Bryan Adams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bryan Adams |
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Adams in 2024
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Bryan Guy Adams |
| Born | November 5, 1959 Kingston, Ontario, Canada |
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| Years active | 1975–present |
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Bryan Guy Adams (born November 5, 1959) is a famous Canadian singer, songwriter, and musician. He is also a talented photographer. He has sold between 75 million and 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. In the 2010s, he was the most played artist on Canadian radio.
Adams became famous in North America with his 1983 album Cuts Like a Knife. His next album, Reckless (1984), made him a global superstar. It included hit songs like "Run to You" and "Summer of '69". The ballad "Heaven" from this album became a number-one hit in the United States.
In 1991, Adams released the song "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You". It was a massive success, reaching number one in at least 19 countries. The song sold more than 15 million copies around the world. It was part of his album Waking Up the Neighbours, which sold 16 million copies.
Adams has won many awards, including 20 Juno Awards and a Grammy Award. He has also been nominated for three Academy Awards for his songwriting for movies. He has stars on both the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Canada's Walk of Fame.
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Early Life
Bryan Guy Adams was born on November 5, 1959, in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. His parents, Elizabeth and Conrad Adams, were from England and moved to Canada in the 1950s. His father was a Canadian foreign service diplomat. Because of his father's job, Adams and his family traveled and lived in many countries, including Portugal, Israel, and Japan.
Adams grew up in Ottawa. He bought his first electric guitar when he was 10 years old. He was a big fan of rock bands like Deep Purple and Humble Pie. In 1974, Adams and his family moved to North Vancouver. He dropped out of school at age 15 to focus on his music career.
Music Career
Getting Started in the 1970s
When he was 15, Adams became the singer for a glam rock band called Sweeney Todd. He left the band after a short time. In 1978, at age 18, he met Jim Vallance, a songwriter and drummer. They started writing songs together, which was the beginning of a long and successful partnership.
Adams signed a recording contract with A&M Records for just one dollar. His first single, "Let Me Take You Dancing", was released in 1979.
Rise to Fame in the 1980s
Adams released his first album, Bryan Adams, in 1980. His second album, You Want It You Got It (1981), had a rock radio hit called "Lonely Nights".
His big breakthrough came with the album Cuts Like a Knife in 1983. The song "Straight from the Heart" became a top-ten hit in the U.S. The album sold millions of copies and made Adams a well-known rock artist.
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In 1984, Adams released Reckless. This album made him a global star. It reached number one on the charts in both the U.S. and Canada. Reckless had six hit singles, including "Run to You", "Summer of '69", and the number-one hit "Heaven". The album has sold over 12 million copies worldwide.
In 1985, Adams was part of a group of Canadian artists called Northern Lights. They recorded the charity song "Tears Are Not Enough" to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. He also performed at the Live Aid concert in Philadelphia.
His next album, Into the Fire (1987), included the hit song "Heat of the Night".
Global Success in the 1990s
In 1991, Adams released the song "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" for the movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. The song was a huge international hit. It stayed at number one on the UK charts for a record-breaking 16 weeks.
The song was on his album Waking Up the Neighbours, which also came out in 1991. The album sold 16 million copies and included other hits like "Can't Stop This Thing We Started".
Throughout the 1990s, Adams was known for his powerful ballads. He had worldwide hits with "Please Forgive Me" (1993), "All for Love" (1993) with Rod Stewart and Sting, and "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" (1995).
His 1996 album, 18 til I Die, was a number-one hit in the UK. In 1998, he released On a Day Like Today, which featured the popular duet "When You're Gone" with Melanie C of the Spice Girls.
Career in the 2000s
In 2002, Adams wrote and performed songs for the animated movie Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. The song "Here I Am" from the soundtrack was a top-five hit in the UK.
He released the album Room Service in 2004, which was number one in Germany and Switzerland. In 2008, he released the album 11, which went to number one in Canada.
Recent Work: 2010s to Present
In 2010, Adams performed at the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. He also released an acoustic album called Bare Bones.
His 2014 album of cover songs, Tracks of My Years, reached number one in Canada. In 2015, he released Get Up, an album of new songs.
In 2018, Adams co-wrote the music and lyrics for Pretty Woman: The Musical, which opened on Broadway. His 2019 album, Shine a Light, also debuted at number one in Canada.
In March 2022, Adams released his 15th studio album, So Happy It Hurts. The title track was nominated for a Grammy Award. He continues to tour and record music.
Musical Style
Adams is known for his unique voice, which has been described as a "sandpaper tenor". His music covers various rock styles, from hard rock to softer pop rock. His early songs often told stories about growing up. He is especially famous for his romantic power ballads.
His influences include rock and roll pioneers like Elvis Presley and guitar legends like Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton.
Photography
Besides music, Bryan Adams is a respected photographer. He has taken pictures of many famous people, including Queen Elizabeth II. One of his photos of the Queen was used on a Canadian postage stamp.
He has published several books of his photography, including Exposed (2012) and Wounded – The Legacy of War (2013). His photos have appeared in magazines like Vogue, Vanity Fair, and Harper's Bazaar. He has also shot advertising campaigns for major brands. In 2021, he photographed the famous Pirelli Calendar.
Charity Work
Adams is very active in charity and humanitarian work. Most of his work is done through The Bryan Adams Foundation, which he started to help improve people's lives around the world.
He has performed at many benefit concerts, including:
- Live Aid in 1985.
- Amnesty International's "A Conspiracy of Hope" tour in 1986.
- A concert for Nelson Mandela's birthday in 1988.
- Roger Waters' The Wall – Live in Berlin concert in 1990.
- Live 8 in 2005.
He also supports animal rights and has been a vegan since 1989. He has worked with Greenpeace to protect whales in the Southern Ocean.
Personal Life
Adams has two daughters with his partner, Alicia Grimaldi. Their first daughter was born in 2011, and their second was born in 2013. He lives in London and Paris.
Awards and Honors
Bryan Adams has received many awards for his contributions to music and charity.
- 20 Juno Awards
- A Grammy Award
- Officer of the Order of Canada
- Member of the Order of British Columbia
- A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame
- Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal (2002) and Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012)
Discography
- Bryan Adams (1980)
- You Want It You Got It (1981)
- Cuts Like a Knife (1983)
- Reckless (1984)
- Into the Fire (1987)
- Waking Up the Neighbours (1991)
- 18 til I Die (1996)
- On a Day Like Today (1998)
- Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002)
- Room Service (2004)
- 11 (2008)
- Tracks of My Years (2014)
- Get Up (2015)
- Shine a Light (2019)
- So Happy It Hurts (2022)
- Roll with the Punches (2025)
Images for kids
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Adams in 2006
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Adams with longtime guitarist Keith Scott in 2017
See also
In Spanish: Bryan Adams para niños
- Music of Canada
- Rock music of Canada
- List of animal rights advocates
