Birthday Boss: Bruce Springsteen turns 60

Rock legend Bruce Springsteen has turned 60. Photo / AP

Rock legend Bruce Springsteen - also known as The Boss to his legion of loyal fans - is celebrating an important milestone today. He's turning 60.

The prolific singer-songwriter - who's still churning out chart-topping albums and penning foot-stomping tunes - has been a permanent fixure on the music landscape since the early Seventies.

His breakthrough album,

Born to Run

, released in August 1975, is considered by fans to be one of his greatest achievements. But the singer is probably more widely recognised for his commercially and critically acclaimed 1984 hit album

Born in the USA

.

In honour of Springsteen's 60th birthday we bring you a compendium of fast facts about the enduring rocker:

* Full name: Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen

* Springsteen has so far won a total of 18 Grammy Awards

* He dreamed of becoming a baseball star as a child

* He nearly gave up on his other dream of becoming a guitar player - believing his hands were too small to play the instrument.

* Received his first guitar at age 9 as a gift from his mother.

* Has sold more than 65 million albums in America alone, and 120 million worldwide.

* Was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in November 1999.

* Married actress Julianne Phillips in 1985. Their marriage ended in 1989 amid rumours Springsteen was in a relationship with backing singer Patti Scialfa, whom he later married in 1991.

* Signed a 10-album deal with Columbia in June 1972, he was 22.

* Appeared on the covers of both

Time

and

Newsweek

simultaneously in October 1975.

* Danced with former Friends star Courteney Cox in the 1984 video for his hit single

Dancing In The Dark

.

Video: Bruce Springsteen, Born In The USA

- NZ HERALD ONLINE