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Madonna

The Illustrated Biography
Marie Clayton
ISBN 9781566490986 (paperback)
Published in August 2010
MSRP $16.95
Born in Bay City, Michigan, on August 16, 1958, Madonna Louise Veronica was the third child of Madonn and Silvio Ciccone. When she was only five years old her mother died and Madonna later said that her loss so early was a major factor in her attitude toward life: "I think the the biggest reason I was able to express myself and not be intimidated was by not having a mother. For Example, mothers teach you manners. And I absolutely did not learn any of those rules and regulations." At high school, she was a straight-A student - but is also remembered for her provocative behavior. A talented dancer, she won a scholarship to study dance at University of Michigan, but by 1977 had moved to New York to becoma a professional dancer. There she became involved in the music scene and soon reinvented herself as a rock star, with the songs she produced quickly leading to a recording contract with Sire Records--and a string of hit singles. Able to blend song with dance to create a mesmerizing performance--Madonna was soon entertaining and shocking in equal measure.