Michael Bolton was born in 1953 to a Jewish family in New Haven, Connecticut. The youngest of three children, Bolton found his biggest success in the mid-eighties and early nineties as a singer in the contemporary/easy listening genre. Unbeknownst to many, however, Bolton received his first record label contract at the age of 15.
He began recording as Michael in 1983, after gaining his first major hit as a songwriter, co-writing "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" for Laura Branigan, previously best-known for singing the disco-pop classic "Gloria". Narrowly missing the pop Top 10, Branigan took the song to number one on the Adult Contemporary charts for three weeks. The two sought to work with each other again, and their next of several associations was when Bolton co-wrote "I Found Someone" for Branigan in 1985.
Her version was only a minor hit, but two years later, Cher resurrected the song, and with it her own singing career. Bolton cowrote several other songs for both singers. One of the prolific songwriter's first major successes as a singer was with his interpretation of someone else's composition, the Otis Redding classic, "(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay.
" Always interested in soul and Motown classics, that song's success encouraged him to tackle the standard "Georgia On My Mind," with which he had another hit. Most of Bolton's recordings are original material, however, and he has also written songs for such artists as Barbra Streisand, KISS, Kenny Rogers, Kenny G, Peabo Bryson and Patti LaBelle. Bolton's early songwriting collaborators included Doug James and Mark Mangold, and as his fame grew he began to cowrite with higher-profile writers such as BabyFace, Diane Warren, and Bob Dylan.
As a singer, he has performed with Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Renee Fleming, Zucchero, Patti LaBelle, Celine Dion, Ray Charles, Percy Sledge, Wynonna Judd, and BB King. Bolton is the father of three daughters (Isa, Holly and Taryn) born during his 1975-1990 marriage to Maureen McGuire. Between 1993 and 1995, he dated actress Nicollette Sheridan after his marriage to McGuire fizzled and hers with actor Harry Hamlin did as well.
In 2006, it was noted that he and Nicollete (now starring on ) were back together after he accompanied her to the 2006 Primetime Emmy Awards in January. In late February it was announced that Bolton and actress Sheridan were living together and were engaged after she proposed in the Bahamas. In 1993, he established the (now the ) to assist women and children at risk from the effects of poverty and emotional, physical, and sexual abuse.
The foundation has provided over $3.7 million in funding to local and national charities. Bolton also serves as the honorary chairman of Prevent Child Abuse America, the national chairman for This Close for Cancer Research, and a board member for the National Mentoring Partnership and the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital.
In March 2003, Bolton joined with Lifetime Television, Verizon Wireless, and many others to lobby on behalf of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, urging legislation to provide more assistance for victims of domestic violence, such as affordable housing options. Bolton has received the Lewis Hine Award from the National Child Labor Committee, the Martin Luther King Award from the Congress of Racial Equality, and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor from the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce also recognized Bolton with a star on the "Walk of Fame" for his musical and charitable contributions.
In March 2007, Bolton toured South Africa for the very first time. He was the headline act at Jacaranda 94.2 FM's two day concert LIFE'S GREATEST WEEKEND OUT.
Michael Bolton appeared as an extra in the theatrical release of Frank Herbert's "Dune," featuring Sting and Kyle McLachlan. In their final fight scene, he appears as a "spice-eyed" drummer. Michael Bolton was born in 1953 to a Jewish family in New Haven, Connecticut.
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