Ever since he was called the Future of Rock ‘n’ Roll in 1975, Bruce Springsteen has worked tirelessly to challenge the title, even as he enters the fourth decade of his illustrious career. After a pair of footing-stabilizing albums, Springsteen released his masterwork in 1975, ‘Born to Run,’ an operatic song cycle that bridged ‘60s pop with ‘70s bombast. Since then, he’s created some of rock’s best and most culturally important records, including 1982’s acoustic ‘Nebraska’ and 1984’s monster hit ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ Springsteen sized down a bit in the ‘90s, but returned in 2002 with one of his greatest works, the 9/11-inspired ‘The Rising.’ He also leads one the hardest-working, and all-time best, groups in the world, the E Street Band, which has backed Springsteen for most of his career. His songs of faith, hope and occasional desolation have inspired countless artists over the years.
- Birthday: Sept. 23, 1949
- Selected Discography: ‘Born to Run’ (1975), ‘Darkness on the Edge of Town’ (1978), ‘Nebraska’ (1981)
- Related Artists: Clarence Clemons, Steve Van Zandt
- Further Reading: Top 10 Bruce Springsteen Songs, Top 10 Bruce Springsteen Political Songs, E Street Band Lineup Changes