Bruce Springsteen Photography

Several false starts and musical potholes plagued Bruce Springsteen in the first half of the 1970s, and his success was far from certain. Finally, in 1975—after over a year in the studio—the breakout release Born to Run slingshot this humble singer/songwriter from Asbury Park to superstar status with his artistic integrity intact.

His streak of balancing commercial traction with critical triumph continued on landmark projects like Darkness on the Edge of Town and The River, both of which cemented this heartland rocker’s working-class personality. By 1984, New Jersey’s favorite son was known the world over when Born in the U.S.A. became his best-selling project (30 million and counting), propelled by a charge of singles like “Glory Days” and “Dancing in the Dark.”

Even after twenty Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes, an Oscar, and Kennedy Center Honors recognition, “The Boss” is not content to simply rest on his laurels. This Rock and Roll/Songwriters Hall of Famer continues to be active politically and musically, scoring additional post-millennial praises from The Rising (2002) through High Hopes (2014).