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The controversial singer, actress, and songwriter
Madonna, b. Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone in Bay City, Mich.,
Aug. 16, 1958, became one of America's biggest stars in the
late 1980s. Her assertive sexuality and her efforts to push
back the borders of the acceptable have brought her tremendous
commercial success and a reputation as a vanguard performer.
Madonna briefly attended the University of Michigan on a dance
scholarship in the mid-1970s before pursuing a career in New
York City. She danced with the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre's
third company before turning her efforts to pop music and
film.
"Borderline," from her self-titled debut album,
reached the top 10 in 1984 after heavy airplay for its video
on MTV. Madonna's subsequent videos grew increasingly elaborate,
drawing attention to hits such as "Like a Virgin"
(1984; number one for 6 weeks), and "Material Girl"
(1984).
Her superstar status assured, Madonna became more willing
to express her views on controversial issues. "Papa Don't
Preach" (1986) dealt with teenage pregnancy. "Like
A Prayer" (1989) treated spirituality, and "Justify
My Love" (1990) was accompanied by a video deemed too
sexually explicit for MTV.
Madonna has broken several pop-music sales records. "Vogue"
(1990) became one of the top selling singles ever. The Immaculate
Collection (1991) was only the second greatest-hits album
to make the top 10. Her album Erotica, timed for release with
her controversial book entitled Sex, was brought out late
in 1992.
Highlights of Madonna's less successful film career include
starring roles in Desperately Seeking Susan (1986) and Dick
Tracy (1990), the revealing documentary Truth or Dare (1991),
filmed during her 1990 "Blond Ambition" world tour,
and A League of Their Own (1992).
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