Birth of Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen
Birth of Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen, later known as a songwriter and rock performer from New Jersey.
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Bruce Springsteen Biography and Timeline
Follow Bruce Springsteen through 43 dated historical records for United States of America.
Bruce Springsteen, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
43Distinct records
1 of 2Page
1949–2016Years on this page
1949
1965
Castiles, The
Joins The Castiles, an early rock band that gives him important teenage stage and recording experience.
Role range: 1965-1968
1966
Recording
Records early material with The Castiles at Mr. Music in New Jersey.
Role range: 1965-1968
1969
Child
Performs around Asbury Park with Child, one of his early post-Castiles groups.
Role range: 1969-1971
1971
Steel Mill
Ends the Steel Mill period after building a strong regional following in New Jersey and Virginia.
Role range: 1969-1971
1972
Columbia Records
Signs with Columbia Records after auditioning for John Hammond.
Role range: 1972-
1973
Greetings from Asbury Park NJ
Releases Greetings from Asbury Park NJ, his debut album on Columbia Records.
Role range: 1972-
The Wild the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle
Releases The Wild the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle, deepening his Asbury Park storytelling style.
Role range: 1972-
Blinded by the Light
Writes Blinded by the Light, later a major hit for Manfred Mann's Earth Band.
Role range: 1972-
1975
Born to Run
Releases Born to Run, the album that brings his first major commercial breakthrough.
Role range: 1972-
Time Magazine
Appears on the covers of Time and Newsweek in the same week during the Born to Run breakthrough.
1977
Legal Dispute
Settles legal disputes with Mike Appel, allowing him to resume recording with the E Street Band.
1978
Darkness on the Edge of Town
Releases Darkness on the Edge of Town, a tougher album shaped by work, struggle and responsibility.
Badlands
Releases Badlands, a defining anthem from Darkness on the Edge of Town.
1979
No Nukes
Performs at the No Nukes concerts at Madison Square Garden with the E Street Band.
Role range: 1979-1979
1980
The River
Releases The River, a double album mixing party songs, working-class stories and darker adult themes.
Hungry Heart
Releases Hungry Heart, giving him his first United States top ten single.
1981
The River Tour
Tours extensively behind The River, strengthening his reputation as a marathon live performer.
1982
Nebraska
Releases Nebraska, a stark solo album recorded largely on a home cassette recorder.
1984
Born in the USA
Releases Born in the USA, the album that turns him into a global pop and rock superstar.
Dancing in the Dark
Releases Dancing in the Dark, one of his biggest hit singles.
1985
We Are the World
Records with USA for Africa on We Are the World, the famine relief charity single.
Born in the USA Tour
Completes a major world tour that confirms his stadium-level popularity.
1986
Live 1975-85
Releases Live 1975-85, a large concert box set documenting his stage career.
1987
Tunnel of Love
Releases Tunnel of Love, an introspective album focused on love, doubt and marriage.
1988
Human Rights Now!
Tours for Amnesty International on the Human Rights Now! benefit tour.
1992
Human Touch
Releases Human Touch, one of two albums issued on the same day after the E Street Band period pauses.
Lucky Town
Releases Lucky Town, a more spontaneous companion album to Human Touch.
1993
MTV Plugged
Releases In Concert MTV Plugged after performing with his early-1990s touring band.
1994
Streets of Philadelphia
Releases Streets of Philadelphia for the film Philadelphia, winning major awards for the song.
1995
Greatest Hits
Releases Greatest Hits with several new songs recorded with the E Street Band.
The Ghost of Tom Joad
Releases The Ghost of Tom Joad, returning to sparse storytelling about migration, poverty and displacement.
1999
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist.
Role range: 1973-
2002
The Rising
Releases The Rising, responding to the September 11 attacks with the reunited E Street Band.
2005
Devils and Dust
Releases Devils and Dust, a solo-oriented album focused on war, faith and private moral conflict.
2006
We Shall Overcome
Releases We Shall Overcome The Seeger Sessions, interpreting songs associated with Pete Seeger.
2007
Magic
Releases Magic with the E Street Band, combining bright rock arrangements with darker political themes.
2009
Super Bowl XLIII
Performs the halftime show at Super Bowl XLIII with the E Street Band.
Role range: 2009-2009
2012
Wrecking Ball
Releases Wrecking Ball, an album shaped by economic anger and social protest.
2016
Born to Run Memoir
Publishes Born to Run, a memoir about his life, music and struggles with depression.
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.