Philadelphia," and "The Rising." These songs have become anthems for generations of fans and have cemented Springsteen's place in the pantheon of rock music.

Throughout his career, Bruce Springsteen has received numerous awards and accolades. He has won 20 Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes, an Academy Award, and a Special Tony Award for Springsteen on Broadway. He was inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2009, he received the Kennedy Center Honors, and in 2016, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.

In 2023, he received the National Medal of Arts from President Joe Biden.